Home › Cars › BMW › 5 Series › 2018
2018 BMW 5 Series problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
36% of relevant owner complaints on the 2018 BMW 5 Series are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 43 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 16%).
Does the 2018 BMW 5 Series have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 36 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW 5 Series concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%), and the largest group is filed under engine (8). For comparison, the 2019 scores 44%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other BMW 5 Series years
Of the 5 BMW 5 Series years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (36%). The worst is the 2016 (81%), the best the 2021 (33%). By volume, the 2018 drew 79 complaints (13 drivetrain), against 39 for the 2019.
BMW 5 Series years to avoid and best years →
2010 5 Series problems · 2016 5 Series problems · 2018 · 2019 5 Series problems · 2021 5 Series problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 BMW 5 Series
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 13 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2018 BMW 5 Series? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2018 BMW 5 Series
Does the 2018 BMW 5 Series have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 36 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW 5 Series concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (36%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 BMW 5 Series?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 BMW 5 Series is air bags: 35 of 79 complaints (44%) name it, followed by seat belts (24) and seats (14). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 36% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 BMW 5 Series reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 36% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 BMW 5 Series years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 BMW 5 Series?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2018 BMW 5 Series.
Which BMW 5 Series years are better?
Among the BMW 5 Series years we track, the 2021 (33%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (36%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/bmw-5-series
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.