Car · BMW recalls
2013 BMW 5 Series recalls
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2013 BMW 5 Series, filed between September 26, 2013 and August 14, 2024. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.
Check my VINCheck repair status at NHTSA
| Part | Filed | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling: pump | August 14, 2024 | Fire risk |
| Exterior lighting | March 31, 2015 | Crash risk |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | October 7, 2014 | Crash risk |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: vacuum | September 26, 2013 | Crash risk |
Engine and engine cooling: pumpFire risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i
What is wrong. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
What could happen. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Show NHTSA's full text
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Exterior lightingCrash risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i, 550xi, M5
What is wrong. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light.
What could happen. The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Show NHTSA's full text
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Service brakes, hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCrash risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i
What is wrong. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
What could happen. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Show NHTSA's full text
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
Service brakes, hydraulic: vacuumCrash risk
Trims named in this campaign: 528i
What is wrong. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
What could happen. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Show NHTSA's full text
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Check that your car is on the list
Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2013 BMW 5 Series may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN at NHTSA to see whether a campaign is open for your exact car.
How to confirm the repair is free
- Call any authorized BMW dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
- Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
- If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
- Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.
If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, BMW may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or BMW customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.
Other model years of the 5 Series
- 2026 (1)
- 2025 (6)
- 2024 (7)
- 2023 (3)
- 2022 (3)
- 2021 (8)
- 2020 (7)
- 2019 (4)
- 2018 (8)
- 2017 (2)
- 2016 (7)
- 2015 (5)
- 2014 (6)
- 2012 (5)
- 2011 (7)
- 2010 (5)
- All years
What do owners report besides recalls? See the 2013 BMW 5 Series problems: complaints by area, service bulletins and the repairs that fit.
More: all BMW recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.
2013 BMW 5 Series recall questions
How many recalls does the 2013 BMW 5 Series have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2013 BMW 5 Series. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.
Is a recall repair on a 2013 BMW 5 Series free?
Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized BMW dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.
How do I know if my 2013 BMW 5 Series was already fixed?
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows whether a campaign is open for that exact car. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.
Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-29. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.