Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
MY MOTHER ENTERED A PARKING GARAGE AND WE SUSPECT THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IT HAD DONE IT BEFORE. SHE HIT A WALL AND WAS KILLED. SHE WAS QUITE COHERENT AND AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. SHE WAS DRIVING A 1989 BMW 500 SERIES. IT WAS NEVER PROVEN BUT THERE WAS A PROGRAM ON 20/20 WHERE THIS SAME THING HAPPENED AND THE DRIVER HIT A…
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MY MOTHER ENTERED A PARKING GARAGE AND WE SUSPECT THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IT HAD DONE IT BEFORE. SHE HIT A WALL AND WAS KILLED. SHE WAS QUITE COHERENT AND AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. SHE WAS DRIVING A 1989 BMW 500 SERIES. IT WAS NEVER PROVEN BUT THERE WAS A PROGRAM ON 20/20 WHERE THIS SAME THING HAPPENED AND THE DRIVER HIT A TREE AND SOME CHILDREN WERE KILLED.. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS WITH BMW? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291909
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1989 BMW 5 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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