NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 13 complaints against the 2022 BMW 5 Series. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2022 BMW 5 Series complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2022 BMW 5 Series has generated 26 NHTSA complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If your 2022 BMW 5 Series has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. BMW pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
The 2022 BMW 5 Series has generated 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Front right sensor not working as of 05-23-2024. Approximately seven weeks later the backup camera quit working. Dealers claims right front sensor chipped and no report on why the rear camera not working. If I back into my garage or pulling into a parking space with a car already parked or a wall, the parking assistance does not function. However, from time to time, it starts to work again! The dealer’s comment is the sensor is damaged due to “outside influence”. I literally had to get a magnifying glass and a flashlight to see the chip on the sensor. The sensor has no visible cracks or damage other than my comment in the prior sentence. Vehicle was brought in when I received the alert “Parking Assistance limited e.g. due to dirt on the sensors. Clean if necessary.” Dealer would not remove the bumper to inspect the sensor, said it would take 3-4 hours to visually inspect the sensor, instead relied on software for their analysis. Said the rear camera not working because it is something related thru out the car with the other sensors even though this issue appeared 7 weeks later.” (NHTSA Complaint #11679855)
The 2022 BMW 5 Series has generated 4 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The glass roof suddenly exploded while driving, there was a no visible damage on the glass as the sunshade was open and I inspect the glass for any cracks or chips, there were no cracks or chips. The outside temperature was 35 degrees, time as approximately 9:30 PM on a major highway with a smooth surface, and light traffic. The explosion did not occur while going under an overpass, there was no sound of any pebbles being pinged against the car, again traffic was light. Glass was not laminated as it is in a windshield, glass chips flew inside the vehicle which is very dangerous.” (NHTSA Complaint #11501997)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 BMW 5 Series have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 2 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “My 2022 BMW 530e is producing a loud, high-pitched noise whenever the heating or air conditioning system is operating, or when the engine reaches higher temperatures. Upon having the vehicle inspected, I was informed that the air conditioning compressor is failing, a known and documented issue with this model. The AC compressor in this vehicle is responsible not only for cooling the cabin, but also for regulating the temperature of the high-voltage battery. I was advised that immediate replacement is necessary to prevent potential battery overheating and to avoid further damage that could result from internal metal debris circulating through the system. The vehicle is available for inspection and has already been evaluated by two independent repair facilities, both of which provided repair estimates of approximately $5,000. Given the compressor’s critical role in maintaining proper battery and engine temperature, this defect presents a significant risk of further mechanical damage and raises legitimate safety concerns. Notably, there were no warning indicators prior to this issue, and although the heating and air conditioning systems continue to function, the underlying risk remains present. Because this is a known issue affecting this model and involves a component integral to both vehicle safety and battery protection, it should be addressed through a recall or manufacturer-supported repair program. The financial burden for correcting a known defect of this nature should not fall on the vehicle owner, and I am requesting that BMW assume full responsibility for the cost of repair.” (NHTSA Complaint #11717356)
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2022 BMW 5 Series have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 2 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “While turning my 2022 BMW 540i onto a busy, 50 MPH road, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic drivetrain failure, without any physical trauma such as encountering a curb or pothole. The car experienced a total and immediate loss of motive power (propulsion), leaving me coasting in live traffic. This created an extreme safety hazard as I was unable to accelerate or maintain speed to clear the roadway safely. The failure occurred immediately after a significant temperature stress: taken from a heated garage, driven with no issue for 40 minutes, then parked in 15 degree weather for two hours, then complete failure within moments of starting up after the two hour cold parking block. My reading since the incident reveals that BMW quietly switched a critical drivetrain part from a composite/plastic material to metal in later 2022 production runs, due to temperature tress failures precisely as I experienced. This ‘silent fix’ suggests a known design defect in early 2022 models that poses a recurring risk of sudden propulsion loss. BMW did not do a recall for this, but they should have: I and other drivers were in real danger when my car spontaneously lost all motive ability in high speed traffic.” (NHTSA Complaint #11715820)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 BMW 5 Series has 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “Sensors around vehicle are faulty and break and/or become dysfunctional very easily. Improper and/or no warning provides false sense of security or danger. BMW is requesting customers pay to address the faulty product sensors. Service representative informed me that it is a known issue but the manufacturer has yet to deal with the problem. Vehicle has only 20K miles on it and in perfect condition besides these faulty sensors.” (NHTSA Complaint #11690264)
As of the date of this review, no active recalls have been issued specifically for the 2022 BMW 5 Series. Recall status can change at any time. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the most current information. The absence of a recall does not mean your vehicle is defect-free — many lemon law claims proceed without a recall on file.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 BMW 5 Series:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to BMW to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), BMW must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2022 BMW 5 Series qualifies as a lemon under California law, BMW may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give BMW a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized BMW dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), BMW pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send BMW a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), BMW is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2022 BMW 5 Series has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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