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BMW M5Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 106 owner complaints and 23 safety recalls on record for the BMW M5.

BMW M5
Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints106Top: Air bagsSafety recalls231989–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Best & worst years

BMW M5 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the M5 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'00'01'02'03'06'07'08'09'10'13'14'15'16'18'19'20'21'22'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2026Too new–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2025Too new–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2022Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2021Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall2020Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls2019Not rated–/1008 complaints · 3 recalls2018Not rated–/1006 complaints · 3 recalls2016Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2015Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall2014Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall2013Not rated–/10010 complaints · 2 recalls2010Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2009Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2008Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls2007Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall2006Not rated–/10039 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall2002Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls2001Not rated–/1004 complaints · 3 recalls2000Not rated–/1004 complaints · 2 recalls1995Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1994Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1991Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common BMW M5 problems

All model years combined: 106 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags443
Engine241
Power train132
Electrical system112
Seat belts100
Seats71
Fuel/propulsion system61
Steering50
Engine and engine cooling40
12 other systems227
23 recalls

BMW M5 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

84%Electrical system: wiring26V-096 · 2025–2026 · Feb 19, 2026 · 58,713 vehicles91%Electronic stability control (ESC)24V-104 · 2025 · Feb 12, 2024 · 266,716 vehicles100%Sensing system: camera20V-598 · 2020–2021 · Sep 30, 2020 · 312 vehicles97%Electrical system: wiring19V-883 · 2019–2020 · Dec 11, 2019 · 3,012 vehicles96%Sensing system: camera19V-684 · 2018–2020 · Sep 27, 2019 · 257,473 vehicles98%Engine19V-513 · 2019 · Jul 3, 2019 · 115 vehicles98%Storage: tank assembly18V-473 · 2018 · Jul 17, 2018 · 1,645 vehicles98%Electrical system: software18V-323 · 2018 · May 16, 2018 · 846 vehicles24%Driver side: inflator module17V-047 · 2001–2002 · Jan 20, 2017 · 230,117 vehiclesDo not drive87%Air bags16V-914 · 2016 · Dec 20, 2016 · 3,506 vehicles91%Driveline: driveshaft16V-540 · 2015 · Jul 19, 2016 · 956 vehicles83%Child seat15V-718 · 2016 · Oct 30, 2015 · 7,162 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 23 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the M5

  1. AIR BAG WIRING FAILUREEA95013 · 1991–1993 · closed Jul 15, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-110