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1989-2026 · 26 model years

BMW M5 Problems by year

Owners have filed 37 complaints about the BMW M5 across 26 model years, and it has 23 recalls. The 2002 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (19). The most reported problem area is the airbags, followed by the engine & cooling.

Share your M5 experienceCompare years23 recalls
Most complaints for its age200219 complaints · 2 recallsSee the 2002
Complaints
37
Recalls
23
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
3
Deaths
0

M5 complaints by model year

Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
20260100-F
20250200-F
20210100-C
20200300-F
20190300-D
20180300-D
20160200-C
20150100-B
20140100-B
20130200-C
20100200-C
20090200-C
20080200-C
20070100-B
20060100-B
200318111AirbagsF
200219211Engine & coolingF
20010300-D
20000200-C
19950100-B
19940100-B
19930100-B
19920200-C
19910300-D
19900100-B
19890100-B

Most common M5 problems

BMW M5 recalls 23

Air bags

16V9140003,506 vehicles affected

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman...

Covers2016 BMW M5+18 more

Child seat

15V7180007,162 vehicles affected

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that...

Covers2016 BMW M5+4 more

Latest M5 complaints

2002 BMW M5Transmission & drivetrainBody, doors & structure

There are no power modifications to my vehicle, I just recently installed a lower mileage engine, along with all of the parts surrounding the engine and transmission (ie clutch, flywheel, throwout bearing, clutch fork, etc). The break-in period for a new clutch is 500 miles of normal driving and 1000 miles for the engine. I completed the break-in period on saturday july 20, 2019, for the clutch but still have some miles to go for the engine break-in, so on 7-24-19 I was entering the fwy from a stop light and when I...

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pushed the gas peadal it sounded like something exploded and I hadn't even gotten out of 1st gear yet!!! So, I pulled over to the side of the road, b/c I heard something rubbing, and called a tow truck to tow it back to the shop that had just installed the new engine. The shop contacted me with news and pictures, showing me that the factory welds on the differential's subframe mount had snapped apart, dropping the differential from its correct position and destroying my driveshaft, in the process. I called bmw of north america and they said there's a recall for the m3 subframe but not the m5??? Then goes on to say with the age and mileage...But welds are supposed to withstand age and mileage, especially being that it's a sports sedan design to shred tyres and achieve 3-digit speeds. The internet is flooded with the very same incidents with other m5 owners but it seems no one else has bothered to voice their concerns b/c if it had not been for the exhaust system then the driveshaft would have dropped to the ground and flipped my car into freeway traffic (see photos)

Filed Incident Power train · StructureNHTSA 11241212
2002 BMW M5Body, doors & structureEngine & coolingFire

I have a 2002 525i which I drove to work on january 15, 2019. After being in work for 15 minutes, I was notified that the entire front end of my car was engulfed in flames. The top of the hood, under the hood, and under the front end of my car was completely on fire. I have read about the pvc recall for 2007-2011, but I also read "bmw had looked into heat damage involving the heating and cooling system as early as 2007 but stepped up its analysis work in september." That was from a chronology report provided by...

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bmw to nhtsa, and quoted from abcnews.Go.Com. What this tells me is bmw didn't look back any earlier than 2007. It was terrifying, and thank god no one was hurt. What is bmw doing about this? And what is my next course of action?

Filed Incident Structure · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11181196
2002 BMW M5Airbags

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 bmw m5. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v047000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10983677
2003 BMW M5Airbags

Takata recall. More than a year ago, I received information in the form of a warning that my car had airbags that should be replaced. I contacted the bmw center on s.Dixie highway near 160 street in miami and was told that they will get back to me. After a long enough wait, I called again and was told the same thing. After another period of time, I took my car to them. They told me that the airbag had been ordered and that I will be notified as soon as it comes in. After another long wait, I called and later...

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went back with my car but still got the same run-around. It has been almost 2 years since I contacted bmw. I am lucky that nothing bad has happened to me while driving my car. What else am I supposed to do in order to get the service that I need? Thank you for your help. *Tr

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10919330
2003 BMW M5Airbags

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 bmw m5. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10908738
2003 BMW M5Airbags

I'm getting the run around about replacing the driver's airbag in my car. I received the initial notice over 6 months ago and was told the air bags were released over a month ago but I still haven't gotten a second notice. The bmw dealership says there isn't an issue with the bmw it's just precautionary but they still don't have the airbags in.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10898470

Questions about the BMW M5

Which BMW M5 years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 2002 (19), 2003 (18). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 2002 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

Which BMW M5 years have the fewest complaints?

Among model years that have been on the road for at least three years, 1989, 1990, 1993 have the best Safety Index - the fewest complaints, crashes and recalls for their age compared with other M5 years. Always check the exact vehicle's recalls by VIN before you buy.

What are the most common BMW M5 problems?

Across every model year, owners report problems with the airbags (8), engine & cooling (6), transmission & drivetrain (5) most often.

How many recalls does the BMW M5 have?

NHTSA lists 23 recalls across all BMW M5 model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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