FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW M5

Owners have filed 152 complaints about the BMW M5 with NHTSA across model years 2000 to 2025. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.

Avoid

2006 BMW M5

55 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly airbags.

Cleanest on record

2019 BMW M5

10 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW M5 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2025 2 0 0 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2022 1 0 0 Other & Unspecified
2021 4 0 3 Transmission & Drivetrain
2020 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2019 A 10 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2018 A 12 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2016 1 0 0 Other & Unspecified
2015 4 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2014 4 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2013 C 16 0 2 16,000 Engine & Cooling
2010 3 0 0 Airbags
2008 C 12 2 3 70,000 Engine & Cooling
2007 8 0 0 50,000 Airbags
2006 D 55 3 0 62,128 Airbags
2003 3 0 0 Airbags
2002 7 0 0 19,000 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2001 4 0 0 Airbags
2000 5 2 2 Airbags

What breaks on a BMW M5

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Airbags 47 30.9%

Worst in 2006

Engine & Cooling 26 17.1%

Worst in 2013

Transmission & Drivetrain 13 8.6%

Worst in 2006

Electrical System 10 6.6%

Worst in 2006

Seat Belts 10 6.6%

Worst in 2006

Seats 7 4.6%

Worst in 2006

Fuel & Propulsion 6 3.9%

Worst in 2006

Other & Unspecified 6 3.9%

Worst in 2006

Steering 5 3.3%

Worst in 2013

Brakes 5 3.3%

Worst in 2000

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 2.0%

Worst in 2006

Lights 3 2.0%

Worst in 2006

Stability & Traction Control 3 2.0%

Worst in 2000

Body & Structure 2 1.3%

Worst in 2002

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW M5, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Mar 2000 peak 6 Aug 2026

Compare the BMW M5

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.