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2019 BMW M5, illustration

BMW M5 reliability: problems, specs and engines by year.

Owners filed 106 complaints about the 2000–2026 BMW M5 with the government, most about air bags.

Every year21 model yearsMost complaints: 2006See every year →ProblemsAir bags30% of complaintsAir bags30%Engine18%Transmission & drivetrain9%See problems →Recalls & safety20 recallsFree fix at any dealerSee recalls & safety →Specs & engines1 engineswith power and mpgSee specs →Questions2 quick answersWhat are the most common BMW M5 problems?What engines does the BMW M5 have?See questions →

Complaints by model year

Model yearComplaintsEnginesTop areas
20004not confirmed / electricair bags, brakes
20014not confirmed / electricair bags, tires
20026not confirmed / electricvisibility, electrical
20033not confirmed / electricair bags
200639not confirmed / electricair bags, seat belts
20076not confirmed / electricair bags, electrical
20086not confirmed / electricelectrical, engine
20090not confirmed / electric—
20101not confirmed / electricair bags
201310S63engine, steering
20142S63engine, transmission & drivetrain
20153S63brakes, engine
20161S63other
20186S63engine, air bags
20198S63engine, transmission & drivetrain
20202S63engine, electrical
20213S63lights, electrical
20221S63other
20230S63—
20251not confirmed / electricother, collision warning
20260not confirmed / electric—

We don't have US sales for this model yet, so there's no Lemon Index: popular years draw more complaints partly because more were sold.

BMW M5 4.4 L twin-turbo ("hot-vee") V8 engine illustrationYT –
4.4 L twin-turbo ("hot-vee") V8S632013–2016, 2018–2023
2013·
2014·
2015·
2016·
2018·
2019·
2020·
2021·
2022·
2023·

Scores are per model year, so a year with several engines shows the same score next to each one. An empty complaints bar means too few complaints to score that year; a gray dot means not enough YouTube videos. Sources: Wikipedia: BMW S63 · EPA fueleconomy.gov.

What owners complain about

SystemShare of complaints
Air bags30%
Engine18%
Transmission & drivetrain9%
Electrical7%
Seat belts6%
Seats4%

When problems show up

Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 38,000 and 72,812 miles (middle: 51,716, from 77 complaints).

How serious

CrashesFiresInjury reportsDeath reports
3541

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recalls we found 20

  • 26V096000 19/02/2026 · 2025, 2026

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

  • 24V104000 12/02/2024 · 2025

    ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  • 20V598000 30/09/2020 · 2020, 2021

    BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

  • 19V883000 11/12/2019 · 2019, 2020

    POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

  • 19V684000 28/09/2019 · 2018, 2019, 2020

    BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

  • 19V513000 03/07/2019 · 2019

    FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

  • 18V473000 17/07/2018 · 2018

    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

  • 18V323000 16/05/2018 · 2018

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

  • 17V047000 20/01/2017 · 2001, 2002

    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  • 16V914000 20/12/2016 · 2016

    AIR BAGS

  • 16V540000 19/07/2016 · 2015

    POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

  • 15V718000 30/10/2015 · 2016

    CHILD SEAT

  • 15V318000 28/05/2015 · 2002, 2003

    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  • 15V188000 31/03/2015 · 2013, 2014

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  • 13V407000 11/09/2013 · 2008, 2009, 2010

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

  • 12V475000 28/09/2012 · 2013

    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

  • 12V126000 26/03/2012 · 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

  • 03V421000 24/10/2003 · 2001

    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

  • 01V001000 04/01/2001 · 2000, 2001

    TIRES:SIDEWALL

  • 00V048000 17/02/2000 · 2000

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

From NHTSA's recall lookup by model name and year; check a car's VIN for its own open recalls.

BMW M5 specs and engines, every year. Every version the EPA lists, with its engine and owner complaints.

Engines used: S63

2026 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed4.4 L V8 turbo + plug-in hybrid—8-speed autoAWD13–14 mpg—
2025 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed4.4 L V8 turbo + plug-in hybrid—8-speed autoAWD13–14 mpg1 complaint (all engines combined)
2023 · 2 versions
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo591 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg—
M5 CompetitionS634.4 L V8 turbo617 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg—
2022 · 3 versions
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo591 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg1 complaint (all engines combined)
M5 CompetitionS634.4 L V8 turbo617 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg1 complaint (all engines combined)
M5 CSnot confirmed4.4 L V8 turbo—8-speed autoAWD17 mpg1 complaint (all engines combined)
2021 · 2 versions
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo591 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg3 complaints (all engines combined)
M5 CompetitionS634.4 L V8 turbo617 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg3 complaints (all engines combined)
2020 · 2 versions
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo591 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg2 complaints (all engines combined)
M5 CompetitionS634.4 L V8 turbo617 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg2 complaints (all engines combined)
2019 · 2 versions
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo591 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg8 complaints (all engines combined)
M5 CompetitionS634.4 L V8 turbo617 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg8 complaints (all engines combined)
2018 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo591 hp · 553 lb-ft8-speed autoAWD17 mpg6 complaints (all engines combined)
2016 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo553 hp · 502 lb-ft6-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutchRWD16–17 mpg1 complaint (all engines combined)
2015 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo553 hp · 502 lb-ft6-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutchRWD16–17 mpg3 complaints (all engines combined)
2014 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo553 hp · 502 lb-ft6-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutchRWD16–17 mpg2 complaints (all engines combined)
2013 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5S634.4 L V8 turbo553 hp · 502 lb-ft6-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutchRWD16–17 mpg10 complaints (all engines combined)
2010 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed5.0 L V10—6-speed manual, 7-speed autoRWD13 mpg1 complaint (all engines combined)
2009 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed5.0 L V10—6-speed manual, 7-speed autoRWD13 mpg—
2008 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed5.0 L V10—6-speed manual, 7-speed autoRWD13 mpg6 complaints (all engines combined)
2007 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed5.0 L V10—6-speed manual, 7-speed autoRWD13 mpg6 complaints (all engines combined)
2006 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed5.0 L V10—7-speed autoRWD13 mpg39 complaints (all engines combined)
2003 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed4.9 L V8—6-speed manualRWD15 mpg3 complaints (all engines combined)
2002 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed4.9 L V8—6-speed manualRWD15 mpg6 complaints (all engines combined)
2001 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed4.9 L V8—6-speed manualRWD15 mpg4 complaints (all engines combined)
2000 · 1 version
VersionEngineSizePowerTransmissionDriveEPAOwner complaints
M5not confirmed4.9 L V8—6-speed manualRWD15 mpg4 complaints (all engines combined)

Engine sizes, transmissions, drive and MPG: EPA (fueleconomy.gov). Engine codes and power: BMW's ratings as listed in Wikipedia's BMW engine articles (US-rated figures can differ by a few hp); "not confirmed" means we couldn't source the code for that version. Owner complaints: NHTSA, about the whole car (any system), not only the engine. Index = the model year's Lemon Index (complaints per car sold vs the average car); it is shown for a version only when that was the only engine that year. A complaint count is not a failure rate: popular versions draw more complaints because more were sold.

Quick answers

What are the most common BMW M5 problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the top areas are air bags, engine, transmission & drivetrain.

What engines does the BMW M5 have?

By model year: 2020: S63; 2021: S63; 2022: S63; 2023: S63; 2025: not confirmed; 2026: not confirmed. Full list in the specs table.

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