Short answer
Among BMW M5 model years through 2024, 2012, 2022 and 2023 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2001, 2018, 2019 and 2020 have the most (3). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
BMW M5: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 22 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 20
- Fewest recalls
- 2012, 2022 and 2023 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2001, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (3)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (10)
BMW M5 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2023 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2022 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2021 | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2020 | 3 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2019 | 3 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Engine |
| 2018 | 3 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2016 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Child seat |
| 2015 | 1 | Not rated | Power train |
| 2014 | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2013 | 2 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2012 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2009 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2008 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2003 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2002 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2001 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Tires |
| 2000 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Tires |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20252 recalls
- 20230 recalls
- 20220 recalls
- 20211 recall
- 20203 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20151 recall
- 20141 recall
- 20132 recalls
- 20120 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20092 recalls
- 20082 recalls
- 20071 recall
- 20061 recall
- 20031 recall
- 20022 recalls
- 20013 recalls
- 20002 recalls
BMW M5: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in BMW M5 recalls are electrical system (10), air bags (6), exterior lighting (6), back over prevention (5) and tires (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: BMW M5 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the BMW M5?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2012, 2022 and 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which BMW M5 model years have the most recalls?
2001, 2018, 2019 and 2020 have the most, with 3 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "M5", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy