2013 BMW M5 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2013 BMW M5 has 10 complaints with NHTSA after 14 years, or 1 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 11 M5 years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Exterior lighting and Engine.

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (6 of 10), then Steering (3) and Air bags (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Next to 2014

The 2014 M5 has 2 complaints, 0 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 BMW M5. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall Exterior lighting 2015-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 15V188000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall Engine 2012-09-28 · NHTSA campaign 12V475000

Summary BMW is recalling certain model year 2013 M5, M6 Coupe, and M6 Convertible vehicles, manufactured from July 19, 2012, through September 11, 2012. Due to a manufacturing process error, the tolerance between the engine oil pump's drive shaft and the pump's rotor was not within specification. As a result, the pump's driveshaft could separate from the rotor.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pump, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

Complaints by component (10 total)

Engine

Steering

Air bags

Electrical system

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Fuel and propulsion system

Seat belts

Service brakes

Suspension

Show 1 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS…"
Engine · filed 2020-05-05
"I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN MY CITY WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A SQUEAKY SOUND SORT OF LIKE A HAMSTER WHEEL. SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED TO HEAR LOUD METAL TO METAL CLANKING SOUND AND THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON…"
Engine · filed 2020-05-05
"FUEL FILLER TUBE GASKETS ARE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL CAUSING THE STEERING ELECTRONICS TO BE FLOODED AND SHORT OUT CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS…"
Steering, Electrical system, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2019-06-19
"I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I ACCELERATED THE CAR JERK STARTED SMOKING I PULLED OVER AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH"
Engine · filed 2019-05-27
"CREAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL WHEN PARKED AND AT LOW SPEEDS. DIAGNOSIS FROM SHOP INDICATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. BOTH SIDES REPLACED."
Steering, Suspension · filed 2019-05-25

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2013 BMW M5 4 DR RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
M5	4.4L, 8-cyl	Automatic (AM-S7)	Rear-wheel drive	14	20	16 MPG	$5000
M5	4.4L, 8-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Rear-wheel drive	15	22	17 MPG	$4700

Specs and fitment

F10 generation, 2013–2016

Body styles Sedan

Oil 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30 or 5W-40 (BMW LL; ~10 qt with filter) , 10 qt capacity

Tire size 265/40R19 or 265/35R20 front; 295/35R19 or 295/30R20 rear (staggered) front / 295/35R19 or 295/30R20 (staggered rear) rear

Compare

See every BMW M5 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 BMW M5 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2013 BMW M5?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (6 of 10), then Steering (3) and Air bags (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Is the 2013 BMW M5 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 M5 has 2 complaints, 0 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 BMW M5 been recalled?

The 2013 BMW M5 has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 BMW M5?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2013 BMW M5 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 BMW M5 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 BMW M5 is 16.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a BMW M5 use?

F10 models list several BMW LL viscosities (~10 qt); F90 commonly lists 0W-30 (~10.6 qt); G90 commonly lists 0W-30 (~11.4 qt).

What tire sizes does a BMW M5 use?

OEM fitments are staggered across generations, from F10 265-front/295-rear packages through F90 275/285 and G90 285/40R20 front with 295/35R21 rear.

What transmission-harness recall covers certain F90 M5 models?

Recall 19V883000 covers certain 2019-2020 M5 vehicles (with M8 models in the same campaign) where the transmission wiring harness can be damaged.