2018 BMW M5 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2018 BMW M5 holds 4 complaints after 9 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is more complaints per year than most M5 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Camera, Tank, and Electrical system, software.

2013 BMW M5 — Photo by Matti Blume, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (2 of 4), then Air bags (1) and Fuel and propulsion system (1).

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 M5 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 8 complaints, 0 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

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 2018 BMW M5. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2019-09-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V684000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Recall gasoline fuel system, storage, tank 2018-07-17 · NHTSA campaign 18V473000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW M5 vehicles. The fuel level sensor in the fuel tank may become stuck against an in-tank fuel line, causing the fuel gauge to display an inaccurate and possibly larger amount of fuel than is actually available.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will secure the in-tank fuel line to keep the fuel line from contacting the fuel level sensor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall electrical system, software 2018-05-16 · NHTSA campaign 18V323000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW M5 vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the engine control unit software may cause the fuel pump to stop.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Complaints by component (4 total)

Engine

Air bags

Fuel and propulsion system

Powertrain

Seat belts

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"BMW issued a stop sale on 2017-2023 bmw F90 M5 chassis regarding the expansion tank failure. All vehicles should be affected by the recall. My current vehicle is experiencing the issues stated on the recall notice.…"
Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2024-06-17
"The coolant tank on my 2018 M5 failed causing a coolant leak. This is a highly documented problem on the forums and mine needed replacement at 22k miles. The bigger issue is the location of the tank because the coolant…"
Engine · filed 2024-04-26
"This is for the front passenger seat only.The idrive system will give an error for the passenger restraint system and will mention there is a seat belt issue and turn off the airbag. This is intermittent and will happen…"
Air bags, Seat belts · filed 2024-03-12
"I ALMOST HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN MY 2 WEEK OLD 2018 M5 ON THE 1-95 HIGHWAY ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 25, 2018 AT ABOUT 9:45PM. WITHOUT WARNING, AT ABOUT 65MPH, THE CAR JERKED FOR ABOUT 3SECONDS , KICKED OUT OF DRIVE INTO…"
Powertrain, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2018-05-26

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
M5	4.4L, 8-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	15	21	17 MPG	$4700

Specs and fitment

F90 generation, 2018–2023

Body styles Sedan

Oil 0W-30 (BMW LL; ~10.6 qt with filter) , 10.6 qt capacity

Tire size 275/40R19 or 275/35R20 front; 285/40R19 or 285/35R20 rear (staggered) front / 285/40R19 or 285/35R20 (staggered rear) rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 19V883000 covers certain 2019-2020 M5 vehicles (with 2020 M8 Gran Coupe, Coupe, and Convertible; ~3,012 units total) where the transmission wiring harness can be damaged and short-circuit, shifting the transmission to neutral and causing loss of propulsion; dealers replace damaged harnesses and reroute and secure all harnesses. Recall 19V513000 covers certain 2019 M5 vehicles (with 2020 750i xDrive, M850i, X5 xDrive50i, and X7 xDrive50i; ~115 units) where the high-pressure fuel pump may not be properly attached, risking a fuel leak and fire; dealers replace the pumps. Recall 19V684000 covers certain M5 models among a large multi-model rearview-camera software campaign (~257,473 units) where the backup image may be missing. Recall 20V598000 covers certain 2020-2021 M5 models among another rearview-camera software campaign (~312 units).

Compare

Next year 2019 BMW M5 See every BMW M5 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 BMW M5 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2018 BMW M5?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (2 of 4), then Air bags (1) and Fuel and propulsion system (1).

Is the 2018 BMW M5 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 M5 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 8 complaints, 0 per year. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has more complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 BMW M5 been recalled?

The 2018 BMW M5 has 3 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 2018 BMW M5?

Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2018 BMW M5 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 BMW M5 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 BMW M5 is 17 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.