2018 BMW M5 Problems
- Complaints
- 6filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 750miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 17 mpgcombined, 4.4L 8-cyl AWD · 15 city / 21 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 BMW M5 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2018 BMW M5. The part named most often is engine, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by air bags (2) and brakes (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 750 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 208 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine3 50%
- Air bags2 33%
- Brakes1 17%
- Fuel system1 17%
- Other or unknown1 17%
- Seat belts1 17%
- Seats1 17%
- Body and structure1 17%
Example complaints
Engine: “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 leaks on the ignition coils and fuel injectors causing failures later. My coils and spark plugs needed replacement along with the tank. This is unacceptable and BMW needs to address this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11585423, filed 2024-04Air bags: “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 with or without a passenger. I contacted BMW about it but because it is not presently acting out, they won't do anything about it unless I want to just start paying for new parts and do exploratory surgery on it trying to resolve this. Unacceptable as this has been happening for a couple of years and is a danger because of it happens during an accident it could prove fatal.”
NHTSA complaint #11577017, filed 2024-03Brakes: “I had gotten into a head on collision in January. My insurance had refused to cover me because I had only been insured for a month. Now I’m trying to get it fix out of pocket. I’m finding out about more repairs needed ASAP. My engine might be gone.”
NHTSA complaint #11729136, filed 2026-04Fuel system: “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 neutral and started decelerating. I was in the middle lane surrounded by speeding vehicles. I managed to guide it to the shoulder and turned off the ignition for 2minutes, after which I re-started the car and was able to engage drive. …”
NHTSA complaint #11098125, filed 2018-05, 750 milesMileage when problems were reported
100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 750 and 750 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2018 BMW M5 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 AWD | 4.4L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 15 | 21 | 17 | $4,850 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 19V684000Sep 27, 2019Back over prevention › Sensing system › CameraCovers: BMW M5 2018–2020, 530I 2018–2020, X3 2018–2020 +19 more
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…
- 18V473000Jul 17, 2018Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assemblyCovers: BMW M5 2018
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…
- 18V323000May 16, 2018Electrical system › SoftwareCovers: BMW M5 2018
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.
Recall details for the 2018 BMW M5 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 208 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11024203Sep 19, 2025Engine. The Fuel Injector Condition-Specific Repair Coverage Program applies to qualifying repairs for the required replacement of one or more the fuel injectors which were determined to have failed due to…
- 11021119Jul 9, 2025Fuel system. The Fuel Injector Condition-Specific Repair Coverage Program applies to qualifying repairs for the required replacement of one or more the fuel injectors which were determined to have failed due to…
- 11019578Jun 11, 2025Air bags. The Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Front Passenger’s Seat Occupancy Capacitive Interior Sensor (CIS) Mat for defects in materials and/or workmanship that causes a false seat occupancy alert to…
- 11017098Apr 9, 2025Electrical system, Air bags. The Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Front Passenger’s Seat Occupancy Capacitive Interior Sensor (CIS) Mat for defects in materials and/or workmanship that causes a false seat occupancy alert to…
- 11013041Jan 14, 2025Brakes. A turbine-like noise can be heard from the rear axle while deceleration during the first 300 miles of operation when braking from low speed.
- 11012076Dec 10, 2024Fuel system. the Fuel Injector Condition-Specific Repair Coverage Program applies to qualifying repairs for the required replacement of one or more the fuel injectors which were determined to have failed due to…
- 11000498May 16, 2024Engine. Under certain driving situations, coolant leaks onto the fuel injectors on cylinder bank (5-8).
- 10253345Apr 15, 2024Engine cooling. BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective April 15, 2024) on certain Model Year 2018 - 2023 BMW vehicles that were produced between November 7, 2017, and September 9, 2022.
- 10252031Mar 14, 2024Exterior lighting. One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
- 10249437Jan 16, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Electrical system. The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Other model years of the BMW M5
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 8 | 44,430 | 3 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 6 | 750 | 3 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 10 | 37,000 | 2 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 6 | 67,500 | 2 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 2007 | 6 | 51,000 | 1 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 39 | 55,100 | 1 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 6 | 26,000 | 2 | — | 15 | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 BMW M5 have?
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2018 BMW M5 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2018 BMW M5 is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by air bags with 2.
Has the 2018 BMW M5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 BMW M5 get?
The EPA rates the 2018 BMW M5 (M5, 4.4L 8-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2018 BMW M5 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 750 miles and the middle half falls between 750 and 750 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.