BMW 6 Series Problems by Year
NHTSA has 25 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on file for the BMW 6 Series, across 8 model years (2004–2012). The 2005 model year has the most complaints (7). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
BMW 6 Series years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 6 Series model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2005 6 Series: 7 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2008 6 Series: 6 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2006 6 Series: 5 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2007 6 Series: 2 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2012 6 Series: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2004 6 Series: 3 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 6 Series problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Train | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 6 Series model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 6 Series | 2 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2010 6 Series | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2009 6 Series | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2008 6 Series | 6 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2007 6 Series | 2 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2006 6 Series | 5 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2005 6 Series | 7 | 3 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2004 6 Series | 3 | 4 | — | Electrical System |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 6 Series years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2005 (7), 2008 (6), 2006 (5). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 6 Series?
Electrical System, with 8 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 6 Series have?
9 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.