2018 BMW M5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 9, 2026 · 6 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other M5 years
Not enough data 4th of 21 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW M5. That ranks 4th out of 21 M5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 50%). There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

BMW M5
BMW M5 (G90) in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2018 BMW M5 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine3
Air Bags2
Fuel/propulsion System1 · ~750 mi
Power Train1 · ~750 mi
Seat Belts1
Seats1
Service Brakes1
Structure1
Unknown or Other1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine350%———
Air Bags233%———
Fuel/propulsion System117%750——
Power Train117%750——
Seat Belts117%———
Seats117%———
Service Brakes117%———
Structure117%———
Unknown or Other117%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2024, with 3 complaints
2018: 1201812024: 3202432026: 220262

n = 6 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2018 BMW M5 recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraSep 27, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V684000 · 257,473 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assemblyJul 17, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V473000 · 1,645 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: An incorrect fuel reading may lead to the vehicle stalling and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Electrical system:software; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pumpMay 16, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V323000 · 846 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the fuel pump stops, the vehicle will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The passenger seat occupancy sensor, an electrocapacitive mat (ecm), is defective on a large number of cars on the g30/fop platform including mine. This leads to intermittent sensor faults which cause an airbag warning.

Air Bags · received Jun 9, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11743092

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.

Structure · received Apr 4, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11729136

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. Expansion tank is failing and causing coolant to seep into engine bay

Engine · received Jun 17, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11594879

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…

Engine · received Apr 26, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11585423

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…

Seat Belts · received Mar 12, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11577017

Other BMW M5 years

← 2016 M5 · 2019 M5 →

See all BMW M5 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW M5?

Owners most often report engine, air bags, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 3 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2018 BMW M5?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2018 BMW M5 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other M5 model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.