The 2006 draws 2.29 complaints per run and the 2019 1, a 2.3-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 84.7% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 37 complaints, typically at 7.1 years.
BMW M5 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 8 | 8 | yes | |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2013 | 10 | 5 | yes | |
| 2008 | 6 | 5 | yes | |
| 2007 | 4 | 3 | yes | |
| 2006 | 32 | 14 | yes | |
| 2003 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2002 | 6 | 5 | yes | |
| 2000 | 4 | 3 | yes |
Among the 5 BMW M5 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2013, 2002; the three worth hunting are 2019, 2008, 2002.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 4.7% | covered | |
| 1 year | 8.2% | covered | |
| 2 years | 11.8% | covered | |
| 3 years | 15.3% | covered | |
| 4 years | 24.7% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 37.6% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 62.4% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 72.9% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 82.4% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 85.9% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 87.1% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 90.6% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 94.1% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 97.6% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 98.8% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 15.3% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 84.7% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 36% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Air Bags at 7.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 7.1 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Engine | 6 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 5.6 yrs | — | 2 | |
| Power Train | 5.1 yrs | 1 | 1 | |
| Seat Belts | 5.9 yrs | — | — | |
| Seats | 8.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 4.2 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4.8 yrs | — | 1 |
What else in this class
6 models share the M5's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.48 for the M5. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the M5 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
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Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW M5 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.48 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which M5 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2006, 2013, 2002. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2019, 2008, 2002. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do M5 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 7.1 years, followed by Engine.
Will the warranty cover M5 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 15.3% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 36% of the complaints here.
Is the M5 more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.48 complaints per production run for the M5 against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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