2018 Bmw M5 Safety Report
2018 BMW M5 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Bmw M5
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Bmw M5. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Low (4) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other,Engine | Compare unknown or other,engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Bmw M5 with 1 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Bmw M5 before buying across this generation. |
Bmw M5 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Bmw M5 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Bmw M5 | 8 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Bmw M5 | 1 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Bmw M5 | 1 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Bmw M5 | 2 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Bmw M5 | 3 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2022 Bmw M5 | 1 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2018 Bmw M5 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Bmw M5, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Bmw onlyEngine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Bmw onlyAir Bags,Seat Belts
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags,Seat Belts issues Bmw onlyPower Train,Fuel/Propulsion System
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Fuel/Propulsion System issues Bmw onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Bmw M5
Reliability Score
The 2018 Bmw M5 receives a reliability score of 87 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2018 Bmw M5
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Bmw M5:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolant Tank Failure The coolant tank on the 2018 M5 has been documented to fail, causing coolant leaks. This issue has been reported to occur around 22,000 to 30,000 miles. |
High | Rare | 22k-30k miles |
| Electrical System Software Issues There have been reports of errors in the passenger restraint system due to electrical system software issues, which can occur around 30,000 to 60,000 miles. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Back Over Prevention System Malfunction Back over prevention systems have been reported to malfunction, posing a safety risk, though the exact mileage range is not specified. |
Medium | Rare | varies miles |
| Fuel Tank Assembly Issues Fuel tank assembly issues have been reported, though the exact nature and mileage range are not specified. |
Medium | Rare | varies miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Bmw M5:
Issues with the coolant tank have been reported, leading to coolant leaks.
Errors in the passenger restraint system have been reported due to electrical system software issues.
Malfunctioning back over prevention systems have been reported, posing a safety risk.
Issues with the fuel tank assembly have been reported, though the exact nature is not specified.
Recall Details for the 2018 Bmw M5
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Bmw M5 by NHTSA:
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, 2018-2...
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
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.
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.
Consequence: An incorrect fuel reading may lead to the vehicle stalling and increase the risk of a crash.
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.
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.
Consequence: If the fuel pump stops, the vehicle will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Bmw M5
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Bmw M5 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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
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 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 a...
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 WH...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Bmw M5
Has the 2018 BMW M5 been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 BMW M5 has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 BMW M5 have?
The 2018 BMW M5 has 4 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 BMW M5?
The 2018 BMW M5 does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW M5?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 BMW M5 involve unknown or other,engine (1 complaints), engine (1 complaints), air bags,seat belts (1 complaints). Other affected components include power train,fuel/propulsion system.
How many crash reports does the 2018 BMW M5 have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2018 BMW M5 in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2018 BMW M5 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2018 BMW M5 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 BMW M5?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 BMW M5.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 BMW M5?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 BMW M5.
Should I buy a 2018 BMW M5?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 BMW M5 is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 4 complaints, 3 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 BMW M5?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 BMW M5 are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE (1 complaints), 2. ENGINE (1 complaints), 3. AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS (1 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 1 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 BMW M5?
Be aware of the coolant tank failure, electrical system software issues, and back over prevention system malfunctions. Regularly check for recalls and updates from BMW. The 2018 BMW M5 has 4 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2018 BMW M5?
The 2018 BMW M5 receives a reliability score of 87/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 4 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Coolant Tank Failure and Electrical System Software Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2018 BMW M5?
Known issues with the 2018 BMW M5 include: Coolant Tank Failure, Electrical System Software Issues, Back Over Prevention System Malfunction, Fuel Tank Assembly Issues. These are based on patterns found across 4 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common issues with the 2018 BMW M5?
Common issues include coolant tank failures, electrical system software errors, and back over prevention system malfunctions.
How can I prevent coolant leaks in my 2018 M5?
Regularly check the coolant tank and address any leaks promptly. Follow BMW's recall procedures if applicable.
What should I do if I experience errors in the passenger restraint system?
Contact BMW immediately to have the vehicle inspected and the issue addressed.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of the coolant tank failure, electrical system software issues, and back over prevention system malfunctions. Regularly check for recalls and updates from BMW.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Bmw M5
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Bmw M5. The data includes 4 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13