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2013 BMW M5 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 BMW M5 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 10owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 1fire report
- 16%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about BMW M5 year on file: 10 complaints, against an average of 3 for the other 7 model years.
Every BMW M5 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 BMW M5?
The components named most often in the 10 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2013 BMW M5 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 10 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2013 BMW M5 been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Exterior Lighting BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine And Engine Cooling: EngineDo not drive BMW is recalling certain model year 2013 M5, M6 Coupe, and M6 Convertible vehicles, manufactured from July 19, 2012, through September 11, 2012. Due to a manufacturing process error, the tolerance between the engine oil pump's drive shaft and the pump's rotor was not within specification. As a result, the pump's driveshaft could separate from the rotor.
Risk: Separation of the pump's driveshaft from the rotor could lead to a sudden loss of oil pressure causing the possibility of complete engine failure, resulting in an engine stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pump, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
Is the 2013 BMW M5 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
EU Safety GateA seam on the inflator housing of the driver airbag may not have been correctly welded.In case of accident, when the airbag is deployed, the inflator can burst, releasing metal parts which could cause injuries.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2013 BMW M5 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 BMW M5 owners report?
10 of the 10 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. DON JACOBS BMW LOCATED AT 2689 NICHOLASVILLE RD #1, LEXINGTON, KY 40503, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V475000 (ENGINE AND…
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY IN MY CITY WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR A SQUEAKY SOUND SORT OF LIKE A HAMSTER WHEEL. SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED TO HEAR LOUD METAL TO METAL CLANKING SOUND AND THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO SAFE LOCATION ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH BEING HARMED BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJOR WRECK WAS POSSIBLE DUE TRAFFIC VOLUME AND SPEED. I HAVE ATTACHED THE MECHANICS QUOTES FOR REPAIR OF ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER AND QUICK OIL PRESSURE FAILURE. A ROD WAS SEIZED TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND THEN THE BEARING WAS DESTROYED AND METAL…
FUEL FILLER TUBE GASKETS ARE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL CAUSING THE STEERING ELECTRONICS TO BE FLOODED AND SHORT OUT CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM THAT DEALERSHIPS ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX WITHOUT CHARGING $1,000.00.
I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I ACCELERATED THE CAR JERK STARTED SMOKING I PULLED OVER AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH
CREAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL WHEN PARKED AND AT LOW SPEEDS. DIAGNOSIS FROM SHOP INDICATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. BOTH SIDES REPLACED.
LIGHT COMES ON FOR PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
CAR READS LOW ON OIL WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR ONLY NEEDED ONE QUART OF OIL. DEALER HAS NEVER LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TOLERANCE BETWEEN THE ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT AND THE PUMP'S ROTOR. DEALERSHIP ONLY SHOWED MY HUSBAND HOW TO REPLENISH OIL WHEN LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 29,000 MILES. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN CAR IS STATIONERY AND IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY. CURRENTLY MUST DRIVE AROUND WITH A QUART OF OIL IN CAR AT ALL TIMES FOR SAFETY REASONS. CAR NOW HAS 40,000 MILES.
THE VEHICLE MENTIONED ABOVE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A SNOWY EVENING. THE TRIP TO MY HOUSE IS AROUND 7 MILES AND AFTER ABOUT 6 MILES, I PARKED ALONG THE STREET AS I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WERE BEING DISPLAYED. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I SAW A FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. RESEARCHING ABOUT FIRES IN BMWS I FOUND QUIET A BIG NUMBER OUT THERE. NOW WE ARE WORRIED TO EVEN DRIVE THE TWO OTHER BMWS THAT I STILL OWN. *TR
FOR THE SECOND WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IT SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED LEAVING THE CAR IN GEAR WITH NO WAY OF MOVING THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK IS IF IT IS RUNNING. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING, BRAKING, AND ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR PASSED WHILE I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC WITH NO WAY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED AND STATED THE BATTERY WAS OPERATING AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL DISCHARGE RATE. HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR ROAD I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF STEERING…
WHILE MAKING A SLOW RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED A FEW MOMENT LATER. HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURE WARNINGS THAT WERE DISPLAYED, SUCH AS: REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LOCKED, POWER STEERING HAS FAILED, SEAT BELT TENSIONER SYSTEM FAILED AND TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT A SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY. I DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH WAS 100 YARDS AWAY AND SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND CALLED ORANGE COUNTY BMW IN HARRIMAN, NY. I WAS TOLD TO SHUT THE…
2013 BMW M5: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 BMW M5 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW M5; the most common categories were engine (6, 60%), steering (3, 30%), air bags (1, 10%). There are 2 safety recalls. 1 mentions a fire.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW M5?
Across 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (60% of complaints), steering (30% of complaints), air bags (10% of complaints), electrical system (10% of complaints), electronic stability control (esc) (10% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 BMW M5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2013 BMW M5; the most recent (campaign 15V188000, 2015-03-31) concerns Exterior Lighting. 1 recall carries a "do not drive" or "park outside" warning from the manufacturer. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2013 BMW M5 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
4 of the 10 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 BMW M5 (40%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Fuel filler tube gaskets are improperly installed allowing water to enter the left rear quarter panel causing the steering electronics to be flooded and short out causing a loss of power steering without warning." (NHTSA complaint 11221202, June 2019). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own M5
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.