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2020 BMW M5 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2020 BMW M5 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 2owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
2 complaints, against an average of 4 for the other 7 BMW M5 model years.
Every BMW M5 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2020 BMW M5?
The components named most often in the 2 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2020 BMW M5 been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 M5 and 2020 M8 Gran Coupe, M8 Coupe, and M8 Convertible vehicles. The transmission wiring harness can become damaged, resulting in an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can cause the transmission to shift to neutral resulting in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace any damaged transmission harnesses. All harnesses will be rerouted and secured. These repairs will be performed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 3, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 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.
Is the 2020 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.
UK DVSAIncorrect routing of the gearbox wiring harness
Risk: An incorrect routing of the gearbox wiring harness could lead to wiring harness damage
Fix: On the affected vehicles the transmission wiring harness will be reworked
What do 2020 BMW M5 owners report?
2 of the 2 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.
2020 BMW M5 a metal-shavings engine failure at highway speed is a safety event. I had total catastrophic engine failure at less than 50,000 miles. No warning lights, found metal shavings in the engine system and engine needs complete replacement. I discovered that the very first and most important service at 1200 miles was never performed by BMW of [XXX]. It has been detailed by managers in writing. They still sold me the car XXX without disclosing the risks to purchase the car without this service being done. The repair is estimated to exceed $97,000 in repairs. I believe there was neglectâŠ
Coolant expansion tank is leaking on fuel injectors, coils and plugs on engine below causing âdrivetrain malfunctionâ which puts vehicle into Limp Mode. Car can begin to shudder, misfire and stall. BMW has an SIB on the expansion tank, but has done nothing to address the components underneath that get damaged. Feel free to Google BMW M5 coolant expansion tank issues.
2020 BMW M5: questions owners ask
Is the 2020 BMW M5 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 BMW M5; the most common categories were engine (2, 100%), electrical system (1, 50%), power train (1, 50%). There are 3 safety recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 BMW M5?
Across 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (100% of complaints), electrical system (50% of complaints), power train (50% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2020 BMW M5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2020 BMW M5; the most recent (campaign 20V598000, 2020-09-30) concerns Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2020 only.