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2021 BMW M5 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2021 BMW M5 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 3owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 1fire report
- 0injuries reported
3 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 2021 BMW M5?
The components named most often in the 3 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2021 BMW M5 been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. 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.
Is the 2021 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 DVSAIntegrated Braking System
Risk: On certain vehicles the Integrated Brake (IB) system may be impaired due to contamination between electrical contacts.
Fix: Vehicles that may be affected by contamination are required to have the vehicle’s software updated which can detect signal interference before it occurs. If symptoms are detected you should refrain from use of the vehicle and the affected Integrated Brake (IB) system component will be replaced.
UK DVSAThe material quality of the screws used for seat belts and rear seats may not be to specifications.
Risk: The material quality of seat and seatbelt screws may not be according to specification.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the screws will be replaced in specific locations on the seat belts or rear seats.
EU Safety GateThe screws which were used to assemble seatbelts and also on the rear seats of the vehicles concerned may not have been manufactured in…The screws which were used to assemble seatbelts and also on the rear seats of the vehicles concerned may not have been manufactured in accordance with specifications. In some cases, the screws in question cannot withstand extreme loads, which could increase the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
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
What do 2021 BMW M5 owners report?
3 of the 3 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.
BMW Federal Emissions Recall Campaign - Delivery Stop: Replace Coolant Expansion Tank [B170324] The manufacturer's recall remedy replaces a defective, heat-compromised plastic coolant reservoir with an identical plastic component that is subject to the exact same thermal fatigue and catastrophic failure. I had the dealer replace the tank in March 2024 under this recall. This week, however, I noted coolant residue from the horizontal seam of the expansion tank. Furthermore, the dealership's primary diagnostic criteria (a cold pressure test) FAILED to detect severe, ongoing coolant leakage that…
Car catch on fire and explode it with 2 ocupantes inside
THE REVERSE BACKUP LIGHTS AND CAMERA IMAGE IS SO DIM AND LIMITED AS BE UNUSABLE AND VERY UNSAFE WHEN BACKING UP AT NIGHT IN DARKNESS. DEALER SERVICE COULD NOT FIX AS DESIGNED IN! I BELIEVE SAME SYSTEM USED ON ALL 2021 SERIES 5 CARS. LEFT CAR AT DEALER WITH FOBS AS I AM REFUSING THE CAR CANCELLING SALE AS HIDDEN DEFECT UNSAFE AND NOT FIXABLE PER DEALER SERVICE MGR. ATTACHED PHOTOS ARE ACTUALLY BRIGHTER THAN WHAT DRIVER SEES. VIEW IS FROM MY GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY TO BACKUP. RED TINT IS BREAK LIGHTS STRONGER THAN WEAK BACKUP LIGHTS ALL VERY ABNORMALLY DIM WITH VERY RESTRICTED ILLUMINATED VIEW.
2021 BMW M5: questions owners ask
Is the 2021 BMW M5 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 BMW M5; the most common categories were electrical system (1, 33.3%), engine (1, 33.3%), exterior lighting (1, 33.3%). There is 1 safety recall. 1 mentions a fire.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 BMW M5?
Across 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (33.3% of complaints), engine (33.3% of complaints), exterior lighting (33.3% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (33.3% of complaints), power train (33.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2021 BMW M5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2021 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), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2021 only.