RoadVitals

2007 BMW M5

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Sep 22, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 26, 2012
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 BMW M5, most frequently naming the airbags, driver assistance and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 61 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags450.0%
  • Driver assistance112.5%
  • Electrical112.5%
  • Interior & seats112.5%
  • Seat belts112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Mar 26, 2012
367,682 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.
The remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Sep 22, 2014

A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE SCREEN STATING THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED THAT A SEAT MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATED COST OVER 3000 DOLLARS ASKING BMW TO AUTHORIZE UNDER SIMILAR RECALL REPAIR. BMW ISSUED 10 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON SIMILAR 5 SERIES. BMW PLEASE CONTACT ME CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN EUROPE WITH MY CAR. NEED REPLACEMENT IN UKRAINE OFFICIAL DEALERSHIP MY DIRECT LINE +[XXX] THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10638247
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
45,100 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 11, 2014

THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SEAT MAT IS FAULTY. ITS AN KNOWN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MANY MANY BMW M5 OWNERS, AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! NOW THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IS OVER $2000 TO FIX. THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT ONLY UNTIL MID-2005 MODELS. THIS ISSUE IS GOING ON WELL PAST VEHICLES BUILT IN 2005. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568642
Incident
Mar 11, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 27, 2014

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR HAD NUMEROUS SAFETY MALFUNCTIONS ON AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE I-DRIVE SCREEN PROMPT ADVISED TO DRIVE IN A CAUTIOUS MANNER. WHILE STATIONARY AT THE RED LIGHT THE CARS REV COUNTER WAS BOUNCING UP AND DOWN FROM 500RPM-1500RPM. MY DESTINATION WAS ROUGHLY ONE MILE AWAY. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I GAVE THE CAR THROTTLE, BUT THERE WAS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT, THE CAR REMAINED STATIONARY (THE REVS ALSO REMAINED BELOW 900RPM). I GAVE THE CAR A BIT MORE THROTTLE ROUGHLY 30% (THE REVS REMAINED BELOW 900RPM AND THEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE THROTTLE), AS I DID THIS THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND BUCKED VIOLENTLY WITH THE THROTTLE BEING ULTRA SENSITIVE. I PROCEEDED TO MANUALLY ENGAGE SECOND GEAR AND LUCKILY THE BUCKING MOTION STOPPED. I AM UNSURE IF THE ISSUE IS A SOFTWARE OR MECHANICAL ISSUE. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED A FEW TIMES AFTER THIS FIRST INCIDENT. THE DEALER FOUND SEVERAL SPORADIC DSC FAULTS IN THE CAR, BUT COULDN'T TRACE IT TO A MECHANICAL CAUSE. I RESET THE SMG ADAPTATION, BUT THIS HAS DONE NOTHING TO CURE THE ISSUE. IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS SUCH AS HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CAR BECAME UNPREDICTABLE TO DRIVE AND THE FAULTS COME AND GO RANDOMLY. THE CAR CAN BE PERFECT TO DRIVE ONE MINUTE, AND THE NEXT MINUTE ITS LIKE A WILD BUCKING BRONCO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566214
Incident
Dec 28, 2013
Mileage
91,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 17, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE SCREEN STATING THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED THAT A SEAT MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ID
10471273
Incident
May 23, 2012
Mileage
51,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 28, 2012

BMW CONTINUES TO DENY THAT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DISABLE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. THE FOLLOWING RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2008 FOR 2004-2006 MODEL 5-SERIES VEHICLES WITH THE SAME EXACT PASSENGER SEAT MAT. HTTP://WWW.BMWUSA.COM/STANDARD/CONTENT/CONTACTUS/VOLUNTARYRECALL.ASPX THERE ARE COUNTLESS CLAIMS AND VIDEOS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THE 2007 MODELS AND LATER. IF A SEAT MAT SENSOR SHOULD EVER GO OUT, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT WOULD BE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SINCE IT'S THE MOST USED. IN EVERY CASE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE. THIS FLAW IN THE SEAT MAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS OWNERS ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY $1,700 FOR A NEW SEAT MAT (WHICH IS A NEW DESIGN). THEY'RE INSTEAD PURCHASING AN OVERRIDE SWITCH SOLD ONLINE (HTTP://WWW.XENONPLANET.COM/BMW-AIRBAG-SEAT-OCCUPANCY-SENSOR-E36-E46-E38-E39-E53-X5-Z3) TO RE-ENABLE THE AIRBAG, SO THEY CAN SAFELY DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SOLUTION IS THE CAR CAN NO LONGER DETERMINE THE PASSENGERS WEIGHT (IE. CHILDREN) WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. EVEN BMW SERVICE MECHANICS KNOW ITS A POOR DESIGN IN THE MAT BUT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10463430
Incident
Jan 5, 2012
Mileage
62,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 27, 2007

SPEEDOMETER ON MY NEW CAR IS NOT CALIBRATED CORRECTLY. IT CONSTANTLY REGISTERS ABOUT 8% TOO HIGH. DOES DOT REGULATE THIS CALIBRATION? IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT ODOMETER COULD ALSO BE INCORRECT. BMW SAYS THAT THEIR ALLOWABLE TOLERANCE IS 10%. CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE ALLOWABLE IN THE US? THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10200905
Incident
Aug 1, 2007

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

B340714

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. CAUSE Material-

B170222

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Coolant is leaking from under the car which is equipped with the S63 engine. A low coolant warning might also be displayed (CC Message ID166).

B662419

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.

B340414

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC; STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW M5 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010
2025120
2023000
2022100
2021210
2020130
2019830
2018630
2016120
2015310
2014210
2013102046.2
2012000
2010120
2009020
2008620
2007Viewing610
2006381035.1
2005000
2004000
2003310
2002620
2001430
2000420
1999000
1998000
1997000
1996000
1995010
1994010
1993011
1992021
1991031
1990010
1989010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.