Total Complaints
5 filings
BMW M5 · model year
2000 BMW M5
5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000BMWM5 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 M5 is air bags with 2 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2000 M5. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC) | 1 |
Recalls (2)
00V04800017/02/2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.
01V00100004/01/2001
TIRES:SIDEWALL
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18-INCH TIRES. (18-INCH TIRES ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE M5 AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON THE 7-SERIES MODELS). THE MACHINE USED TO MOUNT AND INFLATE THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OR MORE TIR
Recent Complaints
20231129AIR BAGS
The original airbag in my vehicle was replaced with a Takata airbag at some point (prior to my ownership) that is subject to recall, but the dealer will not replace because my VIN was not part of the recall. I have removed the airbag to verify that the part number matches the recall. It is silly to recall a part 15+ years after production and use a VIN as a means to identify affected drivers. Perhaps as a starting point, but it will never encompass all affected drivers, as parts are frequently replaced as vehicles age. The parts were sold by the vehicle manufacturer and are installed in a working vehicle. Those should be the only requirements to get a replacement, especially as it relates to a potentially lethal defect.
20230608AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2000 BMW M5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V047000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer denied the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V047000 (Air Bags) due to the steering wheel not being the original steering wheel. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
20060103CrashFireFatalSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
POSSIBLE BRAKE AND / OR "DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL" FAILURE RESULTED IN IMPACT WITH UTILITY POLE WITH RUPTURE OF FUEL TANK AND RESULTANT FIRE AND FATALITY. *JB
Mileage: 45,000
20060103CrashFireFatalELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
POSSIBLE BRAKE AND / OR "DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL" FAILURE RESULTED IN IMPACT WITH UTILITY POLE WITH RUPTURE OF FUEL TANK AND RESULTANT FIRE AND FATALITY. *JB
Mileage: 45,000
20000324AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OR COLLISION, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Compare 2000BMWM5 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2000 BMW M5 have?▼
The 2000 BMW M5 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2000 BMW M5?▼
Yes, the 2000 BMW M5 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 BMW M5?▼
The most-complained component for the 2000 BMW M5 is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2000 BMW M5 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.