2013 Bmw M5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
37,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 10 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 40.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 30.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Engine: 6; Steering: 3; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2017: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10501862 · 2013-03-06 (March 6, 2013)
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 COUN…
Owner-reported narrative. 413 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576267 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
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 C…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,541 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11221202 · 2019-06-19 (June 19, 2019)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11221202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584266 · 2014-04-22 (April 22, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584266 at NHTSA ↗