RecallMyCar

1991 BMW M5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1991 BMW M5. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA
13–18
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1991 BMW M5

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V178000 Reported 340,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by the driver, it is possible that damage to,…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new design radiator cap to control pressure and provide greater coolant overflow in the event of overheating.

  2. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 96V110000 Reported 75,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the locking tab with one of a different design.

  3. Hub (wheels)

    NHTSA 90V204000 Reported 480 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    Screws that attach wheel covers on original equipment wheels were not fully torqued and may gradually loosen and separate from wheels under extreme driving conditions.

    Remedy: Apply "loctite 242 (blue) to the wheel cover attaching screws to prevent screws from loosening.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1991 BMW M5. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1991 BMW M (M3, M5). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–18 mpg
City / Highway10–15 / 19–26
FuelPremium
EPA classCompact Cars, Subcompact Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.3/3.5 L
TransmissionManual 5-spd

Compare BMW M5 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW M5 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1989 BMW M510
1990 BMW M510
1991 BMW M530
1992 BMW M520
1993 BMW M510
1994 BMW M510
1995 BMW M510
2000 BMW M524
2001 BMW M534
2002 BMW M526
2003 BMW M513
2006 BMW M5139
2007 BMW M516
2008 BMW M526
2009 BMW M520
2010 BMW M521
2013 BMW M5210
2014 BMW M512
2015 BMW M513
2016 BMW M521
2018 BMW M536
2019 BMW M538
2020 BMW M532
2021 BMW M512
2022 BMW M501
2025 BMW M521
2026 BMW M510

Checking a specific 1991 BMW M5

How do I know if my 1991 BMW M5 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1991 BMW M5; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 90V204000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other BMW models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.