Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1991 BMW M5 failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1991 passenger car (1.13%). Median odometer at inspection: 125,979 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
11 cars built in 1991 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 34 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
5 1991 cars are on the New Zealand register; 80% arrived as used imports, 20% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 1991 BMW M5: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 50898 | ANNOUNCEMENT THAT OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN RECALLS 96V110 AND 96V111 WILL BE COMBINED INTO ONE MAILING. *TW |
| 10244237 | Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. CAUSE Material- |
| 10019897 | S85 ENGINE OIL LEVEL AND OIL SERVICE INFORMATION. *AK |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AIR BAG WIRING FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation