BMW M
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every BMW M model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | A* | 0 | 0 | — | 19 mpg | |
| 2026 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | C | 2 | 0 | — | 19 mpg | |
| 2025 | Plug-in hybrid Gas | C | 2 | 3 | — | 19 mpg | |
| 2024 | Gas | A | 0 | 2 | — | 19 mpg | |
| 2023 | Gas | B | 2 | 2 | — | 19 mpg | |
| 2022 | Gas | A | 0 | 4 | — | 19 mpg | |
| 2021 | Hybrid Gas | F | 14 | 26 | — | 26 mpg | |
| 2020 | Gas | F | 16 | 67 | — | 25 mpg | |
| 2019 | Gas | D | 6 | 8 | — | 24 mpg | |
| 2018 | Gas | C | 6 | 48 | — | 22 mpg | |
| 2017 | Gas | D | 6 | 23 | — | 22 mpg | |
| 2016 | Gas | D | 7 | 37 | — | 22 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2022 is the cleanest M year we hold, and the 2021 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2026: 15 → 12 EPA configurations
- 2025: added plug-in hybrid; 13 → 15 EPA configurations
- 2024: 15 → 13 EPA configurations
- 2023: 13 → 15 EPA configurations
- 2022: dropped hybrid; best combined mpg 26 → 19; 26 → 13 EPA configurations
- 2021: added hybrid; best combined mpg 25 → 26; 37 → 26 EPA configurations
- 2020: best combined mpg 24 → 25; 25 → 37 EPA configurations
- 2019: best combined mpg 22 → 24; 16 → 25 EPA configurations
- 2017: 19 → 16 EPA configurations
Common questions about the BMW M
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich BMW M year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2022 M comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (100/100), 0 recalls and 4 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What BMW M years should I avoid?
2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 have the weakest recall records in this range. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every M model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the BMW M have?
Across model years 2016–2027, NHTSA has posted 61 recall campaigns for the BMW M. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.