Showing the 2018 M 6 RWD: as EPA lists it. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
16–17 mpgcombined; city 14–15, highway 20–22; the 6 RWD
Five years of fuel
$23,670–$25,150U.S. average; Ohio $22,310–$23,700 at local prices; the 6 RWD; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2018 M, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 M. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Air bags
12
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
11
0
0
0
Engine
9
0
2
0
Seat belts
7
0
0
0
Electrical system
5
0
2
0
Unknown or other
5
0
0
0
Seats
4
0
0
0
Power train
3
0
0
0
Structure
3
0
1
0
Forward collision avoidance
2
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
Steering
2
0
0
0
9 more parts
Suspension
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Wheels
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Service brakes
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 M over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicles. The third brake light may become loose, possibly allowing the light to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: If the third brake light detaches from the vehicle, it would no longer provide the required lighting to following traffic, or it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third brake light and properly secure it with new fasteners. If the third brake light detached from the vehicle and is damaged, it will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW M5 vehicles. The fuel level sensor in the fuel tank may become stuck against an in-tank fuel line, causing the fuel gauge to display an inaccurate and possibly larger amount of fuel than is actually available.
Risk: An incorrect fuel reading may lead to the vehicle stalling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will secure the in-tank fuel line to keep the fuel line from contacting the fuel level sensor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW M5 vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the engine control unit software may cause the fuel pump to stop.
Risk: If the fuel pump stops, the vehicle will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2, and X3 xDrive 30i SAV vehicles. These vehicles may have an error in the software for the instrument panel, causing the display to not properly illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: If the display does not illuminate during start up or does not illuminate various control and warning symbols while driving, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster display software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, and M4 convertible vehicles. The Emergency Locking Retractors (ELR) within the front seat belt assemblies may have been produced with incompatible vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism housings.
Risk: If the vehicle has an incompatible vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism, the seat belt may not restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary replace, the front seat belt assemblies, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 474 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2018 M, the latest on Sep 3, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (172), electrical system (166), engine and engine cooling (44), equipment adaptive/mobility (40), engine (30).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2018 M.
EPA class: compact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 2–4 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
M2 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
20 / 26 / 22
M2 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
18 / 26 / 21
M3 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
17 / 25 / 20
M3 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
17 / 24 / 20
M3 CS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 22 / 19
M4 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
17 / 25 / 20
M4 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
17 / 24 / 20
M4 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 22 / 19
M4 DTM Champions Edition Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
17 / 24 / 20
M5 All-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
15 / 21 / 17
M550i xDrive All-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 25 / 19
M6 Rear-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
15 / 22 / 17
M6 Rear-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
14 / 20 / 16
M6 Gran Rear-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
15 / 22 / 17
M6 Gran Rear-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM-S7)
Premium Gasoline
14 / 20 / 16
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data