Does the BMW M5 fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?
The BMW M5 records 0.88 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.76 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.88, 95% interval −1.04 to −0.71). It ranks 514 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a BMW M5 by registration
What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW M5 is “An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction”, recorded 116 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | 116 | 0.45 |
| The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 82 | 0.32 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 25,897 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
BMW M5 2011 · BMW M5 2012 · BMW M5 2013 · BMW M5 2014 · BMW M5 2015 · BMW M5 2016 · BMW M5 in the Netherlands · BMW M5 by postcode area · BMW M5 body, chassis and structure failures · BMW M5 brakes failures · BMW M5 vehicle identification failures · BMW M5 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · BMW M5 noise, emissions and leaks failures · BMW M5 road wheels failures · BMW M5 steering failures · BMW M5 suspension failures · BMW M5 tyres failures · BMW M5 visibility failures