Which M6 model year has the most NHTSA complaints?

The 2007, with 7 of 26 as of October 10, 2026. Three name the steering and two the air bags. One 2007 complaint reports a death. The last F-series cars reached owners most recently, which gives them fewer years of reports than a 2007.

Were 367,682 M6s recalled for the battery cable?

No. That count is for all of campaign 12V126000, which also covers the 2004-2010 5 Series and 6 Series and the 2006-2010 M5. The only campaign on this page that lists the M6 alone is 20V094000, for the Gran Coupe's third brake light.

Will you buy an M6 that has sat for years and doesn't run?

Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Mention any flat tires or stuck brakes on the M6.

Model file · BMWUpdated October 11, 2026 · 10 sources

Selling a non-running or junk BMW M6

BMW built the M6 three times, and each time it used a different engine: a 3.5-liter straight-six, then a 5.0-liter V10, then a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8. All three together account for 26 owner complaints in NHTSA's records as of October 10, 2026.

A red 1988 BMW M6 coupe with gold mesh wheels parked on a shaded road among pine trees — Photo: Schanzeml · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Generations: E24, E63/64, F06/F12/F13
Engines: 3.5 I6, 5.0 V10, 4.4 twin-turbo V8
Complaints to NHTSA: 26
Year with the most complaints: 2007 (7)
Recall campaigns: 6
Replaced by: BMW M8, 2019

So the problems that end an M6 tend to be big-ticket ones on a rare car, not a pattern in the data. If yours won't run, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

Each M6, and what's on file for it

E24 M635CSi/M6 (1983-1989)

The first M6 used the 3.5-liter M88/S38 six and a 5-speed manual. Wikipedia gives the 1987 M6 a curb weight of 1,619 kg (3,569 lb). NHTSA holds two complaints on the 1988, both about air bags, with two people injured. No recall campaigns are listed for it. If yours has been parked for decades, our project car guide covers the paperwork side.

E63/64 M6 (2005-2011)

This one had the 5.0-liter S85 V10, with a 7-speed SMG-III or, in the U.S. only, a 6-speed manual. Wikipedia counts 9,087 coupes and 5,065 convertibles sold over the five-year run. The 2006 through 2008 hold 11 complaints. The 2007 has 7 of them, with steering named 3 times.

Recall 12V126000 concerns the spot where the positive battery cable passes through the bulkhead, and the insulated connector there, on 2007-2010 cars. Dealers inspect and secure the battery cable bolt. Its 367,682 vehicles include the 5 Series, 6 Series and M5.

F06/F12/F13 M6 (2012-2019)

The last M6 had the 4.4-liter S63 twin-turbo V8 and a 7-speed dual-clutch or 6-speed manual. It carries five of the six campaigns:

12V475000, marked DO NOT DRIVE: 2013 M5 and M6 cars built July 19 to September 11, 2012, with an oil pump tolerance error. Dealers replace the pump. 696 vehicles.
17V495000: driver frontal air bag inflator on the 2013 M6, shared with the X3 (6,785 vehicles).
16V540000: 2015 driveshaft, inspected and replaced as needed, shared with the M5 (956).
16V914000: 2017 air bag modules, shared with many BMW and Rolls-Royce models (3,506).
20V094000: a loose third brake light on 2014-2019 M6 Gran Coupes. This one lists only the M6 (2,728).

Complaints and recalls by model year

Model year	Generation	Complaints	Recall campaigns	Most-named components
1988	E24	2	0	Air bags 2
2006	E63/64	2	0	Power train 1, steering 1
2007	E63/64	7	1	Steering 3, air bags 2
2008	E63/64	2	1	Electrical 2
2013	F-series	2	2	Engine 2
2014	F-series	5	1	Exterior lighting 2
2016	F-series	4	1	Structure 2, air bags 2
2017	F-series	1	2	Structure 1
2018	F-series	1	1	Suspension 1

Any year missing from the table has zero complaints logged. One 2016 complaint reports a fire.

Fix it or sell it?

Check recalls first at NHTSA's lookup, above all the 2013 oil pump campaign.
V10 or V8 engine damage? See blown engine before paying for a teardown.
Dual-clutch acting up? Our dual-clutch guide walks through it.
Weigh the quote against what a running M6 of the same generation sells for.

How to sell your M6 whole

Have the VIN, mileage and the problem written down.
Get an offer, or call (877) 421-6008.
Tell us where it is, like a carport, a backyard or a storage unit, and if the wheels and steering still turn.
Leave it complete. Missing wheels or engine parts change the offer.
When the M6 leaves, its title and keys go along, and we check your ID. For plates, see after you sell.

Questions people ask

Which M6 model year has the most NHTSA complaints?: The 2007, with 7 of 26 as of October 10, 2026. Three name the steering and two the air bags. One 2007 complaint reports a death. The last F-series cars reached owners most recently, which gives them fewer years of reports than a 2007.
Were 367,682 M6s recalled for the battery cable?: No. That count is for all of campaign 12V126000, which also covers the 2004-2010 5 Series and 6 Series and the 2006-2010 M5. The only campaign on this page that lists the M6 alone is 20V094000, for the Gran Coupe's third brake light.
Will you buy an M6 that has sat for years and doesn't run?: Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Mention any flat tires or stuck brakes on the M6.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.

NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
NHTSA recall 12V126000: positive battery cable connector nhtsa.gov
NHTSA recall 12V475000: oil pump, do not drive nhtsa.gov
NHTSA recall 16V540000: driveshaft nhtsa.gov
NHTSA recall 16V914000: air bag modules nhtsa.gov
NHTSA recall 17V495000: driver air bag inflator nhtsa.gov
NHTSA recall 20V094000: third brake light nhtsa.gov
EPA fuel economy data (model years and variants) fueleconomy.gov
Wikipedia: BMW M6 en.wikipedia.org