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2003 BMW X5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 BMW X5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

77 reports with mileage · 22 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports13 fire reports3 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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75,000 miles · May 25, 2016
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR TH…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10870873

61,600 miles · Nov 13, 2013
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED MANUALLY WITH A SPARE KEY AND THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOCKED MANUALLY WITH A SPARE KEY AND THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,600.

NHTSA ODI #10552069

63,000 miles · Feb 4, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages

I OWN A 2003 X5. I LIVE IN NY. WHENEVER THE WEATHER GOES BELOW 20 DEGREES MY DOOR LOCKS FREEZE. I AM ABLE TO PULL OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, BUT ONCE I GET IN AND TRY TO CLOSE IT THE DOOR SWINGS BACK OPEN. I HAVE PULLED THE DOOR CLOSED AND MANUALLY PUSHED DOWN THE LOCK, BUT WHEN I TRY TO EXIT THE CAR I AM LOCKED IN. THE LO…

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I OWN A 2003 X5. I LIVE IN NY. WHENEVER THE WEATHER GOES BELOW 20 DEGREES MY DOOR LOCKS FREEZE. I AM ABLE TO PULL OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, BUT ONCE I GET IN AND TRY TO CLOSE IT THE DOOR SWINGS BACK OPEN. I HAVE PULLED THE DOOR CLOSED AND MANUALLY PUSHED DOWN THE LOCK, BUT WHEN I TRY TO EXIT THE CAR I AM LOCKED IN. THE LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN AND I AM STUCK IN THE CAR UNTIL IT WARMS UP. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I HAD TO CRAWL OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO GET OUT. THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO DOWN AND THE LOCKS WILL NOT ENGAGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. I HAVE HAD TO SIT IN THE CAR OVER 30 MINUTES IN ORDER FOR THE LOCKS TO UNFREEZE SO THAT I CAN EXIT THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. MAYBE THE LOCKS CAN HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROTECTIVE MATERIAL PUT ON THEM SO THEY DO NOT SUCCUMB TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES SO EASILY. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WINTER AND FIND IT TROUBLING THAT THE WINTER IS THE WORST TIME FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES THIS WINTER SO FAR AND WE ARE ONLY IN FEBRUARY WITH MANY MORE COLD DAYS TO COME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257406

Official recalls

3

17V047000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 20, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

15V318000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 28, 2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

03V197000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 27, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE STEERING SHAFT JOINT IS NOT SUFFICIENT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LINE COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE JOINT AND EVENTUALLY SUFFER DAMAGE AND CORROSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, INDICATED BY A WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, COULD OCCUR. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A REDUCTION IN FRONT BRAKE PERFORMANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE STEERING SHAFT JOINT, AND IF NECESSARY, INCREASE THE DISTANCE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.