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2005 BMW X5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 BMW X5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

64 reports with mileage · 18 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports5 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine complaints

12 reports
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83,500 miles · Jan 16, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train

ON 1/6/14 I WENT OUTSIDE AND STARTED UP VEHICLE AND LET IT WARM UP FOR A BIT AND THEN I DROVE ABOUT 2MILES AND CAR WAS ACTING FUNNY AS I DROVE IT. IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO SO I GAVE IT SOME GAS AND RPM'S REVVED UP BUT ODOMETER WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN ALL CRAZY. I LEFT VEHICLE CRANKED AS I WENT INTO STORE AND DROVE IT BACK HOME. DIDN…

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ON 1/6/14 I WENT OUTSIDE AND STARTED UP VEHICLE AND LET IT WARM UP FOR A BIT AND THEN I DROVE ABOUT 2MILES AND CAR WAS ACTING FUNNY AS I DROVE IT. IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO SO I GAVE IT SOME GAS AND RPM'S REVVED UP BUT ODOMETER WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN ALL CRAZY. I LEFT VEHICLE CRANKED AS I WENT INTO STORE AND DROVE IT BACK HOME. DIDN'T WANT TO TURN IT OFF IN CASE IT DIDN'T START BACK UP. ON 1/8/14 I WENT OUT AND CRANKED CAR TO WARM UP FOR A MINUTE AND THEN PUT CAR INTO DRIVE AND HEARD A LOUD POP. I THEN PUT CAR BACK INTO PARK. CAR ACTED AS IF IT DIDN'T WANT TO STAY STARTED SO I GAVE IT SOME GAS AND THEN A BUNCH OF SMOKE CAME OUT FROM EXHAUST PIPES. TURNED CAR OFF AND LET ALL SMOKE CLEAR AND TRIED TO RESTART CAR BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. HAD CAR TOWED TO IMPORT SPECIALTY AND 2 DAYS LATER THEY INFORMED ME THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MAKE & MODEL THAT THE DIAPHRAGM BUST AND THE TCC VALVE BREAKS AND THROWS OIL EVERYWHERE. THANK GOODNESS I BOUGHT A EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS POWER TRAIN BUT NOT THIS ISSUE $1,725.00 ON THE LOW SIDE TO JUST CLEAN OIL OUT AND THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK FURTHER INTO CAR TO SEE IF ENGINE IS SALVAGEABLE OR NOT. I AM IN A RENTAL CAR PAYING FOR THAT, REPAIRS TO START ARE JUST $1.725.00 PLUS.... CAR PAYMENT. WE DON'T KNOW IF WARRANTY WILL COVER THIS AFTER THEY FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED PER MGR AT IMPORT SPECIALTY. I HAVE CALLED BMW NASHVILLE FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF YEAR OF CAR PER [XXX] THEY CAN'T HELP. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND BMW NEEDS TO REIMBURSE CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO SHELL OUT MONIES TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND OTHER REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560314

90,000 miles · Jul 11, 2013
Engine

I BOUGHT THIS SUV LAST WEEK FOR MY KIDS TO DRIVE AFTER RESEARCHING AND TEST-DRIVING VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS FOR MONTHS: BMW X5 4,4I, MERCEDES ML430, PORSCHE CAYENNE, AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE BMW WON IN THE END BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SEVERAL 3-SERIES WITH 200,000K ON IT THAT RUN LIKE NEW. THE PREVIOUS OWNER ASSURED ME THAT …

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I BOUGHT THIS SUV LAST WEEK FOR MY KIDS TO DRIVE AFTER RESEARCHING AND TEST-DRIVING VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS FOR MONTHS: BMW X5 4,4I, MERCEDES ML430, PORSCHE CAYENNE, AND JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE BMW WON IN THE END BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SEVERAL 3-SERIES WITH 200,000K ON IT THAT RUN LIKE NEW. THE PREVIOUS OWNER ASSURED ME THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS SUV AND SOLD IT TO ME IN AS-IS EXCELLENT CONDITION. SHE ALSO ASSURED ME THAT IT HAD BEEN SERVICED BY A BMW DEALER WITH A FULL INSPECTION ON JUNE 13, 2013. I ALSO HAD IT INSPECTED BY AN INDY MECHANIC. TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT IT STARTED BLOWING CLOUDS OF BLUE SMOKE ON ACCELERATION, INTERMITTENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE SELLER WHO TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD MENTIONED THIS TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP DURING THE JUNE 13, 2013 INSPECTION, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT DETECT OR ISOLATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM BUT, THEY TOLD HER THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO PULL THE SERVICE RECORDS WHICH VERIFY THIS TO BE TRUE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT IT (PCV, CCV FOR THE N62 ENGINE AND OSV FOR THE M54 ENGINE) AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS - EVERYTHING FROM BLOWING SMOKE TO BLOWN ENGINES RELATED TO THESE PRESSURE RELEASE VALVES. HOW CAN A DEALER NOT KNOW TO CHECK THE PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH CONSUMER HISTORY AND TECHNICAL LITERATURE ON IT??? THIS JUST BLOWS MY MIND!!! I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE HAD I KNOWN ABOUT ITS PRE-EXITING CONDITION BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE RESEARCHED IT AND BEEN SCARED OFF BY THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED / HURT BY IT! THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. WHAT WILL IS TAKE FOR BMW TO GET ITS #$&* TOGETHER AND RECALL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THESE M54 AND N62 ENGINES! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524292

Official recalls

2

05V504000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Nov 1, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.

05V367000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Aug 26, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ATTACHMENT OF THE BRAKE LINE SUPPORT BRACKET WITHIN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL WAS NOT WELDED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. IT COULD LOOSEN AND OVER TIME THE BRAKE HOSE COULD RUB AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE HOSE COULD BECOME DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ATTACH THE BRAKE LINE SUPPORT BRACKET TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY 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.