IllustrationBOTH TAILLIGHT HOUSING CIRCUIT BOARDS SHORTS OUT. BURNS BETWEEN HOUSING AND ADAPTER . THUS CAUSES A BREAK IN THE CIRCUIT AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TAILLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND IS ILLEGAL TO GO WITH NO TAILLIGHTS.
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
Compare all X5 years →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
40–25K
725–50K
1450–75K
1675–100K
20100–150K
3150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
5 reportsTAKATA RECALL MY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON TELLING ME THAT THEY DO NOT WORK. BUT SOME TIMES THEY ARE STILL WORKING AND SOME TIMES THERE ARE NOT! WHEN CHECKING THE LIGHT REMOVED RIGHT SIDE BULB (GOOD) PUT LIGHT BULB BACK IN WORKS FINE FOR A WEEK OR SO. THEN IT'S STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.
MY BREAKS WENT OUT THE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF THE WIOERS DONT WORK THE OUTSIDE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF AT NIGHT I HAVE A OUTRAGEOUS CIOLANT LEAK AND MIRE I HAVE DROVE THE CAR IN ABOUT 5 MONTHS OR LONGER AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS NOW THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ME AND THE KIDS GERS SOAKED BECAUSE I H A VE WA…
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MY BREAKS WENT OUT THE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF THE WIOERS DONT WORK THE OUTSIDE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF AT NIGHT I HAVE A OUTRAGEOUS CIOLANT LEAK AND MIRE I HAVE DROVE THE CAR IN ABOUT 5 MONTHS OR LONGER AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS NOW THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ME AND THE KIDS GERS SOAKED BECAUSE I H A VE WALK THEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERYDAY IT SUCKS SO IM MAKING PAYMENTS FOR SOMETHING I CAN USE IVE HAD COILS REPLACED EVERYTHING IT VIBRATES REALLY BAD WHEN I COME TO A STOP LIGHT IBHAVE HAD NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING JUST PROBLEMS
RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ON REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS CAUSING MY BRAKE LIGHT TO INTERMITTENT STOP WORKING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LAMP SHORTED AND THE WIRES WERE BURNED. THE LAMP WAS REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $600. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LAMP FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,383 AND CURRENT MILEA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LAMP SHORTED AND THE WIRES WERE BURNED. THE LAMP WAS REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $600. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LAMP FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,383 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,550. UPDATED 12/30/08 *CN UPDATED 12/30/08
Official recalls
205V504000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.