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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.

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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 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

71,000 miles · Aug 18, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW X5 THIS MAY. I FEEL DIZZY AND NAUSEA EACH TIME I DRIVE IT AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE REASON UNTIL RECENTLY. I BOUGHT A GAUSS METER TO CHECK COMPUTER EMF IN MY STUDY ROOM RECENTLY. EMF IS SHOWING AS SAFE IN FRONT OF EVERY COMPUTER IN MY STUDY ROOM. TO MY SURPRISE, IT SHOWED AS DANGER AFTER I STARTED MY BMW X5, EVEN…

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I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW X5 THIS MAY. I FEEL DIZZY AND NAUSEA EACH TIME I DRIVE IT AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE REASON UNTIL RECENTLY. I BOUGHT A GAUSS METER TO CHECK COMPUTER EMF IN MY STUDY ROOM RECENTLY. EMF IS SHOWING AS SAFE IN FRONT OF EVERY COMPUTER IN MY STUDY ROOM. TO MY SURPRISE, IT SHOWED AS DANGER AFTER I STARTED MY BMW X5, EVEN AT THE BACK ROW OF THE CAR. I TRIED IT IN ANOTHER CAR I HAVE, IT SHOWED AS SAFE ALSO. SO I THINK THIS IS THE REASON THAT CAUSED THE DIZZINESS AND THE NAUSEA. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO DIZZINESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280836

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2008
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

1: WE BOUGHT THIS BMW 2005 X5 IN JUNE 2008 AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 08 FOR ROUTINE FULL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. UPON COMPLETION OF REPAIRS/DIAGNOSTICS, WHICH TOOK ALMOST A WEEK, DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THERE WERE NO ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER RECEIVING D…

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1: WE BOUGHT THIS BMW 2005 X5 IN JUNE 2008 AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 08 FOR ROUTINE FULL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. UPON COMPLETION OF REPAIRS/DIAGNOSTICS, WHICH TOOK ALMOST A WEEK, DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THERE WERE NO ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER RECEIVING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE "CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH" FROM THE DEALER, THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE MORNING RIGHT BEFORE WORK RESULTING IN LOGISTICAL, FINANCIAL, AND SAFETY ISSUES. THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND WAS BROUGHT UP MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE DEALER WITHOUT RESOLUTION. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED, AGAIN RESULTING IN LOGISTICAL, FINANCIAL, AND SAFETY ISSUES AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. OVER THE NEXT WEEK, WE NOTICED ABOUT 16 OTHER ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES AND BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. AFTER RECEIVING THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AS THE CAR DIED AGAIN. WITHIN ANOTHER MONTH, THE CAR DIED YET AGAIN! AGAIN, IT WAS THE BATTERY. AGAIN, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2: THE FAILURE IS, AMONGST MULTIPLE OTHER ISSUES, A CHRONIC BATTERY DRAIN. 3: LAST REPAIR, ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, THE TCU UNIT WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE BATTERY. SO FAR, WE ARE ON OUR 5TH BATTERY IN 4 MONTHS IN A NEWER BMW X5! OUR FUEL GAUGE STILL DOES NOT READ FULL WHEN FULL AND IS INACCURATE. DEALER STATES THAT "THIS IS THE WAY ALL BMWS ARE MADE". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250411

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.