IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND THE CONTACT'S PANTS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
What owners actually said
82 reportsSEAT HEATER GOT TOO HOT . IT MADE A BURNT HOLE IN SEAT, MY PANTS AND BURNED ME. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE
I WAS AT A STOP SIGN THEN ACCELERATED ONTO A ROUND-A-BOUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR WAS STILL ON. I TRIED SIGNALING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BUT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS GOING ON & OFF NOT LETTING ME SIGNAL ANYTHING. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK & T…
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I WAS AT A STOP SIGN THEN ACCELERATED ONTO A ROUND-A-BOUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR WAS STILL ON. I TRIED SIGNALING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BUT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS GOING ON & OFF NOT LETTING ME SIGNAL ANYTHING. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK & TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON IT WOULD JUST CLICK AND ALL LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. I WAITED FOR 20 MIN THEN TRIED TO START IT AGAIN & IT DID START BUT THEN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DYING OUT AND EVENTUALLY WOULD SHUT OFF, THERE WAS MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE.
TAKATA 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT PROVIDED.
THE 2005 X5 BMW V8 HAS GIVEN ME ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. FROM REPLACING ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, VALVE GASKETS TO FUEL INJECTOR AND IGNITION PROBLEMS. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE STILL ON DRIVE AND SOMETIMES IN MOTION. CAR HAS ALL TYPES OF PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO DRAIN ME FINANCIALLY
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, DRIVER SIDE DOOR DAMAGE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE ISSUES. SOUND OF A KICK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHEN STARTING MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS TIRES, SIZE: 255/50/19 (NA). UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS TIRES, SIZE: 255/50/19 (NA). UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKE FLUID LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST FROM WATER THAT ACCUMULATED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKE FLUID LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST FROM WATER THAT ACCUMULATED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,417. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ UPDATED 10/13/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN COVER, ALTERNATOR BRAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN COVER, ALTERNATOR BRACKET, AND OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
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.