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 reports
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2016
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FRACTURED AND LEAKED TO THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FRACTURED AND LEAKED TO THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10862843
64,000 miles · Apr 11, 2016
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
NHTSA ODI #10854779
138,000 miles · Mar 24, 2016
Electrical System
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, IN MOTION, GOT PULLED OVER BY POLICE
NHTSA ODI #10851481
140,000 miles · Feb 19, 2016
Electrical System
WHILE I WAS REPLACING MY ANGEL EYES I NOTICED THAT THE WIRE INSULATION WAS GONE. I COULD SEE BROWN AND WHITE WIRES ALL IN THE LIGHT HOUSING. NOW ITS JUST BARE COPPER WIRE.
NHTSA ODI #10837110
80,250 miles · May 28, 2015
Engine
EXCESS SMOKING UPON STARTING. ONE WEEK LATER EXCESS SMOKING CONTINUOUSLY ..SO MUCH SMOKE I COULD NOT USE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10721984
118,000 miles · Mar 25, 2015
Service Brakes
THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL I WENT TO USE THE BRAKES AS A SLOW SPEED 5-25MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I WAS COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I ALMOST HIT, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AS NORMAL. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE ONLY WHEN DRIVING REALLY SLOW, OR…
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THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL I WENT TO USE THE BRAKES AS A SLOW SPEED 5-25MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I WAS COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I ALMOST HIT, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AS NORMAL. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE ONLY WHEN DRIVING REALLY SLOW, OR JUST STARTING. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS (BRAKE LIGHT). I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND ALL OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH WERE AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND BACK ON TO SEE IF IT WAS THE COMPUTER OR ABS SYSTEM, THIS DID NOT HELP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (INDEPENDENT) AND HE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS THE VACUUM PUMP THAT HAD AN OIL LEAK. THIS PUSHED THE OIL UP THE VACUUM LINE AND INTO THE BREAK BOOSTER. SO I NEED TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP, VACUUM LINE, AND BRAKE BOOSTER. HE AND I DID A CHECK AND FOUND A RECALL ON THE SAME ENGINE IN DIFFERENT BMW MODELS IN THAT YEAR AND AFTER 2007 IN THE SAME MODEL. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE AND THEY CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THE IT IS WEIRD THAT THE 2005 X5 4.4 V8 IS NOT IN THE RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUES AS OTHER BMW MAKE AND MODELS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM CONCERNED, BECAUSE THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT BMW AND THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF (BECAUSE OF RECALLS), BUT THE 2005 V8 X5 DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL???? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10701738
135,000 miles · Mar 4, 2015
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITH THE SEAT HEATER ACTIVATED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO GET HOT AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT REDUCED THE HEAT FOR THE SEAT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE SEAT HEATING OPTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITH THE SEAT HEATER ACTIVATED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO GET HOT AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT REDUCED THE HEAT FOR THE SEAT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE SEAT HEATING OPTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA ODI #10692061
88,000 miles · Feb 6, 2015
Power Train
BANG/CLUNK/KICK - AFTER GIVING GAS FROM A ROLLING STOP - FEELS LIKE JUST GOT HIT! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? THIS IS NOT SAFE, MY NECK GETS SNAPPED BACK BIG TIME. I JUST PURCHASED MY 2005 X5 4.4I (88K MILES) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERY TIME I DON'T STOP COMPLETELY FROM A STOP SIGN (ROLLING STOP OR SLIGHT INCLINE) I HEAR AND …
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BANG/CLUNK/KICK - AFTER GIVING GAS FROM A ROLLING STOP - FEELS LIKE JUST GOT HIT! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? THIS IS NOT SAFE, MY NECK GETS SNAPPED BACK BIG TIME. I JUST PURCHASED MY 2005 X5 4.4I (88K MILES) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERY TIME I DON'T STOP COMPLETELY FROM A STOP SIGN (ROLLING STOP OR SLIGHT INCLINE) I HEAR AND FEEL THIS LOUD BANG/KICK/CLUNK AFTER I PRESS THE GAS. SEEMS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO FIND A GEAR OR THE TRANSFER CASE HAS SOMETHING WRONG OR REAR DIFFERENTIAL? CLOSEST REFERENCE TO WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING: TRANSMISSION BUMP - BIMMERFEST - BMW FORUMS OR ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS THAT IT FEELS LIKE I JUST GOT REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR -- AFTER GIVING IT GAS FROM A ROLLING STOP OR ON AN SLIGHT INCLINE AND MY NECK GETS SNAPPED BACK. JUST GOT A " TRANSMISSION FAIL SAFE ERROR" LAST NIGHT, SO I PULLED OVER, STOPPED THE ENGINE, AND STARTED UP AND MESSAGE WENT AWAY. WTF? SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SUDDENLY NOT ENGAGING? DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO BESIDES TRADING IT IN BEFORE IT GETS WORSE AND HAVE TO PAY $$$ TO FIX? THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL, SO WHY ISN'T BMW FIXING THIS IN A RECALL? *JS
NHTSA ODI #10681710
135,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts
FASTEN SEATBELT CHIME AND DISABLED AIRBAG LIGHT APPEAR EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER'S SEATBELT IS FASTENED. SYMPTOMS OCCUR WHETHER SEAT IS OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10678299
97,000 miles · Jan 18, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
ENGINE ICED UP AND HYDRO-LOCKED FROM CONDENSATE. STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITH SLIPPERY ROADS, IN FRONT OF A LOGGING TRUCK. VERY NARROWLY ESCAPED COLLISION. FOUND MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS ON INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT BMW HAS ALLOWED THIS TO CONTINUE OVER TIME AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP I'M USING HAS DEALT WITH MA…
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ENGINE ICED UP AND HYDRO-LOCKED FROM CONDENSATE. STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITH SLIPPERY ROADS, IN FRONT OF A LOGGING TRUCK. VERY NARROWLY ESCAPED COLLISION. FOUND MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS ON INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT BMW HAS ALLOWED THIS TO CONTINUE OVER TIME AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP I'M USING HAS DEALT WITH MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS, TOO. USED FOR 17 MILE EACH WAY DAILY COMMUTE SO SHORT TRIP-RELATED PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. *TR
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.
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.
2005 BMW X5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year