NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
82 reports115,000 miles · Jan 13, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY AND CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR CURTAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY AND CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR CURTAIN AIR BAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, THE BACK, AND THE FEET THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10672054
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAG). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10653996
66,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BRAKE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V367000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT DID …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BRAKE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V367000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA ODI #10617991
800 miles · Jun 25, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury
DRIVING ON I-95 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE, REAR QUARTER PANEL FROM ANOTHER CAR ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES WITHOUT SEEING MY AUTO. MY CAR WENT INTO A HIGH SPEED SPIN RESULTING IN THE CAR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A HEAD ON, HIGH IMPACT CRASH INTO A CANAL. AIR BAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER ALL WINDOWS, SUNROOF…
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DRIVING ON I-95 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE, REAR QUARTER PANEL FROM ANOTHER CAR ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES WITHOUT SEEING MY AUTO. MY CAR WENT INTO A HIGH SPEED SPIN RESULTING IN THE CAR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A HEAD ON, HIGH IMPACT CRASH INTO A CANAL. AIR BAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER ALL WINDOWS, SUNROOF, AND TRUNK AUTOMATICALLY OPENED ALLOWING EASY EXIT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605826
128,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Air Bags
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND DISPLAYED THAT IT WAS DEACTIVATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE…
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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND DISPLAYED THAT IT WAS DEACTIVATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
NHTSA ODI #10597689
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
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes
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
NHTSA ODI #10545231
131,940 miles · Jul 26, 2013
Electrical SystemFire
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2013. ON JULY 25, I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR AND BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE VENTS. NO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE VCAR AND WENT FOR HELP. SPARKS AND FLAMES STARTED, THE DRIVERS CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THE ALARM WENT OFF. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER AN…
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I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2013. ON JULY 25, I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR AND BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE VENTS. NO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE VCAR AND WENT FOR HELP. SPARKS AND FLAMES STARTED, THE DRIVERS CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THE ALARM WENT OFF. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER ANDNO ONE WAS HURT. I SAW ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF THIS TYPE. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. ALL THE ELECTRONICS ARE BURNED OUT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN SPONTANEOUSLY! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532037
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
110,128 miles · Jun 18, 2013
Service Brakes
I NOTICED THE RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR 2007 -2010 BMW X5, BUT THINK THEY SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER YEARS OF SAME MODEL. MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKE LININGS. HAD THE BRAKE PADS REDONE AND AFTER LEAVING WAS ALMOST IN 4 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTERS FAILING. AFTER FULL ANALYSTS FROM BMW THEY SAID 1800.00 TO REP…
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I NOTICED THE RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR 2007 -2010 BMW X5, BUT THINK THEY SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER YEARS OF SAME MODEL. MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKE LININGS. HAD THE BRAKE PADS REDONE AND AFTER LEAVING WAS ALMOST IN 4 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTERS FAILING. AFTER FULL ANALYSTS FROM BMW THEY SAID 1800.00 TO REPLACE, BUT HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES UNTIL THEY WERE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10520543