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
140,000 miles · Jun 12, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes
I JUST GOT MY X5 OUT OF THE SHOP TWO WEEKS AGO DUE TO A ENGINE OIL LEAK WHICH COST 1700 TO REPAIR AND NOW THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM HAS WENT OUT WHICH IS ANOTHER 1200 TO REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER THE 2005 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE FIRST RECALL WAS FOR 2000-2002 AND THE SECOND …
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I JUST GOT MY X5 OUT OF THE SHOP TWO WEEKS AGO DUE TO A ENGINE OIL LEAK WHICH COST 1700 TO REPAIR AND NOW THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM HAS WENT OUT WHICH IS ANOTHER 1200 TO REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER THE 2005 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE FIRST RECALL WAS FOR 2000-2002 AND THE SECOND RECALL WHICH WAS JUST IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR WAS FOR 2007-2010 OBVIOUSLY THE FIX DID NOT WORK AND THEY NEED TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES FROM 2000 UNTIL 2010. WHEN I CALLED BMW ALL THE GIRL ON THE PHONE COULD SAY IS YOUR X5 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10519479
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2013
Structure
THE REAR LOCKS ARE LOCKED JAMMED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY MANUAL OVER RIDE TO OPEN THE BACK DOORS. MY KIDS GOT TRAPPED IN AND HAC TO GET OUT FROM THE FRONT DOOR. IF THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE DOORS THE PASSENGERS WOULD BE TRAPPED IN PERMANENTLY AND DIE FROM CARBONMONOOXIDE POISOINING OR FREEZE TO DEATH WITH THE COLD WEATHER. THERE A…
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THE REAR LOCKS ARE LOCKED JAMMED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY MANUAL OVER RIDE TO OPEN THE BACK DOORS. MY KIDS GOT TRAPPED IN AND HAC TO GET OUT FROM THE FRONT DOOR. IF THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE DOORS THE PASSENGERS WOULD BE TRAPPED IN PERMANENTLY AND DIE FROM CARBONMONOOXIDE POISOINING OR FREEZE TO DEATH WITH THE COLD WEATHER. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONSERN THAT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING !!! BMW SHOULD FIX THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS BEFORE ANY BODY LOOSES THEIR LIFE OR KIDS GET HURT TRYING TO GET OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10497820
Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME MADE A PANIC STOP AND I CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF IT. MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID MY CAR IS TOTALED AND THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY AIR BAGS BECAUSE THEY SHOULD DEPLOYED. I HURT MY KNEE PRETTY BAD FROM IT HITTING THE DASH.
NHTSA ODI #10486881
101,899 miles · Oct 10, 2012
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DRIVER AND SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE IMPACTING ANY OBJECTS. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DRIVER AND SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE IMPACTING ANY OBJECTS. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,899.
NHTSA ODI #10479546
35,487 miles · Sep 20, 2012
Air Bags
10/8/2008 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER SERVICE CENTER REPLACED A COIL SPRING IN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. 6/22/2009 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER TROUBLESHOOT AND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG 5/11/2011 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS ISSUE WITH PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. …
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10/8/2008 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER SERVICE CENTER REPLACED A COIL SPRING IN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. 6/22/2009 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER TROUBLESHOOT AND DECIDED TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG 5/11/2011 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS ISSUE WITH PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. I DECIDED TO GET ANOTHER OPINION. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED OFF FOR ABOUT 60 DAYS AFTER THIS DIAGNOSTIC, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. SEPT 2011 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS ISSUE WITH DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG (CODE 01) AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY (CODE 70). 2/28/12 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DIAGNOSED BY DEALER SERVICE CENTER AS SLIP RING ISSUE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. DECLINED REPAIRS AS I SUSPECTED THIS WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE, BUT DEALERSHIP DISAGREED. 9/20/12 VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS A FAULTY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG AND A FAULTY SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ME THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE 2006 VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE IS AN ISSUE UNDER RECALL OR NOTICE, WHILE THIS MODEL YEAR (2005) IS NOT. I ALSO AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NAGGING ISSUES WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG THAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND DIAGNOSED DIFFERENTLY MULTIPLE TIMES. THE COMPLAINT IS IN TWO PARTS. (1) SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR - SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL (2) DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ON THIS VEHICLE - DEALER NEVER DIAGNOSED OR FIXED CORRECTLY AND IS STILL A SAFETY CONCERN. I AM NOT SURE IF OTHERS WITH THIS MODEL YEAR HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10476578
100,000 miles · Aug 8, 2012
Electrical SystemFire
LAST SATURDAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OUR (2005 X5) AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN SMOKING, ESPECIALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE PULLED OVER AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAB WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES (NO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD). WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE FLAMES ERUPTED. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED, ALONG WI…
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LAST SATURDAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OUR (2005 X5) AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN SMOKING, ESPECIALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE PULLED OVER AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAB WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES (NO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD). WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE FLAMES ERUPTED. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED, ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY $12,000.00 IN PERSONAL CONTENTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469655
98,000 miles · May 21, 2012
Service Brakes
THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS FAILED TWICE NOW ON THIS 2005 BMW X5. BMW HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS IN THE SAME MODEL YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM TO MY VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER AND HAS COSTED ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10459186
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2012
Electrical SystemStructure
BOUGHT THE MY CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE TOP CONSOLE, I TOOK IT BACK THE DEALER AND THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. ITS BEEN LEAKING OFF AND ON. A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED ABOUT AN INCH OF WATER DEPOSIT IN THE TRUNK AREA, SOME FUSE WERE WET AND OTHER ELECTRONICS FROM THE WATER DRIPPING GOOD THING IT D…
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BOUGHT THE MY CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE TOP CONSOLE, I TOOK IT BACK THE DEALER AND THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. ITS BEEN LEAKING OFF AND ON. A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED ABOUT AN INCH OF WATER DEPOSIT IN THE TRUNK AREA, SOME FUSE WERE WET AND OTHER ELECTRONICS FROM THE WATER DRIPPING GOOD THING IT DID NOT CAUSE A FIRE. I TOOK IT TO BMW AND THEY SAID EITHER I NEED A NEW SUNROOF CASSETTE($5000) OR NEW WATER DRAINS(($1300) WHICH THEY CLAIMED WAS MISSING ON ONE SIDE, NOT SURE IF THE CAR CAME OUT OF PRODUCTION WITH ONE MISSING WATER DRAIN. WHO WOULD SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON SOME REPAIRS THAT`S NOT EVEN GUARANTEE TO FIX THE LEAK? I`M JUST CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FIRE HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451738
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2011
SeatsInjury
SEAT HEATER BURNED HOLE THROUGH DRIVER SIDE SEAT CUSHION & BURNED MY LEG. *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