Owners have filed 16 complaints
about the 2013 BMW X5 SAV with NHTSA between 2014 and 2019.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 8 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 22
Against the median year of the BMW X5 SAV. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 71
42% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2013 BMW X5 SAV
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
531.3%
Median failure at 7,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
425.0%
Median failure at 50,500 miles
Brakes
212.5%
Median failure at 62,750 miles
Other & Unspecified
16.3%
Median failure at 26,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.3%
Median failure at 7,000 miles
Body & Structure
16.3%
Median failure at 71,000 miles
Electrical System
16.3%
Median failure at 56,000 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.3%
Median failure at 7,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
433.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
325.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
433.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2014peak 3Mar 2019
NHTSA investigations into the 2013 BMW X5 SAV
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
RQ18001Opened 18 Apr 2018Closed 1 Dec 2018STEERING
Idler Pulley Bolt Failure
In a May 23, 2018 letter, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a safety defect that may result in the loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2009 through 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d vehicles (Recall 18V-336). The recall, which affects approximately 33,214 vehicles built from March 12, 2008 through June 27, 2013, corrects the remedy and expands the scope of a prior BMW recall (12V-550) which addressed idle pulley bolt failure in approximately 29,800 MY 2009 through 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d vehicles built from September 1...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 68,000 milesRocklin, CA
ENGINE
OIL LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET GETS INTO THE HOT MANIFOLD CAUSING A BURNING OIL SMELL AND SMOKE GETTING INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE AC VENTS CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11183676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,000 milesNiceville, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK. PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT SEAT. DRIVER LOCKED VEHICLE PREMATURELY WHILE OUTSIDE. PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH KEY FOB BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND. PASSENGER PUSHED LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS IN VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE. DRIVER REENTERED VEHICLE TO TRY TO HELP. UNABLE TO HELP AND DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. OPENED WINDOW AND HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DRIVERS DOOR. ROLLED DOWN WINDOW ON PASSENGER DOOR AND AFTER PULLING UP ON MANUAL LOCK AND PULLING HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED FREEING PASSENGER. ALL DOORS ON VEHICLE WERE LOCKED AND UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ONLY DRIVERS DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN WITH KEY. DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY FRONT RIGHT WITH ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURE CAUSING CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM FUSE TO BLOW. REPAIR INVOICE ATTACHED.
NHTSA complaint #11142990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesGriffin, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
N63 ENGINE FAILURE AND BATTERY CHARGING PROBLEMS. ENGINE BLOWS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM REAR TAILPIPES AND BATTERY INDICATOR STATES LOW CHARGE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BMW AS THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO WEASEL THERE WAY OUT OF THIS BY NOT RELEASING A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11142958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesGriffin, GA
ENGINE
N63 ENGINE FAILURE AND BATTERY CHARGING PROBLEMS. ENGINE BLOWS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM REAR TAILPIPES AND BATTERY INDICATOR STATES LOW CHARGE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BMW AS THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO WEASEL THERE WAY OUT OF THIS BY NOT RELEASING A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11142958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,900 milesKaty, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE THE PARKING BRAKE SYMBOL WENT YELLOW AND IT SHOWED A MESSAGE STATING IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PARKING BRAKE. SINCE THE CAR MOVED FINE WITHOUT ANY NOISE AND IT GAVE NO INDICATION OTHERWISE IT SEEMED SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SOME TIME LATER IT STARTER MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRUCK STOP THE BRAKES WERE FOUND EXCESSIVELY HOT IN ADDITION TO MAKING NOISE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A SHOP IT WAS REVEALED THE PARKING BRAKE HAD PARTIALLY ACTIVATED, DRAGGED THE SHOES UNTIL THEY WERE WORN DOWN, MADE METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR HAT AND CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE ON BOTH SIDES. UNDER SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT ONE OR BOTH REAR WHEELS COULD HAVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. THE ERROR MESSAGE ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE OF THIS MODULE IS HIGHLY MISLEADING, SINCE IT SEEMS WITH THE FAILURE OF THIS MODULE THE VEHICLE HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER THE PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED OR NOT.
NHTSA complaint #11122754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesSkokie, IL
ENGINE
RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY RECEIVED HIGH ENGINE TEMP WARNING ORANGE. IT QUICKLY WENT TO RED AND READ ON DASH TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE LOST MUCH POWER AND STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT LET IT GO FASTER. I HAD TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE SOME VEHICLE SPED THROUGH TO THE RIGHT OF ME WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER. 45,000 MILES AND WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WHEN I TOOK IT TO A SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #11113494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carrollton, TX
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL - TAKATA RECALL CONTINUES TO GO UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE IN QUESTION IN PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY SPOUSE AND NINE-YEAR OLD SON. BMW SHARED THIS WEEK ONLY DUE TO MY CONTACT THEM THAT THE AIRBAG FOR THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN ONE MONTH. I HAVE NO FAITH AND AM SEEKING INJUNCTION BY NHTSA TO RESOLVE THIS DELINQUENT RESOLUTION IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #11024216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Brook, IL
AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL, FEB 05,2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERNA NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V071 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG: DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE THAT COULD CAUSE THE INFLATOR TO RUPTURE.
NHTSA complaint #11016453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,600 milesSebring, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
THE PARKING BREAK SWITCH LEAVER BROKE. THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLASTIC SWITCH LEAVER IS VERY THIN (FLIMSY), THEREFORE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT NOT TO BREAK UNDER REPEATED NORMAL USE. THIS RESULTS IN THE PARKING BRAKE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. PLEASE SEE UPLOAD PHOTO.
NHTSA complaint #11013091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Purcellville, VA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X5 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10967712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
AIR BAGS
MY CAR HAS HAD AN OPEN RECALL SINCE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2016 AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM BMW REGARDING WHEN THE RECALL WILL BE REPAIRED. SEVERAL EMAILS TO SERVICE ADVISER RESULT IN A GENERIC RESPONSE THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10916838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesOrangeburg, NY
POWER TRAIN
HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM 77 YEARS OLD MAN AND MORE THAN 50 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BOUGHT BMW X5 OCTOBER 2013 FROM TENAFLY BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS MY LIFETIME DREAMED CAR. LIKE A BMW SALES SLOGAN ?ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE BMW CAR'S JOY OF DRIVING. BUT AFTER FEW MONTH LATER I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE BMW X5. WHEN I DRIVE TO ACCELERATE PUSH THE GAS CAR DOSE NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS PUSHING GAS. SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY PROBLEM THEY DID SOFTWARE UPGRADE. AFTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAR WAS GOOD RESPONDING DRIVE. BUT FEW WEEKS LATER BACK TO OLD CONDITION. THESE THINGS FOUR MORE TIMES I DID. COULD YOU POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MY FRUSTRATION? HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS: 1. SLUGGISH AND HESITATING RUNNING WHEN ACCELERATION 2. BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND GASOLINE SENSOR PROBLEM?!(I THINK) 3. NOT SMOOTH TRANSITION AND FEEL HEAVY MOVING 4. THIS IS NOT BMW X5 POWER RUNNING WEAK. 5. DRIVING TERRIBLY HEAVILY RESPONDING. 6. I WAS RECALLED FOR FRONT AIRBAG. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10854606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesOrangeburg, NY
AIR BAGS
HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM 77 YEARS OLD MAN AND MORE THAN 50 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BOUGHT BMW X5 OCTOBER 2013 FROM TENAFLY BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS MY LIFETIME DREAMED CAR. LIKE A BMW SALES SLOGAN ?ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE BMW CAR'S JOY OF DRIVING. BUT AFTER FEW MONTH LATER I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE BMW X5. WHEN I DRIVE TO ACCELERATE PUSH THE GAS CAR DOSE NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS PUSHING GAS. SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY PROBLEM THEY DID SOFTWARE UPGRADE. AFTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAR WAS GOOD RESPONDING DRIVE. BUT FEW WEEKS LATER BACK TO OLD CONDITION. THESE THINGS FOUR MORE TIMES I DID. COULD YOU POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MY FRUSTRATION? HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS: 1. SLUGGISH AND HESITATING RUNNING WHEN ACCELERATION 2. BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND GASOLINE SENSOR PROBLEM?!(I THINK) 3. NOT SMOOTH TRANSITION AND FEEL HEAVY MOVING 4. THIS IS NOT BMW X5 POWER RUNNING WEAK. 5. DRIVING TERRIBLY HEAVILY RESPONDING. 6. I WAS RECALLED FOR FRONT AIRBAG. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10854606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,000 milesOrangeburg, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM 77 YEARS OLD MAN AND MORE THAN 50 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BOUGHT BMW X5 OCTOBER 2013 FROM TENAFLY BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS MY LIFETIME DREAMED CAR. LIKE A BMW SALES SLOGAN ?ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE BMW CAR'S JOY OF DRIVING. BUT AFTER FEW MONTH LATER I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE BMW X5. WHEN I DRIVE TO ACCELERATE PUSH THE GAS CAR DOSE NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS PUSHING GAS. SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY PROBLEM THEY DID SOFTWARE UPGRADE. AFTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAR WAS GOOD RESPONDING DRIVE. BUT FEW WEEKS LATER BACK TO OLD CONDITION. THESE THINGS FOUR MORE TIMES I DID. COULD YOU POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MY FRUSTRATION? HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS: 1. SLUGGISH AND HESITATING RUNNING WHEN ACCELERATION 2. BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND GASOLINE SENSOR PROBLEM?!(I THINK) 3. NOT SMOOTH TRANSITION AND FEEL HEAVY MOVING 4. THIS IS NOT BMW X5 POWER RUNNING WEAK. 5. DRIVING TERRIBLY HEAVILY RESPONDING. 6. I WAS RECALLED FOR FRONT AIRBAG. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10854606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesProspect, KY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VOICE ACTIVATED NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS DO NOT WORK AND ARE A DRIVER DISTRACTION DUE DO TO A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT WORK. SYSTEM IS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HANDS FREE OPERATION TO ENABLE DRIVERS NOT TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND PLACING A PHONE CALL OR DIRECTIONS. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IN IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #10817366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,990 milesLOS Angeles, CA
ENGINE
ENGINE STALLED WHILE VEHICLE AT COMPLETE STOP, WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FOR SEVERAL MILES AND PARKED, THEN RESTARTED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10569355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.