Owners have filed 215 complaints
about the 2013 BMW X5 with NHTSA between 2012 and 2026.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 13 of 27 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 — 64
Against the median year of the BMW X5. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 60
11.6% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 33
20% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
55.2%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
33.1%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
66.2%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
1111.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
4445.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
1515.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
1212.4%
150,000+ miles
11.0%
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.
Nov 2012peak 18Jun 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2013 BMW X5
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.
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...
Recalls on the 2013 BMW X5
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2024544587,250 units in Canada
Label
Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "NONE" when it should read as "NONE / AUCUN". Canadian regulations require the information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safety Risk: This error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. The company has corrected the tire and loading information label for all new vehicles.
Recall 202000847 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles that had an airbag inflator replaced as a part of an earlier recall campaign. This recall provides a final repair. Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect the driver-front airbag inflator. The driver-front airbag module or inflator will be replaced as necessary. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected.
Recall 201901820,532 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function. Safety Risk: If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury. Corrective Action: Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have the passenger-front airbag module replaced. Note: The Canadian climate results in the propellant degrading slowly. This recall is being conducted as a precaution to address future risk. It is expected that all airbag inflators will be replaced before their function would be affected.
Recall 20182757,179 units in Canada
Steering
On certain BMW X5 xDrive35d (diesel) vehicles, the engine belt idler pulley bolt could loosen and/or break. This may cause the belt to detach, resulting in a sudden loss of power steering assist. A vehicle experiencing a loss of power steering assist would revert to a manual steering mode which would require greater driver effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. This could ultimately result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the idler pulley bolt. Note: This recall supersedes and expands upon recall 2012-396.
Recall 201711312,100 units in Canada
Powertrain
Certain vehicles may have been manufactured with defective front driveshaft universal joint seals, which could allow water and/or dirt to enter the universal joint, causing accelerated wear and/or corrosion, and resulting in vibration. If the vehicle continues to be operated in this state, the universal joint could eventually break, potentially damaging surrounding components and rendering the vehicle inoperative. This could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction : Dealers will replace the front drive shaft. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2016-226.
Recall 2016142104,151 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment. Failure of the airbag to fully deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator or air bag module, depending on the vehicle model.
Recall 2012178184 units in Canada
Steering
On certain vehicles, the steering gear was manufactured incorrectly and, as a result, a steering fluid leak could develop. Loss of power steering fluid could cause a loss of steering power assist, which may result in a crash. Also, power steering fluid leakage may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, which could cause a fire. These issues could result in property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering gear assembly.
Recall 201212967,771 units in Canada
Label
Certain vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Specifically, the compliance label does not indicate the wheel rim size, as required by the Standard. Correction: Due to the inconsequential nature of this non-compliance, no action will be taken.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Killeen, TXFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A fire started under my hood immediately after starting my car.
NHTSA complaint #11746602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MDFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My family and I were traveling from Maryland to Florida, with a planned stop in Atlanta. We were driving our 2013 BMW X5 x Drive 35i and were traveling southbound on [XXX] through Greenville, South Carolina when the incident occurred. While driving at highway speed, my husband suddenly noticed multiple error messages appearing on the vehicle’s display screen - air bag malfunction, 4x4 malfunction, stabilization, etc. He immediately began pulling the vehicle over. Within moments, he observed smoke and visible flames coming from the rear driver’s-side area of the vehicle. He urgently shouted for me and our daughter to get out of the car. What followed happened extremely fast, within approximately 15 seconds. I yelled for my daughter to unbuckle and run. In a state of panic, I grabbed our dog, and as we tried to exit the vehicle, the fire spread rapidly and aggressively. Thick, black smoke engulfed the area and we fled on foot, coughing and struggling to breathe from the smoke. By the time we reached a safe distance, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. Thankfully, we were able to escape without physical injury, but the incident was terrifying and could very easily have resulted in serious injury or loss of life. The vehicle was completely destroyed, along with all of our personal belongings - cell phones, laptops, clothing, luggage, etc. We have since checked for recalls associated with the vehicle’s VIN and were told none were listed. However, a vehicle should not spontaneously catch fire while being operated normally on a highway. The sudden onset, rapid spread of the fire, and lack of warning raise serious concerns about a potential defect, whether electrical, fuel-related, or otherwise. We believe this incident was preventable and that there may have been a failure in design, manufacturing, or warning. We had the insurance company and BMW inspect the vehicle, but the fire destroyed the car entirely, and a cause "could not be determined." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC
NHTSA complaint #11723213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, NYFire
POWER TRAIN
After driving for an hour I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the car, I opened the hood to and noticed the smoke coming from under the plastic cover which covers the turbo and catalytic converter In That area. After removing the cover I saw a bright flame coming from under the hood.
NHTSA complaint #11612189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, NYFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After driving for an hour I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the car, I opened the hood to and noticed the smoke coming from under the plastic cover which covers the turbo and catalytic converter In That area. After removing the cover I saw a bright flame coming from under the hood.
NHTSA complaint #11612189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, NYFire
ENGINE
After driving for an hour I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the car, I opened the hood to and noticed the smoke coming from under the plastic cover which covers the turbo and catalytic converter In That area. After removing the cover I saw a bright flame coming from under the hood.
NHTSA complaint #11612189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, AZ1 injured
STEERING
1) The power steering completely failed without any warning as a result of the serpentine belt failing catastrophically. 2) The failure happened in rush hour traffic right as the light turned green to turn left on an extremely busy intersection. I couldn’t turn the wheel and was a few inches from a head on collision with several large trucks which were also turning to the opposite direction. 3) The service center explained that this issue is the most common that they see on bmws with the same engine. They alleged that BMW used a faulty power steering bolt that would leak fluid onto the belt, eventually leading to catastrophic engine failure due to the shredded belt being sucked into the crankshaft seal. 4) Yes. 5) The steering was heavy but the bmw dealer assured me the vehicle was in excellent shape just a few weeks prior to this incident.
NHTSA complaint #11507371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
West Hartford, CT
POWER TRAIN
My vehicle has suffered catastrophic electrical failure due to water intrusion directly into the rear cargo compartment. This water ingress has destroyed vital electronic control modules that were designed and placed in low-lying, unsealed body cavities—an engineering layout heavily documented as a design vulnerability in the E70 chassis. My safety was put at risk as this happened on the highway and threw my SUV into limp mode. I could not drive the speed limit on the highway and had to drive home with my hazard lights on while cars drove around me and almost collided with me on the highway. BMW has previously acknowledged the severe liabilities of placing sensitive electronics near drainage paths, as seen in the Catalano v. BMW of North America litigation. This is not a wear-and-tear issue; it is a design failure that leaves critical safety components swimming in water during normal rain events.
NHTSA complaint #11746759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Killeen, TXFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A fire started under my hood immediately after starting my car.
NHTSA complaint #11746602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Hartford, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My vehicle has suffered catastrophic electrical failure due to water intrusion directly into the rear cargo compartment. This water ingress has destroyed vital electronic control modules that were designed and placed in low-lying, unsealed body cavities—an engineering layout heavily documented as a design vulnerability in the E70 chassis. My safety was put at risk as this happened on the highway and threw my SUV into limp mode. I could not drive the speed limit on the highway and had to drive home with my hazard lights on while cars drove around me and almost collided with me on the highway. BMW has previously acknowledged the severe liabilities of placing sensitive electronics near drainage paths, as seen in the Catalano v. BMW of North America litigation. This is not a wear-and-tear issue; it is a design failure that leaves critical safety components swimming in water during normal rain events.
NHTSA complaint #11746759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Hartford, CT
ENGINE
My vehicle has suffered catastrophic electrical failure due to water intrusion directly into the rear cargo compartment. This water ingress has destroyed vital electronic control modules that were designed and placed in low-lying, unsealed body cavities—an engineering layout heavily documented as a design vulnerability in the E70 chassis. My safety was put at risk as this happened on the highway and threw my SUV into limp mode. I could not drive the speed limit on the highway and had to drive home with my hazard lights on while cars drove around me and almost collided with me on the highway. BMW has previously acknowledged the severe liabilities of placing sensitive electronics near drainage paths, as seen in the Catalano v. BMW of North America litigation. This is not a wear-and-tear issue; it is a design failure that leaves critical safety components swimming in water during normal rain events.
NHTSA complaint #11746759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MDFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My family and I were traveling from Maryland to Florida, with a planned stop in Atlanta. We were driving our 2013 BMW X5 x Drive 35i and were traveling southbound on [XXX] through Greenville, South Carolina when the incident occurred. While driving at highway speed, my husband suddenly noticed multiple error messages appearing on the vehicle’s display screen - air bag malfunction, 4x4 malfunction, stabilization, etc. He immediately began pulling the vehicle over. Within moments, he observed smoke and visible flames coming from the rear driver’s-side area of the vehicle. He urgently shouted for me and our daughter to get out of the car. What followed happened extremely fast, within approximately 15 seconds. I yelled for my daughter to unbuckle and run. In a state of panic, I grabbed our dog, and as we tried to exit the vehicle, the fire spread rapidly and aggressively. Thick, black smoke engulfed the area and we fled on foot, coughing and struggling to breathe from the smoke. By the time we reached a safe distance, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. Thankfully, we were able to escape without physical injury, but the incident was terrifying and could very easily have resulted in serious injury or loss of life. The vehicle was completely destroyed, along with all of our personal belongings - cell phones, laptops, clothing, luggage, etc. We have since checked for recalls associated with the vehicle’s VIN and were told none were listed. However, a vehicle should not spontaneously catch fire while being operated normally on a highway. The sudden onset, rapid spread of the fire, and lack of warning raise serious concerns about a potential defect, whether electrical, fuel-related, or otherwise. We believe this incident was preventable and that there may have been a failure in design, manufacturing, or warning. We had the insurance company and BMW inspect the vehicle, but the fire destroyed the car entirely, and a cause "could not be determined." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC
NHTSA complaint #11723213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CA
ENGINE
The EGR system in my 2013 BMW x5d has failed. There is a recall notice for the EGR system on the 2014 BMW x5d with the same engine and exhaust system related to a fire warning. It would seem to make sense to include the my car in the recall under the circumstances.
NHTSA complaint #11706109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jasper, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The componet that failed is the cars electric system in the rear. Battery gets so hot its melted a 2nd orange box on top of the battery. Burned a hole right through. Attempted to start the vehicle, now it's throwing big sparks in the rear battery compartment. ABS warnings, brake warnings, it leaks. It will not start again! We have no transportation. Noone seems to be very concerned about the matter. Atleast 7 open, very dangerous recalls on this vehicle. How come someone has to die from the companies failure to fix what they know is wrong? This vehicle is paid for, owned by a Middle/lower class hard working single mom. I've seen to many cases of people who aren't financially threatening get delt a ball full of crap. All walks of life pay really good money for bmws cars. How about bmw returns the favor and keeps their word. My car is a death trap according to bmw. What do we do if the company won't cooperate
NHTSA complaint #11705896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jasper, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The componet that failed is the cars electric system in the rear. Battery gets so hot its melted a 2nd orange box on top of the battery. Burned a hole right through. Attempted to start the vehicle, now it's throwing big sparks in the rear battery compartment. ABS warnings, brake warnings, it leaks. It will not start again! We have no transportation. Noone seems to be very concerned about the matter. Atleast 7 open, very dangerous recalls on this vehicle. How come someone has to die from the companies failure to fix what they know is wrong? This vehicle is paid for, owned by a Middle/lower class hard working single mom. I've seen to many cases of people who aren't financially threatening get delt a ball full of crap. All walks of life pay really good money for bmws cars. How about bmw returns the favor and keeps their word. My car is a death trap according to bmw. What do we do if the company won't cooperate
NHTSA complaint #11705896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jasper, IN
SERVICE BRAKES
The componet that failed is the cars electric system in the rear. Battery gets so hot its melted a 2nd orange box on top of the battery. Burned a hole right through. Attempted to start the vehicle, now it's throwing big sparks in the rear battery compartment. ABS warnings, brake warnings, it leaks. It will not start again! We have no transportation. Noone seems to be very concerned about the matter. Atleast 7 open, very dangerous recalls on this vehicle. How come someone has to die from the companies failure to fix what they know is wrong? This vehicle is paid for, owned by a Middle/lower class hard working single mom. I've seen to many cases of people who aren't financially threatening get delt a ball full of crap. All walks of life pay really good money for bmws cars. How about bmw returns the favor and keeps their word. My car is a death trap according to bmw. What do we do if the company won't cooperate
NHTSA complaint #11705896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mahwah, NJ
ENGINE
Component or system that failed/malfunctioned N63 4.4L twin-turbo V8 engine – excessive oil consumption (1 quart every 300–400 miles) caused by failed valve-stem seals and leaking turbocharger coolant feed/return lines. Parts are still on the vehicle and available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Sudden loss of engine oil can lead to catastrophic engine failure, bearing damage, or fire. Leaking coolant onto hot turbochargers creates risk and sudden coolant loss/overheating while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer/independent service center? Yes – confirmed by Paul Miller BMW Wayne, NJ on June 30, 2025 (invoice #524818). Codes: EN79 (engine oil leak diagnosis), CS001 (turbo coolant lines leaking), DE001 (changeover valve cracked/coolant leak). Dealer quoted $12,487 to repair. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or others? Inspected by Paul Miller BMW (authorized BMW dealer) on June 30, 2025. No police or insurance involvement. Warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure? Low engine oil warning lamp repeatedly illuminates Visible coolant "steam" around hood and under vehicle after parking. Strong coolant smell from engine bay. Symptoms began approximately 18-24 months ago and have steadily worsened. Additional notes (optional but helpful) Called BMW corporate, refused (said no information) to perform known Customer Care Package B001314 (March 2025 supersession) despite documented symptoms and no mileage limitation in the bulletin. Vehicle is available for immediate NHTSA or BMW inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11701313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kensington, MD
ENGINE
The primary component that has malfunctioned is the engine's valve stem seals, which are available for inspection upon request. This defect has led to excessive oil consumption, which has now escalated to a critical safety issue. The vehicle is emitting a huge amount of thick smoke from the exhaust with a strong smell of burnt oil, and multiple engine warning lights are illuminated. I have stopped driving the vehicle, as the excessive smoke creates a significant visibility hazard for myself and others, and the underlying issue presents a risk of sudden engine failure. The problem has not been formally confirmed by a dealer, as the General Manager at BMW of Rockville dismissed the repair as not "worth fixing." It is important to note that BMW has been aware of this N63 engine issue and created a Customer Care Package (CCP) to address it, yet I was never notified, despite regular service at authorized centers. The vehicle has not been inspected for this specific safety concern by the manufacturer or others. The initial symptom was excessive oil consumption, which has been ongoing for some time and has now worsened to the current safety-critical state.
NHTSA complaint #11679744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Myers, FL
ENGINE
Check engine light indicated on the dash, immediately took it to an nearby auto mechanic Tuffy in Fort Myers Florida, off of Daniel's parkway. The said the diagnostic said it was valve cover and gasket replacement. Got a second opinion at Apex Auto in Tire in Fort Myers. Had them install a new valve cover and gasket cover. Check engine light was still visible. Probing a further diagnostic. They indicated that this vehicle should be fixed under recall 23V-707. And would suggest a local BMW dealership to perform that service. The mechanic said this was a known problem, this engine is a N55 and under the model list as E70 X5. I retrieved the vehicle and spoke with BMW Fort Myers which indicated that there not an open recall that they will not do a recall claim. because of the symptoms of the vehicle smoking and rattle I'm afraid of a potential engine compartment fire from a broken bolt.
NHTSA complaint #11655080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forest Hills, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
My 2013 X5 is not on the recall list, but it is experiencing the same issue described in the recall for the 2013 X5 ( see below). Recently, I began receiving a message on my dashboard indicating the alert related to the parking brake. Two weeks ago, when I started the vehicle, I was unable to shift into any gear, and also the parking brake malfunction appeared on my dashboard. Please refer to the pictures below, which show the active alert related to the brake and gear issue. I kindly request that my vehicle be added to the recall list so that this critical safety issue can be addressed. I can only imagine the potential consequences if this malfunction had occurred while driving. Fortunately, the car was parked at the time, and no one was injured. __________________________________________ A recall affecting the 2013 BMW X5 xDrive50i, including potential brake issues, is related to a faulty "Integrated Brake System" which may not function properly, potentially leading to extended braking distances or loss of vehicle control; check with BMW or your local dealer to see if your specific vehicle is affected by this recall and to schedule a repair. Key points about the recall: Problem: The integrated brake system may not function according to specifications, potentially causing extended braking distances or loss of control. Affected vehicles: Multiple BMW models, including the 2013 X5 xDrive50i
NHTSA complaint #11634156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centreville, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I noticed smoke comes from engine compartment while I was driving. It has been going on for a few months and I found out the BMW Water Pump Electrical Connector related recall (No 24V-608) for Year 2012-2018 including X5. 'What could happen' in their recall is exactly what I'm experiencing but my VIN number is not part of their recall even though the year and model matches. I called BMW and they said it goes by specific VIN and didn't provide details of why my car is not included. I don't feel safe driving and would like it to be checked by BMW if it is related with the recall. They couldn't help at this point and refer me to NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #11625183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centreville, VA
ENGINE
I noticed smoke comes from engine compartment while I was driving. It has been going on for a few months and I found out the BMW Water Pump Electrical Connector related recall (No 24V-608) for Year 2012-2018 including X5. 'What could happen' in their recall is exactly what I'm experiencing but my VIN number is not part of their recall even though the year and model matches. I called BMW and they said it goes by specific VIN and didn't provide details of why my car is not included. I don't feel safe driving and would like it to be checked by BMW if it is related with the recall. They couldn't help at this point and refer me to NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #11625183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, NYFire
POWER TRAIN
After driving for an hour I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the car, I opened the hood to and noticed the smoke coming from under the plastic cover which covers the turbo and catalytic converter In That area. After removing the cover I saw a bright flame coming from under the hood.
NHTSA complaint #11612189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, NYFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After driving for an hour I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the car, I opened the hood to and noticed the smoke coming from under the plastic cover which covers the turbo and catalytic converter In That area. After removing the cover I saw a bright flame coming from under the hood.
NHTSA complaint #11612189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, NYFire
ENGINE
After driving for an hour I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the car, I opened the hood to and noticed the smoke coming from under the plastic cover which covers the turbo and catalytic converter In That area. After removing the cover I saw a bright flame coming from under the hood.
NHTSA complaint #11612189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
King George, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2013 X5 Xdrive35i overheating temperature icon appears drive moderately to red hot temperature icon but doesn’t overflow. Possible water pump and electrical issues. Smell something burning.
NHTSA complaint #11609795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
King George, VA
ENGINE
2013 X5 Xdrive35i overheating temperature icon appears drive moderately to red hot temperature icon but doesn’t overflow. Possible water pump and electrical issues. Smell something burning.
NHTSA complaint #11609795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Stevens, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I had been getting battery discharge warnings off and on. I went to fill my car up with gas yesterday, and after I filled it up, the car wouldn't start. After having it towed to my house, my husband and I were looking at it this morning. We discovered that the battery charge distribution box had melted and even burned a hole in the cover.
NHTSA complaint #11586780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesEl Segundo, CA
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2013 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was sluggish. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for routine maintenance and to address the vehicle driving sluggish. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the valve-tronic camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. There was an existing for similar vehicles; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #11579790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesEl Segundo, CA
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2013 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was sluggish. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for routine maintenance and to address the vehicle driving sluggish. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the valve-tronic camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. There was an existing for similar vehicles; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #11579790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hilton Head Island, SC
POWER TRAIN
While driving locally at a 20-25 mph speed my vehicle shuttered violently and a huge thunk was heard which sounded as if the engine had dropped out. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle underneath and under hood but nothing was detected by me. Thankfully I was on a local street with grass side and not highway driving at greater speed and without location to safely park. No warning lights had flashed prior, and no warning lights came on when I restarted vehicle. I limped the vehicle a short distance to a auto repair shop for diagnosis. It was reported to me the front drive shaft had broken out and fallen down into the skid plate. It was given to me and I still have the shaft which is broken at the front fork with one fork missing. I had the 2013 BMW X5 taken to the local BMW dealer and was told this vehicle is not covered by the NHTSA Recall 17V138000 for this model BMW due to my VIN being excluded. The vehicle is 12 years old but has only 114,000 miles. I cannot understand how such a major safety component failure for a maker and model can exclude certain VIN vehicles and that major safety component actuall fail in that excluded vehicle. At this point BMW is denying any responsibility for this issue. I feel as if I could have been killed, and possibly killed others, if this had happened in a higher speed and higher traffic situation.
NHTSA complaint #11576564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eastchester, NY
POWER TRAIN
Driving at approximately 60 mph, suddenly - a lot of vibration and an incredibly loud bang. We were able to continue driving. On investigation, confirmed that there had been a catastrophic failure of the front drive-shaft. On further investigation, this is a known issue with this make & model and there was a recall [XXX]: Replace Front Driveshaft in 2017. This recall literature describes everything in the document as to what actually happened. I called BMW of Westchester where I purchased car on [XXX] and left message, they did not return my call/message. I then proceed to call BMW USA (1-800-831-1117) on [XXX] and as to how come car had not been called and concern with potential gap in their system. They explained that this recall only applied to cars produced on April-22, 2013 and my car had been produced on [XXX]. Apparently, they changed the front driveshaft part. However - as you can see, this seems to be too much of a coincidence. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11575454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.