76 of the
4,530 complaints filed about the BMW X5
are about the throttle and cruise control —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
76
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
18
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
I have a 2026 BMW X5 50E. I experienced the same malfunction twice in the same day. The first occurrence was when I was taking my husband to a doctors appointment. While parking the car and when I was almost at a stop the vehicle lurched forward and was stopped by the concrete curb. My husband asked me what happened and I said I don’t know. The second occurrence was about two hours later after visiting a second doctors office I headed to a lunch spot. I pulled into a parking spot and had come almost to a stop and once again the vehicle lurched forward with an even more powerful sudden acceleration. The vehicle struck a metal railing, bordering, an outdoor dining area. Once the railing was hit It pushed into a large freestanding metal continuous privacy panel. The privacy panel collapsed on people and caused multiple injuries. This incident endangered the safety of myself and the safety of many others. There were multiple injuries. I have not yet had the vehicle inspected by a third-party. I received no warnings on the car or through the app prior to the failure. These incidents occurred on July 31, 2026 between 10 AM and 12 PM. I have read and saved the error codes available on the car. There may be some that are associated with the incident. Also of note the incident occurred several days after a software update on July 26 at 1:30 AM
NHTSA complaint #11754180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Our 2025 BMW X5 50e was involved in an accident while slowly pulling into a parking spot at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. While turning right into the striped parking spot, the car suddenly accelerated, swiping the car parked to the right and continued on to break through a rung of the log fence barrier before manual hard braking stopped it from plunging into the canyon below. There was no audible alarm heard and apparently no emergency braking engaged to prevent impact with the other car or log fence. No airbags deployed. Emergency braking was enabled. Drive mode was Hybrid. With the grill damaged and a front sensor hanging below the damaged bumper. We are still awaiting the Park Ranger report.
NHTSA complaint #11753465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The driver's odometer and vehicle status screen intermittently blacks out, whereby not showing the speed of the vehicle and any driver warnings. It appears that this may a design issue associated to thermal events (i.e., perhaps the screen is overheating when the outdoor temperature rises to 33 C or more). I have taken my vehicle to the BMW dealership in Chandler, Arizona, so they believed reprogramming was the solution. Shortly thereafter, the screen blackout condition manifested again. I strongly suspect that this is a design safety issue. I am very concerned that BMW didn't properly validate their design nor did have sufficient thermal relieve solutions for higher than normal temperatures.
NHTSA complaint #11747520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I took my 2022 BMW X5 xDrive 45e for concerns of shuddering at low speeds and tight turns under warranty. No warning messages on dashboard. I asked specifically what was causing the shuddering. BMW of Raleigh would not respond. But they found that the Transfer Case was affected so they flushed the oil and put an oil mixture replacement in. According to the most recent BMW service bulletin, the technician is only to put in DTF oil. The technician not only put in DTF oil but also an over-the-counter non-approved chemical additive. Reading the service bulletin, the Transfer Case is supposed to have a lifetime warranty. We were charged over $500 for this "oil change", but it was under warranty. Transfer Case failures can result in accidents on highways and other roadways and complete mechanical failure of vehicle.. The oil change did not fix the Transfer Case issue but extended out the vehicle so that it now falls out of warranty. A TC replacement will cost $10,000 or more out of pocket. TC issues is a known BMW issue since 2018. Lawsuit has begun w/thousands of plaintiffs all over USA w/ 2019-2025 BMWs because they refuse to acknowledge that they are at fault even though they continue to put out bulletins for this exact issue. BMW has made sure that Transfer Case is not on any warranty they offer.
NHTSA complaint #11746659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i with the B58 3.0L turbocharged inline-six engine. While driving in Minnesota, the vehicle suddenly displayed an urgent warning stating “oil pressure too low” and instructed me to stop the engine. This occurred while the vehicle was being operated on the road, requiring me to stop driving immediately. The vehicle was later inspected by an authorized BMW dealer. The dealer diagnosed the failure as a defective oil pump and stated that the oil pump must be replaced. The estimated repair cost was approximately $7,500 or more. This is a serious safety concern because a sudden loss of engine oil pressure can lead to engine seizure, loss of motive power, and loss of vehicle control risk depending on traffic conditions. The oil pump is a critical lubrication component and should not fail as a normal wear item. I have found numerous similar owner reports involving BMW B58 oil pump failures, including reports suggesting that cold-weather operation may contribute to or expose the failure. My vehicle is operated in Minnesota, a cold-weather state. The vehicle was inspected by Park Place BMW in Rochester, MN. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this is a safety-related defect affecting 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i vehicles and other BMW models equipped with the B58 engine.
NHTSA complaint #11739764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We are reporting a safety issue with the BMW X5 xDrive50e model year 2025. I purchased this car on December 9, 2024, from BMW of Pembroke Pines, 14800 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines FL 33331. Within two months of purchase, we found that car has unintended acceleration while it is about to be parked at very slow speed. I reported this safety issue to BMW dealer in Pembroke Pines FL where I purchased the Car. The dealership kept this car of investigation. After about five weeks they returned the car with a comment on my invoice that car is working normally. On October 24, 2025, while on vacation to St. Augustine FL and parking at the visitor center SUV accelerated and hit the wall of the visitor center. All the airbags opened and saved us from serious injuries. The crash report of this incident is attached to this report. BMW failed to investigate this issue and put us and others at high risk.
NHTSA complaint #11715819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle shakes at low speeds with a jolt and vibration when turning. When I pressed the accelerator from a standstill, the gas pedal broke off from its floor mounted bracket.
NHTSA complaint #11698378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Integrated Brake System and Dynamic Safety Control both malfunctioned, not turning on. The car is totaled, so I don't think anything is available for inspection. There was water on the highway, and the car ended up going off the road into the grass and rolled over a few times before landing at the bottom of the ditch 100ft away. The car was not inspected because I was not aware of the major recall until I started looking into it. There was a snapshot of the DTC codes two weeks before the incident and there were codes specifically for the IB system as noted in the recall. There may have been one or two times throughout driving the car beforehand that a error light popped up, but then it disappeared almost immediately after.
NHTSA complaint #11688104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A car from the other side made an illegal left turn in front of me, and I braked very early, yet still slid into them. The car had been inspected at the time at the collision center, and had DTC codes from before repair and after repair, showing the Integrated Brake systems had failures before and after. There was no mention of the results of the inspection until I asked after another braking incident occurred two weeks later. There were moments where a light would pop up for a second, then disappear. It may have happened only once.
NHTSA complaint #11688105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On July 23, 2025, at around 10:50 AM, shortly after leaving my community and driving onto a main road, my BMW X5 suddenly experienced what felt like an emergency braking event and completely lost power. I was driving at approximately 40 mph when this happened. It caused surrounding vehicles to honk and make sudden maneuvers to avoid a collision, creating a dangerous situation. I was extremely frightened and shocked, and for a moment I panicked because there were cars all around me. With the help of a friend and my family, I contacted BMW Roadside Assistance. It took nearly five hours before my vehicle was finally towed about nine miles away to the Irvine BMW dealership for service. This incident has caused me extreme emotional distress, sleeplessness, and serious concerns about the safety and quality of the vehicle. I am seeking help and an official investigation into this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11675863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Formally reporting a serious and recurring safety issue with my 2021 BMW X5. Over the past five months, I experienced three separate incidents where the vehicle abruptly stopped while driving, each time displaying a red car warning light on the dashboard. The red malfunction symbol was similar to the below image (found online) Description of the Issue: Each of these terrifying safety experiences occurred while the vehicle was in motion—all on surface streets—the car suddenly came to a jarring and immediate stop on its own without my input or applying the brakes. There were no cars close to or in front of me or debris in the road that would require the car to stop to avoid impact. The red car icon appeared on the dashboard (commonly associated with collision warning or automatic emergency braking systems). The abrupt stop caused my seatbelt to constrict, jarring of my neck and ongoing concern that it will happen again. Thankfully, no accident occurred, but the abrupt stops could have easily caused a serious or fatal accident, especially under highway conditions. My Concerns: This represents a serious safety hazard not only to me and my passengers but to other drivers on the road. The issue appears to be a malfunction in the automated safety or integrated systems, possibly involving the forward collision warning or automatic emergency braking systems. My local BMW dealership (Gwinnett Place BMW) has given me an estimate of $480 to perform 2 hours of scans/diagnostics to inspect the vehicle. No loaner car or transportation offered. This is a known issue and documented in online forums and comments. I have lost confidence and trust in my vehicle and feel unsafe. For a $70k automobile that should not be the case. Requested Action: I am requesting BMW investigate this matter urgently, outline next steps at no charge since multiple reports exist of similar incidents, and provide a clear resolution, including any necessary recalls
NHTSA complaint #11674398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forward Collision Braking, a safety system, is deactivated when cruise control is activated. Further BMW sells the X5 with the mode button of the Driver Assistance Package available on the steering wheel. This to me is deceptive. My previous X5 had the system a when I activated it by pressing the mode button it worked. I assumed by pressing the mode button on the new X5 it would also work. To me this is like activating the turn signal- the feature is there, you activate it, you expect it to work.
NHTSA complaint #11658853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
As I was turning into a disabled parking space the vehicle speed suddenly increased speed by itself and hitting the brakes had no effect on the speed. This caused the vehicle to hit a concrete pillar that held the handicap parking sign
NHTSA complaint #11655269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated that while his wife was stopped alongside a curb to converse with an associate, the engine started revving with the brake pedal depressed. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times. The contact stated that the vehicle had unintendedly accelerated to 60 MPH. The contact stated that his wife was frantically pumping the brake pedal until the vehicle came to a complete stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was inspected, and the contact was advised that the failure was not duplicated and the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact stated that a software update was performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #11653203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The malfunction is my water pump is cracked & leaking coolant at 40k miles. The get up performance speed is lagging and delayed especially driving using Eco mode. The safety is at risk as the car is overheating, slow to accelerate and drive comfortably or safely. BMW of Riverside, CA has had to top off my coolant levels twice in a month or so. Bavarian Auto House located at 1009 E Balsam Ave, Anaheim, CA 92805 inspected my vehicle during a brake fluid flush and noticed my cracked leaking water pump. The low coolant levels pop up alert first appeared on my vehicle a month ago in the end of January 2025.
NHTSA complaint #11644331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
“shark fin” GPS antenna because unglued allowing water into the electrical system in the roof. This caused a malfunction that disabled the emergency call functions, GPS location service for emergency calls and GPS functions. The issue is the TCB component due to faulty waterproofing. It also makes hands free calling impossible which makes following hands free laws more difficult. Upon investigation and BMW’s admission, it is a very common problem for 2019 X5s unrelated to any driving conditions etc.
NHTSA complaint #11620129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was parking the car in a parking lot. I had my foot completely off of the gas pedal while allowing the car to roll forward into a parking spot. The car suddenly accelerates and I could not slam on the brakes fast enough to prevent damage. This was the 3rd time this type of incident occurred in this car.
NHTSA complaint #11584943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was pulling into a parking spot. I was riding slowly into the correct position. Immediately the car went into full acceleration. Knocked the parked car in front about 8 feet, turned and knocked another car on the side. I stood on the breaks, it went another 10 feet and engine stopped. I never heard this level of acceleration of engine ever before. The airbags for me and my passenger did not open. I think this spurious acceleration is a control system defect.
NHTSA complaint #11561575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2021 BMW X5
at 36,000 milesSag Harbor, NYCrash4 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
The contact owned a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while sitting in the vehicle and with the vehicle running, it suddenly accelerated on its own. As a result, the vehicle jolted into traffic and collided first with a bicyclist before continuing on to collide with the rear of another vehicle. The bicyclist sustained minor injuries. A pedestrian later reported that they were also struck by the vehicle, but the contact stated that she was skeptical of the validity of their claim. The air bags did deploy. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The driver and passenger were both treated on scene by EMS and later evaluated at an area hospital for injuries resulting from air bag deployment. The bicyclist and a pedestrian were both treated at an area hospital for unknown injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and declared a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 36,000.
NHTSA complaint #11546846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was trying to park my car on March 11, 2023 at noon, and I noticed a sudden uncontrolled acceleration even when my foot was off the accelerator pedal. Parking collision front sensors failed to provide an early warning, and automatic emergency brake did not engage leading to a minor collision with the vehicle parked in front. The situation occurred so rapidly that I did not have enough time to react quickly and apply brakes. I managed to apply brakes to avoid a serious incident, but it was not quick enough to even avoid this minor collision. I have reported this to BMW USA, however the car has not been inspected by a dealer or an independent service center after the incident. There were no warnings displayed prior to this incident, however I have had consistent issues pertaining to the operation of front sensors. I had BMW certified dealer inspect front sensors, and according to them the sensors do not provide an early warning as per the design but they have adjusted the sensitivity. The adjustment did not improve the situation, and I provided that feedback to the service center as well. The sensors did fail at twice prior to this incident, and the dealer inspected that as part of sensor sensitivity adjustment. I drove this vehicle to the BMW certified dealer more than twice to have the front sensors and other things inspected prior to this incident. Nevertheless, this uncontrolled acceleration is something that I have never experienced before, and I am traumatized to even drive this vehicle comfortably. All the automated systems designed to prevent or avoid collision did not engage leading me to not trust anything.
NHTSA complaint #11514189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.