2019 Bmw X5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Bmw X5 has 255 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: when the car has sat outside and the cold the steering is very loose causing the car to be unresponsive to turning. the driver assist is almost no. functional turns on and off on its own. shutting down the blind spot awareness as well as front collision auto braking. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 9 crash reports

255

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

67 complaints

26%

• WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT OUTSIDE AND THE COLD THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNRESPONSIVE TO TURNING. THE DRIVER ASSIST IS ALMOST NO. FUNCTIONAL TURNS ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. SHUTTING DOWN THE BLIND SPOT AWARENESS AS WELL AS FRONT COLLISION AUTO BRAKING
• INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT EXPLANATION THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED USING NORMAL PROCEDURE EVEN THOUGH THE KEY FOB IS ON THE DRIVER'S PERSON. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2019, THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD FIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED
• I AM WRITING TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN MY MATTER OF MY 2019 BMW X5 I40 SUV, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, ELECTRICAL, AND SUSPENSION FAILURES SERVICED AT 3 DIFFERENT BMW COLORADO DEALERSHIPS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH LEASE JUN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT OUTSIDE AND THE COLD THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNRESPONSIVE TO TURNING. THE DRIVER ASSIST IS ALMOST NO. FUNCTIONAL TURNS ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. SHUTTING DOWN THE BLIND SPOT AWARENESS AS WELL AS FRONT COLLISION AUTO BRAKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

57 complaints

22%

• DRIVING ON I-95, DASHBOARD DISPLAYED: "VEHICLE ON FIRE." IMMEDIATE CALL TO BMW. NO SUCH ICON OR POSSIBLE ENTRY IN BMW VEHICLES (2 DEALERSHIPS). DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTICS RUN WITH NO ISSUE WITH SYSTEM. BMW MAINTAINS THAT NO SUCH DIAGNOSTIC CODE OR WARNING TO CUSTOMERS EVER EMPLOYED IN
• I PARKED MY CAR IN MY GARAGE, TURNED IT OFF (THE ELECTRONICS POWERED DOWN INSIDE THE CAR), AND WENT INSIDE. APPROXIMATELY 4.5 HOURS LATER, MY CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS WENT OFF. I SEARCHED THE HOME FOR THE SOURCE AND WHEN I OPENED MY GARAGE DOOR I DISCOVERED MY VEHICLE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR AB
• BMW AUTO START/STOP WILL TURN OFF ENGINE BEFORE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. THIS CAN HAPPEN UP TO WHILE THE CAR IS STILL MOVING AS HIGH AS 5MPH, OFTEN OCCURS BETWEEN 3-1 MPH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“DRIVING ON I-95, DASHBOARD DISPLAYED: "VEHICLE ON FIRE." IMMEDIATE CALL TO BMW. NO SUCH ICON OR POSSIBLE ENTRY IN BMW VEHICLES (2 DEALERSHIPS). DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTICS RUN WITH NO ISSUE WITH SYSTEM. BMW MAINTAINS THAT NO SUCH DIAGNOSTIC CODE OR WARNING TO CUSTOMERS EVER EMPLOYED IN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

25 complaints

10%

• THE DRIVERS ASSIST SYSTEM DISABLES ITSELF FREQUENTLY IN COLDER AND SNOWY WEATHER. THIS REMOVES A NUMBER OF SAFETY SYSTEMS FROM THE VEHICLE.
• ISSUE: MY RIGHT HAND RESTS OFTEN RESTS ON THE SHIFT LEVER WHILE DRIVING. SIX TO SEVEN TIMES MY BRAKING HAS INADVERTENTLY CAUSED THE SHIFT LEVER TO MOVE FORWARD TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT MY REALIZING IT. THEN, WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE I AM NOT MOVING WHEN TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM THE REAR ANTICIPATES
• SUNROOF EXPLODED. ON FREEWAY DRIVING APPROX 70 MPH. NO DEBRIS IN ROAD, NOT NEAR OVER PASS, WEATHER CLEAR AND 65 DEGREES. LOUD BANG LIKE A GUN SHOT, SUN SCREEN WAS CLOSED SO IT KEPT MOST GLASS OUT OF VEHICLE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DRIVERS ASSIST SYSTEM DISABLES ITSELF FREQUENTLY IN COLDER AND SNOWY WEATHER. THIS REMOVES A NUMBER OF SAFETY SYSTEMS FROM THE VEHICLE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

18 complaints

• IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 15 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AND WILL PUSH THE CAR IS DIRECTIONS WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS (BELOW 35). AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON FREEWAYS THE STEERING IS REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS, VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WINDS. BOTH SITUATIONS ARE DANGEROUS
• #1: STEERING WHEEL JERKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ALMOST LIKE A TWITCH IN VERY COLD WEATHER ON A COLD START. ALMOST FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE AND THEY SAID "BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND NOT SURE ON ETA FOR FIX". UNACCEPTABLE AND UNSAFE IN COLD CLIMATES. #2: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BR
• WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN COLD TEMPERATURES (<10 DEGREES F), THE STEERING WILL RANDOMLY "TWITCH". THE WHEEL WILL MOVE SEVERAL DEGREES IN EITHER DIRECTION USUALLY OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF THE CURRENT WHEEL POSITION. THIS PULL IS NOT CAUSED BY THE DRIVER OR EXTERNAL FACTORS -- THE CAR'S AUTON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 15 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AND WILL PUSH THE CAR IS DIRECTIONS WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS (BELOW 35). AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON FREEWAYS THE STEERING IS REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS, VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WINDS. BOTH SITUATIONS ARE DANGEROUS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

17 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, "LEVELER SELECT DEFECT" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY "TRANSMISSION DEFECT, DO NOT TURN VEHICLE OFF". THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, NEUTRAL, AND REVERSE, BUT COULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. IN ADD
• I WAS DRIVING ON 10 FREEWAY WEST 750 AM ON 2/23 THERE WAS TRAFFICS EVERYBODY WAS BEHAVING I WAS KEEPING DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 2-3 CAR DISTANCE ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED MAKING A LOUD NOISE FROM THE HOOD MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES BUT I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR I HIT FROM CAR MY FOOT WAS ALTHE
• MY BRAND NEW BMW X 5 COULD NOT BE STOPPED ON THE TRAFFICS TIME IN AM THIS HAPPENED TWO TIMES BMW DOESN'T WANT TO HELP ME THIS CAR NOT SAFE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE MAKES A LOTS OF MOUNDED FROM THE ENGINE AND CANNOT STOP THE CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, "LEVELER SELECT DEFECT" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY "TRANSMISSION DEFECT, DO NOT TURN VEHICLE OFF". THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, NEUTRAL, AND REVERSE, BUT COULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. IN ADD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 255 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT OUTSIDE AND THE COLD THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNRESPONSIVE TO TURNING. THE DRIVER ASSIST IS ALMOST NO. FUNCTIONAL TURNS ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. SHUTTING DOWN THE BLIND SPOT AWARENESS AS WELL AS FRONT COLLISION AUTO BRAKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: DRIVING ON I-95, DASHBOARD DISPLAYED: "VEHICLE ON FIRE." IMMEDIATE CALL TO BMW. NO SUCH ICON OR POSSIBLE ENTRY IN BMW VEHICLES (2 DEALERSHIPS). DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSTICS RUN WITH NO ISSUE WITH SYSTEM. BMW MAINTAINS THAT NO SUCH DIAGNOSTIC CODE OR WARNING TO CUSTOMERS EVER EMPLOYED IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE DRIVERS ASSIST SYSTEM DISABLES ITSELF FREQUENTLY IN COLDER AND SNOWY WEATHER. THIS REMOVES A NUMBER OF SAFETY SYSTEMS FROM THE VEHICLE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 15 DEGREES, THE STEERING BECOMES ERRATIC AND WILL PUSH THE CAR IS DIRECTIONS WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS (BELOW 35). AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON FREEWAYS THE STEERING IS REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS, VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WINDS. BOTH SITUATIONS ARE DANGEROUS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)