10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,795 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 BMW X5:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #13

Feb 012023

X5

  • miles
During the past raining season, car battery compartment flooded creating a fire/electrical hazard during operation and addition total malfunction of instruments, lighting, warning systems in general, airbags, rendering the vehicle useless. The issue is well documented online by various owners, BMW stop assisting owners of vehicles that have the same issue of flooding. Please assist with any possible help to resolve the problem(s) of the vehicle 2013 BMW

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #12

May 092022

X5

  • miles
The doors locked and does not open even from the inside trapping passengers inside the car. Door locks click into place and the doors can't be opened from the inside. Pull the handle and the lock will pop up, but the door won't open. Release the handle and the lock snaps back down into its "locked" state (it drops back down as if it has a spring on it). trapping people inside is extremely dangerous in case of an emergency. The only way is to break the windows and crawl from the window but not everyone can do that depending on their age and weight.

- Trumbull, CT, USA

problem #11

May 302020

X5 6-cyl

  • miles
Car was purchased in July of 2017. Extended warranty was purchased. Dealership says they do not have that in their records. A letter was sent to our address regarding extended coverage, but had another person's name on it. Regardless, the engine developed excessive oil leaks, and led to complete engine failure. Dealer says it would be several thousand dollars to look at it. Research indicates that this model vehicle had excessive oil leaks, but we were not apprised of this, or any of the recalls when purchased. Also, the seals were not holding oil. Dealer sold the car without disclosing of any of these defects. Further, I believe there may have been a recall on the engine, but BMW tells us that this engine is not in the recall. Additional research conforms that this is a standard practice for BMW. I can be reached any time at [XXX], or [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Decatur, AL, USA

problem #10

Dec 232020

X5

  • 102,134 miles
I have to add coolant, I have checked with dealer and said pressure tank is leaking, replace the tank, still problem is there, I told them when I turn on heat, my eyes are burning too, they ask me to replace the tank, so I did, coolant still leak, so diagnosis is not wright. Eyes burning was happening since long time, but I notice in December, I was going to eye doctor,

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #9

Feb 162020

X5

  • 68,000 miles
My X-5 started producing smoke from under the hood while driving and while stopped at a traffic light. When I reached home, I didn't see the smoke anymore, but it smelled like something was burning. A few days later, the oil at minimal level warning light came on. I took my truck into the galleria BMW dealership and was told that my valve gasket cover was broken and that oil was leaking out, causingthe burning smell. My last oil change service was less than 6 months prior to having this issue, at the same dealership. The service rep, stated this has been an ongoing issue with other older model bmws and my truck being a 2013 was old and also susceptible to having this same problem. I think this is an extreme safety issue with bmws, and it needs to be addressed asap!

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #8

May 022019

X5

  • 96,000 miles
On Thursday, May 2nd, 2019, my wife and 19-month old son were at the park and returned to the vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot. My wife had the key fob in her bag. She placed her bag on the floor of the car, just behind the front passenger's seat. She placed our son in his car seat, strapped him and closed the door. The vehicle then proceeded to lock itself, thus locking my son in and my wife out. She had to call ems to come and break open the car in order to gain access, this took close to 15-20 minutes total in which time my son was trapped in the car with temps in excess of 100 degrees as it was about 90 outside at the time it occurred. This is a known issue with BMW's comfort access feature. There has already been one class action lawsuit for owners to recover expenses, however I feel this is a bigger issue. If a person or pet, who are unable to operate doors or locks, get trapped in a vehicle it could very easily result in death under the right circumstances. When they pulled him from the car he was soakeddd in sweat, glossy eyed and out of it. This was a terrible experience that no one should ever have to go through and I feel BMW should step up and fix these vehicles. I don't care if that's replacing the system or taking it out, it's dangerous. Https://comfortaccesssettlement.com/home/portalid/0 this is literally the same story of what happened to us... https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2...ttlement.shtml BMW describes the comfort access system as follows: 'the vehicle can be accessed without activating the remote control. All you need to do is to have the remote control with you, e.g., in your jacket pocket. The vehicle automatically detects the remote control when it is nearby or in the passenger compartment. Comfort access supports the following functions: Unlocking/locking of the vehicle.'

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #7

Apr 012019

X5

  • 83,500 miles
I was traveling down the highway at 76 mph when a message came up telling me "engine hot drive moderately." I continued to drive another 3 miles when the light mysteriously shut off. I took it to the shop when I reached columbia. They determined the water pump has failed and must be replaced. The vehicle has 83, xxx miles. Had I not taken the vehicle in to the shop today and drove it after the light went off the engine could have been ruined or possibly the X5 caught on fire if the light didn't come back on.

- Blackwater, MS, USA

problem #6

Feb 142019

X5

  • 49,000 miles
Sporadically, the door lock will not allow the door to be opened from inside car when pulling on door handle. The door can be opened with electronic key fob or power unlock button in the middle console. The door failure traps the occupant in the car and in the case of an accident with power loss, it is impossible to exit the car.

- Denville, NJ, USA

problem #5

Sep 012017

X5

  • miles
Takata recall - I've been notified by mail about one year ago that the airbag has been recalled. I serviced my car Sept 2017 and they still said that the part is not available. I believe the recall took place in 2016. I've had so many mechanical problems and yet they refused to buy the car back as a lemon

- South San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #4

Jun 112017

X5

  • 56,000 miles
I heard the engine fan going at max speed. About a mile later, warning messages came on to drive the car moderately and then to pull over and turn it off. Said the engine temperature was too high. Electronic water pump failure

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #3

Dec 142015

X5

  • 26,000 miles
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.

- Prospect, KY, USA

problem #2

Jul 202015

X5

  • 19,000 miles
After starting the car, putting the car in drive, initiating a three point turn, after the first part of the turn when the accelerator is released the car will jerk, accelerate, lunge forward. I was able to get my foot on the brake to prevent additional forward motion. The revs rhythmically surged up and down between 2500rpms and idle. The whole time the vehicle was trying to drive forward. Then after a few seconds the vehicle stalled. We've taken the car to the dealership three times to get this fixed but they can find no fault with the car. This happens between once to four times per month. The car has almost driven off the road on its own and came close to hitting a parked car. We've been lucky to get our foot on the brake before that's happened. The dealership says we should take the car back as it's fine.

- Mill Valley, CA, USA

problem #1

May 232015

X5

  • 17,700 miles
After a concert, I drove my X5 out off a parking lot with my wife. I could feel a little bit about something uncommon on the driver side door, but did not pay much attention because there is no sign on indicator board showing the doors did not closed. At a traffic light, I turned to right, and diver door opened suddenly. I have to slow down, and tried to close the door while driving, but the door could not be closed. The door lock did not work. I parked the car at a shopping center parking lot, and realized that I could not open or close the door lock after trying different ways. I had to drive to home using one hand holding the door and the other hand driving. It was very dangerous. Do not know what happened, it is 2013 model, only one and half year SUV.

- Edison, NJ, USA