10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,675 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.

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problem #7

Jan 032023

X5

  • miles
My 2003 BMW X5 was parked outside of my house, turned off and not driven for hours and burst into flames consuming the whole dashboard, fire department said that fire was due to some electrical problem with car, very scary please help could of killed my family the incident was recorded on home surveillance footage, but I cannot upload because of size

- Blue Island, IL, USA

problem #6

Jan 012022

X5

  • miles
The windows keep getting stuck. Not just one but both. We have replaced the windows 3 times. The window regulator keeps getting wound up in the gear. The motor in the window has to keep getting replaced. This is causing the window to get stuck or tight. Which ever you choose to call it. when it gets this way it causes the window to pop the crack or break. This has happened twice. my BMW is still in good shape all but the 2 front windows. This needs to be addressed.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #5

Aug 222020

X5

  • 130,500 miles
I purchased a BMW X5 and the fail trans light cam on and the gears are shifting out of control. Almost got my son killed. The check engine light came on and the lights flicker on and off. My son was driving when this happened.

- Galloway, NJ, USA

problem #4

Mar 132020

X5

  • 199,000 miles
This morning 03/13/2020 at aprox. 2:30am my BMW X5 2003 was engulfed in flames for no reason and my two german shepherds hey you and my baby diesel were inside, and how one made it out and the baby didnt, I busted windows cause I heard him crying, ,,,I couldnt get him I tried to I tried oh my god my poor baby, I was injured and scared for life with that. My car was off and parked in front of a friends house on a side street, all a loss. No pictures taken, several police and fire dept. Came.

- 1622 E. Cortez St Phx,Az 8502, AZ, USA

problem #3

Jul 092019

X5

  • 168,000 miles
Parked vehicle, notice smoke coming from underneath hood, turned into fire, heard 'boom, ' vehicle exploded, houston fire dept responded and will have report of this incident

- Richmond, TX, USA

problem #2

Jun 272018

X5

  • 70,000 miles
We have replaced 7 window regulators keep breaking. All BMW parts. Defective design. Also now the steering angle sensor has went out and causing issues with brakes etc. Bith of these issues cause the auto to fail safety inspection. The drivers side regulator scraped all the tinting off the inside of the window as well. The regulators were all replaced 4 years ago with BMW parts and they are broken again and being replaced again. Reasearching if there is after market to fix problem with that dowest have the defect BMW's regulators have. The fix is almost $2000 each time. The steering angle sensor has been malfunctioning and was just diagnosed and ABS and brake lights on..

- Petoskey, MI, USA

problem #1

Apr 042018

X5

  • 130,222 miles
Within 24 hour of purchase of vehicle, itwas smoking when I contact the dealer mad him aware of the car issue now I have found atleast 6recallson 2003 X5 BMW.recall15V318000 recall17V047000 recallo3V197000.aswell engine recalls.loss of engine powerjust shut off, severe smoke from back of vehicle.(file:///C:/users/owner/pictures/bmw_new.pdf).came to complete stop, wheni first brought concern to the dealer from the car place.it was within 24 hours, the seller contacted me and said he had a reliable car and I end up with 2003 BMW with at least 8 recalls (ukcar.reviews/BMW-X5-E53-lci-2003-problems-recalls/).I purchase the car 1-4-18..I call the dealer about my concerns,1-5-18.the car was purchase from monetary California, I sent some to pick the car up and the location was at monetary valley Ford. His phone number is 9519658614. Also I paid 3600 dollars cash for the car and the dealer put 2500 on a document he gave me.I notice it after I register the BMW.as well this dealer is in violation of California lemon law code

- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA