There are 4 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2003 BMW X5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT FULL SPEED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. PAM
WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT ABOUT 80 MILES PER HOUR, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, IT WAS NECESSARY TO DIS-ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR A SLOWER VEHICLE. WHEN I THEN APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE GAS PEDAL, IT SUDDENLY FELT UNSTABLE AND WOBBLY. I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN STEADY PRESSURE ON IT AND MAINTAIN MY SPEED IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. I WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SITUATION. FORTUNATELY I WAS JUST 20 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION, AND I WAS ABLE TO VERY CAREFULLY AND REPEATEDLY RE-POSITION MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. UPON ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION, I EXAMINED THE GAS PEDAL, ONLY TO FIND MOST OF IT HAD DETACHED FROM THE FLOORBOARD - A THIN, FLIMSY WEB OF PLASTIC THAT HELD THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD HAD SPLIT AT THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ONLY ABOUT 15 OR 20% OF THE ATTACHMENT REMAINED. HAD 100% OF THE ATTACHMENT FAILED, I WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE LOST ALL ACCELERATOR CONTROL IN TRAFFIC AND AT HIGH SPEED, A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE DESIGN OF THIS GAS PEDAL IS DEFECTIVE, WHICH LED TO THE PROBLEM AT ONLY 33500 MILES! I COMPLAINED TO BMW U.S.A WITH NO SATISFACTION. I CLAIMED THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, WHICH CONSTITUTES LIFETIME RESPONSIBILITY OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY DID NOT AGREE. I ALSO FEEL THE EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS PRESENT IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST WHERE I LIVE MAY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT IN THE HOPE IT MAY PREVENT A SIMILAR, POSSIBLY MORE SERIOUS FAILURE FOR SOMEONE ELSE OWNING A BMW. I HAVE RETAINED THE FAILED GAS PEDAL AND CAN PROVIDE PICTURES TO YOU IF YOU LIKE. *TR
2003 BMW X5 THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVES BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN A EMERGENCY STOP CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE UNTILL THE FOOT IS MOVED MORE CENTERAL TO THE BRAKE. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026