NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 BMW X5. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
BMW X5 with Sunroof starts leaking water inside. BMW does not cover and when I called them the response was it is an outside factor that clogs the drainage pipe and it happens on all type of cars, so no action needed. BMW knows about something and they have not taken any action to prevent it, rather the answer is "it happens with all the cars, so it is okay to happen with BMW model too". I feel it is hazardous for 2 reasons: 1. While driving in rain it suddenly starts leaking which deters an immediate attention from the road. It was by the grace of god, no one was next to me on the road, otherwise an impulse movement would have resulted in the accident. 2. Now, since the carpet soaked the water, although after drying with vacuum, it has started smelling. May be mold is forming which can be hazardous too. BMW knows the issue but does nothing to prevent it from happening and then they gave me an estimate of about $1000 to fix the drainage issue and dry the carpet out. BMW sold me this car as a certified pre-owned and 10 months later I am having the issue of water leaking in the car for which I need to pay to get it fixed.
I was driving in the number 1 lane (leftmost lane) when the dashboard display indicated there was a transmission fault and warned that I should pull over to a safe spot immediately. With the vehicle rapidly slowing, I had to maneuver through traffic to the right side of the road with great difficulty. It was very dangerous to make that maneuver with freeway traffic traveling at approximately 65 to 75 MPH. The vehicle is at the BMW dealer in Norwalk California and has not yet been examined for the problem. The dealer has confirmed that the engine will crank but will not start. There was no warning prior to the engine/drivetrain failure. The vehicle currently has approximately 57,000 miles on the odometer. This vehicle previously experienced a high pressure fuel pump failure at approximately 21,000 miles on the odometer. The previous failure occurred at a traffic light in town and the hazard to my safety was less severe.
My BMW X5 has Pirelli Scorpion Verde run flat tires. 255/50/R 19. For the second time in three months a tire blew and caused extensive damage to my car. Both incidents have taken place on the interstate going 80 MPH. No tire warning light came on until the tire had already blown each time. The car has been regularly serviced at BMW dealerships. The first time my two kids were along and they were scared to death, as you might imagine. The first blow out of the rear right back tire happened in May 2021 and caused more than $10,000 in damage to my vehicle. The blow out on August 26, 2021 was the front driver's side tire. In May I filed a claim to my insurance, but am hesitant to this time as it will increase my rates. I paid $625 this week to have my vehicle towed on a flat bed to the nearest BMW dealership. I reached out to Pirelli and after an hour an half on the phone and being put on hold multiple times, I was able to share the issue with the company and they have said they will be responding. I have also asked the local BMW dealership to assist. Consumer stated latest tire that blew was mailed to Pirelli and claim was filed.
Fuel system has failed twice resulting in the vehicle shutting down while driving. My safety was put at risk because the vehicle unexpectedly shut down while driving without any warning in the midst of traffic. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer both times and the fuel system replaced each time. There were no warnings or signs prior to each failure. The first failure occurred on 10/10/2019 and the second failure occurred on 8/9/2021.
Moon Roof - shattered while driving on free way . Glasses shattered & falling inside & outside car making scary experience.
PASSENGER AIRBAG ALERT ON DASHBOARD CONSTANTLY WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR AND MAKES YOU UNABLE TO USE ANY VOICE COMMAND OR USE DISPLAY NAVIGATION WITHOUT PRESSING 3 TIMES OK BUTTON...IT WAS LIKE THIS FIRST TIME WHEN WE GOT IT AND EVERY TIME WE TOOK IT TO SERVICE...MOST OF THE TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS TRIGGERED BY LEAVING THE PURSE OR BAG ON THE SEAT? FINALLY AFTER RESETTING EVERY TIME , LAST YEAR THE SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGE A RECALL...THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT BUT THIS YEAR IT HAPPENED TWICE GAIN...CAR WAS OVER A MONTH ALL TOGETHER IN SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUE,,
I AM EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE VERY SIMILAR TO THE STEERING ISSUE AS REPORTED IN NHTSA ID# 11196600. THE STEERING VERY SUDDENLY DEVELOPED VERY NOTICEABLE PLAY IN STEERING. AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH OR SO, BECAUSE OF THE STEERING PLAY, THE VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO WANDER SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT AND SOMETIMES THE RIGHT AT WHICH POINT THE STEERING TAKES HOLD WHICH IS FELT AS A TWITCH IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE FRONT END BECOMES LIGHT AS IN CASES WHEN DRIVING OVER AN OVERPASS OR ON ROADS THAT UNDULATE SOME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALER IN LAFAYETTE, IN ON 23-DEC-19 TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO IT. THEY REPORTED BACK THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG, BUT UPON ROAD TESTING THE VEHICLE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY THAT THE VEHICLE HANDLES AND DRIVES - THOUGHT TO PERHAPS BE A PROBLEM WITH THE EPS. THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER WITH NEXT STEPS TO BE REPORTED BACK TO ME.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AFTER BEING SERVICED. 9,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. WHEN DRIVING OUT OF DRIVEWAY NOTICED GLASS NOISE FROM ABOVE. ROLLED BACK SUNSCREEN AND GLASS FELL DOWN INTO VEHICLE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THE GLASS AROUND THE HOLE IS RAISED UPWARD AS IF COMPRESSED FROM THE OUTSIDE FRAME. IF DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE SAFETY GLASS FRAGMENTS WOULD HAVE INJURED OCCUPANTS. THIS APPEARS NOT TO BE AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND DEALERS DO NOT DISCLOSE THAT IT IS.
WHILING DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVER 40 PLUS MILES THE STEERING WHEEL GETS ERRATIC AND TWITCHY. IT TRIES TO MAKES MICRO TURNS SOMETIMES TO LEFT AND SOMETIMES RIGHT MAKING YOU FEEL AS IF ITS WINDY OUTSIDE WHICH IS MAKING THE VEHICLE PULL TO ONE SIDE OR OTHER. IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN LANE.
2018 BMW X5 XDR40E. CONSUMER WRITES TO MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS WITH VEHICLE; AIRBAG/SEAT TENSIONER/BELT-FORCE LIMITERS-SYSTEM. *AS *JS
THE PASSENGER BLIND SIDE DETECTION WILL NOT PICK UP VEHICLES ONLY 20% OF THE TIME.
THIS BRAND NEW CAR I BOUGHT HAS THE OPTIONS OF "ADVANCED SAFETY SYSTEM" WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT A COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING ON ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, 4 CAR DISTANCE ON HIGHWAY. AS I WAS DRIVING CLOSE TO THE EXIT WHERE I NEEDED TO TAKE, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING SINCE I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN AS I WAS APPROACHING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN MY VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO MY BRAKING. I PRESSED DOWN BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE WITHOUT STOPPING UNTIL IT (FIRST CAR) HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE SECOND CAR HIT THE THIRD CAR. AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SHOULD HAVE KICKED IN TO PREVENT COLLISION, BUT IT DID NOT. THIS CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE ME FORWARD-COLLISION WARNING SIGN AS IT WAS APPROACHING THE CAR IN THE FRONT, BUT IT NEVER DID. SENSOR MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT.
ENGINE STALL AND OR FLUTTER WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS
TL* THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2018 BMW X5. THE CONSUMER ENGAGED THE "CAR HOLD" BUTTON, WHICH ALLOWED HIM TO REMOVE HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. HOWEVER, THE FEATURE FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VISTA BMW POMPANO BEACH (744 N FEDERAL HWY #4303, POMPANO BEACH, FL 33062, (954) 516-2733) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. THE CONSUMER HAS REPORTED MULTIPLE FAILURES AFTER FIRST LEMON LAW HEARING REAGRDING THE FIST INCIDENT. *AS
THE CAR DISPLAYED DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING MESSAGE MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER THE CAR REACHED 10K MILES. THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION MESSAGE WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE PROPER EXPLANATION AS WELL AS FAILED TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS HYBRID AND THE ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVEN AT SPEED BETWEEN 60MPH TO 80 MPH. WHEN THE WARNING MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED THE CAR AIR CONDITION STOPS FUNCTION COMPLETELY, THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION AND MAINTAIN SPEED OF 60 MPH EVEN IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED FIRMLY.