2015 BMW X5 problems
NHTSA has received 203 complaints about the 2015 BMW X5, and 25% of them involve engine. Next are fuel system (25%) and air bags (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 203 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 25% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 14 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 96 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 17 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 15 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 19 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 8 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 96 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 65,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 95,000 miles (21 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 14 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2015 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 27 model years of the BMW X5 with enough data (78 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The vehicle shifted to neutral when it should have been in park, and/or should have shifted to park when in neutral and engine was shut off.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the contact observed smoke emanating from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road where he observed fire emanating from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by hand and the contact sustained hand injuries. Medical attention was not needed.
I was making a left turn in stopped traffic. Lanes 1 and 2 yielded die to bumper to bumper traffic...as I crossed into lane 3 at 5 to 10 mph...struck by a vehicle going 55 mph plus in opposite direction. My vehicle spun into 3rd vehicle. I hit my head 2 times on driver windows. No airbags deployed. I suffered a traumatic brain injury.
While driving with my wife and both kids back from brunch sunday early afternoon - the left rear door opened on its own. It was fully closed previously and about a mile or two down the road it popped open and became ajar while driving at approximately 25 MPH. The car indicated a door was open. I had personally closed the door and am sure that it wasn't open when I started driving, the car would have notified me anyway. I pulled over in a parking lot and took photos which I've sent to BMW.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic went to the residence to diagnose the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown fault codes were retrieved. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable.