Vehicle Data Hub

2023 BMW X5 problems

NHTSA has received 50 complaints about the 2023 BMW X5, and 16% of them involve drivetrain & axles. Next are electrical system (16%) and engine (10%).

At a glance

Complaints
50 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Drivetrain & axles 16% of complaints
Crashes and fires
6 and 0
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

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%.

  • Drivetrain & axles 16%
  • Electrical system 16%
  • Engine 10%
  • Body & structure 8%
  • Brakes 6%
  • Backover prevention 4%
  • Forward collision avoidance 4%
  • Lane departure 4%
  • Wipers, windshield & visibility 4%
  • Air bags 2%

What the data shows

Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 1 injury reported.

Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2023 ranks 17th most-complained-about out of 27 model years of the BMW X5 with enough data (50 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 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.

While driving the vehicle at highway speed, the vehicle did not respond as expected during braking. Upon attempting to slow the vehicle, control was lost, the vehicle became unstable, left the roadway, and rolled. As a result of the incident, the driver sustained serious injuries requiring emergency transport and hospitalization. No warning lamps, messages, or brake-related alerts were observed prior to the incident.

December 2025 CrashInjury

The vehicle rolled away after the driver exited the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake was not applied. This negligent design flaw is because BMW has chosen to not revert the vehicle to Park if the door is opened like other car manufacturers. A simple software update or design change could prevent a potentially fatal incident caused by BMW’s negligence in this matter.

March 2023 Crash

The contact owns a 2023 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the sunroof inadvertently exploded. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

Reported at 6,000 miles, April 2023

The contact owns a 2023 BMW X5 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Premium Contact 6 SSR, Front Passenger's Side Tire Size: 275/40R/21, DOT Number: A349D74A, Rear Passenger's Side Tire Size: 315/35/R21 YXL, DOT Number: A372D74B. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was an abnormal clunk while the tires were rotating, and a message indicating that the tire pressure was low was displayed. The contact pulled in front of the residence and parked the vehicle.

Reported at 5,700 miles, August 2023

Other model years of the X5

Best and worst years for the BMW X5