Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, transmission, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2025Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2025 BMW X5: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/5
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2025 checks
Worth adding to your 2025 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2025 BMW X5. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cylHybrid | AWD, RWD | 25 mpg |
| 4.4L 8-cylHybrid | AWD | 19 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 440 mi range |
NHTSA complaints for the 2025 BMW X5, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The brake module covered by recall 24V104000 goes unrepaired for months because the replacement part is not available. Most reports describe this wait, often a year or more, and some say the car was delivered with the recall already open. One owner says the defect can lengthen braking distance and disable stability control. A smaller group reports real failures: a pedal that does not stop the car, rough braking with no warning light, and forward collision braking that does not step in. Three reports involve crashes, one with an injury.
The vehicle shuts off, often at a stop, and shows a drivetrain malfunction warning, sometimes alongside a high-voltage battery or power supply message. Several cars will not restart and need a tow, and one lost power in 40 mph traffic. Dealer findings include a cracked transmission casing leaking fluid and a cylinder head replacement after injector trouble. Failures show up on very new cars, between 710 and 6200 miles. Plug-in hybrids return to the shop with the same fault after repair. One owner says the brake recall repair left the car hesitating to pull away from a stop.
The plug-in hybrid battery will not charge on the included 110-volt cable in hot weather, and it can lose charge while plugged in. With no charge, remote start and pre-conditioning stop working, which matters in desert heat. Dealers say the system works as intended. Other reports describe a burst of warning lights and fault codes traced to improper module coding, and a failed wiring harness that disabled the blind spot, forward collision, and lane keep systems at about 80 miles.
The SUV accelerates on its own at low speed, usually while parking or sitting at a curb with the brake pressed. Reports describe the engine revving and the car surging, in one case to 60 mph before repeated pumping of the brake brought it to a stop. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault and return the car as normal. One crash with an injury followed a surge into a wall while parking. A separate complaint says forward collision braking switches off when cruise control is on.
The stability control and brake recall, 24V104000, cannot be completed because the repair part is unavailable. Neither complaint describes an actual failure on the road. Both owners say the wait for parts has gone on far too long, and the recall parts lookup confirms the shortage. This is the same open recall that dominates the service brake complaints, so treat it as one issue when checking a car's history.
Software faults leave the car unable to start or shift out of park after a failed update. One complaint also describes remote functions and emergency calling going dead, and the driver monitoring system wrongly sensing that the driver cannot drive, then slowing the car and steering it to the side. These events were brief, and a dealer reportedly applied a software fix. The second complaint gives no detail beyond an attached document.
Rear cross traffic alert gives no warning, or one too faint to notice, when backing out of parking spaces and driveways. One owner reports repeated near misses with passing cars after counting on the alert. In both complaints the dealer checked the system and said the sensors work as intended, which leaves owners with no repair path. No crashes are reported.
Glossy interior trim throws reflections onto the side windows that block the view of the outside mirrors. The high-gloss wood and metal on the dash and console, plus the glass gear selector and infotainment controller, can also cast glare that blinds the driver in direct sun, depending on the angle. These are complaints about the design rather than parts that fail, and no crashes are reported.
Excerpts from complaints X5 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
While attempting to park forward into a handicapped parking space, the car lurched forward approximately 4 feet instead of braking/stopping. The braking system appeared to fail and the electrical/sensors/ADAS warnings did not engage. The vehicle drove over a cement parking block and struck a building shrub, signage and hvac unit.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
This is an open defect that has been open for close to a year. This seems excessive for the manufacturer to come up with a fix. I have not experienced this problem but am concerned about it because it’s safety related
Filed with NHTSA, November 2024
drivetrain lights came on out of no where. i was coming to a red light and when car stopped the light on dash came on and message came on for drivetrain malfunction. Car was turned off and on and message went away. Car was brought to dealer and they were able to diagnose saying 3 injector problem and need to replace cylinder head. Was told this a problem with the new V8 engines. can be dangerous if driving and message is gone and continue driving.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2025 ranks seventh for owner complaints among 9 X5 years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 X1, 2024-2025 X5, 2025 X6, 2023-2025 X7, 740i, 760i, 2024 XM, 530i, 540i, i7, 750e, X2, 2024-2025 i5, 2024 Rolls Royce Spectre, 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4, JCW Countryman ALL4, and 2025 MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, Cooper S) vehicles. Please refer to the recall report for the complete list of models. The welds in the servomotor of the integrated brake control module may break, causing a loss of power brake assist and rear brake function. In addition, the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system may not function.
Risk: A loss of brake power assist or rear brake function can result in extended stopping distance. A loss of ABS or DSC can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 13, 2024. Owners can contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 XM, 2025 BMW X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 M60i, X5 M, X5 xDrive50e, X6 xDrive40i, X6 M60i, X6 M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 M60i, and Alpina XB7 vehicles. The seat belt system may inaccurately detect that passengers are belted, preventing the seat belt warning light from illuminating and possibly causing the supplemental restraint system to not deploy as intended during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: A seat belt warning light that does not alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt or an SRS system that deploys improperly can both increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat lower seat belts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024-2025 X5 xDrive40i vehicles. The tire information placard may indicate an incorrect tire size and tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: Incorrect tire information can allow an incorrectly sized tire to be installed or result in improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tire information placard, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) systems to not function properly.
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.
Cars shoppers compare with the BMW X5, with their own 2025 checklists.
2025 owner complaints, side by side
