2005 BMW X5 Owner Complaints

I purchased a used Pirelli Scorpion Strada 255/55R18 109V tire (DOT code 1UN L4W990 4221) for my SUV. When I returned home from the installation, the tire appeared normal. However, the next morning—within 24 hours of installation—I began driving for work when my car suddenly started shaking violently and pulling hard to the right while on the freeway around 3 AM. I was able to safely exit the freeway and pull over. Upon inspection, I discovered that the tire had been shredded by the road—the sidewall had catastrophically failed, and the inner structure had separated. The tire had good tread and showed no signs of damage before the incident. This was a sudden and dangerous failure that placed me at serious risk of losing control of the vehicle. It occurred under normal driving conditions at moderate freeway speed. There were no prior warning signs, dashboard messages, or visible damage. The tire was manufactured in October 2021 at Pirelli’s Rome, Georgia plant. The failure appears consistent with belt separation or internal delamination. The damaged tire has been preserved and is available for inspection. I believe this tire may be part of a defective batch and am reporting this for safety investigation. There are similar complaints online regarding Pirelli tires made in this timeframe.

NHTSA ID

11674101

Incident

Jun 20, 2025

My father was sitting in his parked car in his driveway and his car caught on fire. A neighbor witnessed it she said it was engulfed in flames within seconds and my father died from smoke inhalation due to the fire. Aberdeen WA police department and fire department examined the vehicle and investigated the cause and determined it started in the vehicle engine. Also the coroner did an autopsy to determine his cause of death. From what I understand there has been numerous similar fires with this model yet it hasn’t been included in any recall. It is unknown to me whether there were any indicator lights on. He had only owned the vehicle for less than a week I believe. I am having the vehicle returned to me now that the police and fire department are finished examining it. As far as I know they are the only ones to have contact with it since the fire.

NHTSA ID

11499056

Incident

Nov 24, 2022

Faulty Check valve connected to brake booster leaks oil into brake booster causing contamination and loss of power braking. Recall issued for roughly 30,000 BMW X5 vehicles produced from 2007-2010 for a similar issue but none issued for this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11454024

Incident

Feb 24, 2022

THE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LOOSING THE INSULATION, AND THERE ALL THE BARE WIRES ARE EXPOSED. THIS IS A HIGH FIRE HAZARD, WHAT MAY CAUSE DEATH OF THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS IN THE TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST IN MY VEHICLE, THERE ARE MANY FORUMS OVER THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11311737

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

CAR STARTS TO SHAKE ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN GOING AT A HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY AND NOTICING LEAKS BUT NOT SURE FROM WHERE

NHTSA ID

11311131

Incident

Feb 2, 2020

Mileage

10 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS FRACTURED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALMOST STRUCK A WALL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAY CANTENA BMW (543 TARRYTOWN RD, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, (914) 761-5555), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11217578

Incident

Jun 12, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL? DRIVING AT LOW SPEED A VERY LARGE EXPLOSION NOISE (SOUND LIKE SHOTGUN) FROM PASSENGER SIDE. DID NOT COM THROUGH DASH BUT SOUND LIKE IT TORE THROUGH THE HEATER FAN. COULD HEAR PIECES WHEN HEATER ON. EARS STILL RINGING.

NHTSA ID

11207269

Incident

May 12, 2019

Mileage

176,303 mi

ON JANUARY 10 2019 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SUDDENLY MY BMW DECIDES TO SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING. MY STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED UP AND I ALMOST CRASHED MY CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR NOTHING BLINKING ON THE DASH TO WARN ME OF ANY PROBLEMS. I JUST PAYED OFF MY CAR AND THIS HAPPENS TO ME. ITS BEEN REALLY HARD NOT HAVING A CAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. I REACHED UT TO NAPLETON KIA AND BMW OF NORTHAMERICA AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO HELP ME.THEY BASICALLY SOLD ME AN UNSAFE CAR WHICH COULD OF KILLED MY FAMILY. MECHANIC BASICALLY SAYS THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING.AND IT WOULD BE 6000$ TO FIX. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE THERES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND BMW DOES NOT WANT TO HELP.A TRUE LEMON.

NHTSA ID

11183834

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

125,112 mi

TAKATA RECALL I JUST SWITCH MY CAR ON THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I NOTICE IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ALSO SAW PEOPLE SAYING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT BUT WHEN CHECKING MY VIN IT SAID 0 RECALL

NHTSA ID

11141575

Incident

Oct 19, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

BMW X5 2005 A HOLE WAS BURNED INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT, BURNING MY LEG AND A HOLE IN MY SWEATER, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2005 AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY.

NHTSA ID

11122032

Incident

Jan 3, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

AS MY CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY (WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION), IT BURST INTO FLAMES, SPREADING TO NEARBY TREES AND BUSHES, AND CRACKING SEVERAL WINDOWS IN MY HOUSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT COULD BURN THE HOUSE DOWN AND I MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE HOME WITHOUT INJURY.

NHTSA ID

11110730

Incident

Jul 10, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

MY 2005 BMW X5 AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON,

NHTSA ID

11093441

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

125,500 mi

LEAVING HOUSE WE FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING. BRAKE LINES DAMAGED. BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE FABRICATED AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11081441

Incident

Mar 23, 2018

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED. THE CONTACT'S RIGHT THUMB WAS SEVERED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RALLYE BMW (1 BRUSH HOLLOW ROAD, WESTBURY, NY 11590) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, AND PROVIDED AN INVESTIGATOR TO CONFIRM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11052616

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

Mileage

25,000 mi

BOTH TAILLIGHT HOUSING CIRCUIT BOARDS SHORTS OUT. BURNS BETWEEN HOUSING AND ADAPTER . THUS CAUSES A BREAK IN THE CIRCUIT AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TAILLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND IS ILLEGAL TO GO WITH NO TAILLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11048199

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. WILL NOT TURN OFF

NHTSA ID

11044018

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

I CURRENTLY HAVE A BMW X5 2005, WITH 4.4. VIN # [XXX]. BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BRAKE SYSTEM HARDENS WHEN VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AND DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY UNTIL CAR IS RESTARTED. SAME ENGINE AND SAME BRAKE SYSTEM IN DIFFERENT MODEL (740I) HAS BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THE ISSUE. ACCORDING TO BMW SERVICE DESK, THE X5 MODELS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED WITH SAME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11013600

Incident

Aug 7, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ALL THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE ARM, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PACIFIC BMW (800 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD DIAGNOSE AND INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IN FULL, BUT STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,800.

NHTSA ID

11000921

Incident

May 11, 2017

Mileage

74,800 mi

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH EVERY SINGLE WINDOW. THEY DO NOT ROLL UP. I REPEATEDLY PAY TO HAVE THESE FIXED AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE. THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFECT IN THESE WINDOWS. I HAVE HAD AN ARRAY OF VEHICLES, NONE OF WHICH HAD HALF AS MANY ISSUES AS THIS BMW.

NHTSA ID

10991621

Incident

May 27, 2009

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS), 17V020000 (AIR BAGS), AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN) WAS UNDERWAY FOR OTHER VEHICLE'S OF THE SAME MODEL FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE SERVICE ADVISER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG PARTS COULD BE EXPEDITED WITHIN 2-3 WEEKS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V020000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V020000 AND 17V138000.

NHTSA ID

10983105

Incident

Feb 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND THE CONTACT'S PANTS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10969783

Incident

Mar 24, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

SEAT HEATER GOT TOO HOT . IT MADE A BURNT HOLE IN SEAT, MY PANTS AND BURNED ME. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

10954249

Incident

Nov 15, 2016

Mileage

95,000 mi

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN THEN ACCELERATED ONTO A ROUND-A-BOUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR WAS STILL ON. I TRIED SIGNALING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BUT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS GOING ON & OFF NOT LETTING ME SIGNAL ANYTHING. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK & TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON IT WOULD JUST CLICK AND ALL LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. I WAITED FOR 20 MIN THEN TRIED TO START IT AGAIN & IT DID START BUT THEN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DYING OUT AND EVENTUALLY WOULD SHUT OFF, THERE WAS MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10936454

Incident

Dec 16, 2016

Mileage

155,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL MY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON TELLING ME THAT THEY DO NOT WORK. BUT SOME TIMES THEY ARE STILL WORKING AND SOME TIMES THERE ARE NOT! WHEN CHECKING THE LIGHT REMOVED RIGHT SIDE BULB (GOOD) PUT LIGHT BULB BACK IN WORKS FINE FOR A WEEK OR SO. THEN IT'S STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10918545

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10917919

Incident

Sep 30, 2016