RoadVitals

2015 BMW X5 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
149
Latest Jun 22, 2026
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
12
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
4
Reports on file since Dec 22, 2014

What this page shows

Our database holds 149 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 BMW X5. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 149 · page 1 of 6

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 22, 2026

I drive a 2015 BMW X5. While driving on a local street, I heard a severe banging noise underneath the car. I pulled over, and it turned out the front driveshaft had broken, striking the transmission pan and other parts beneath. When I towed the car to the shop the mechanic also found that an AC drain line dripped onto the driveshaft U-joint, causing rust over time, which led to this failure. There were no warning lights prior. If this had happened on the highway, it could have caused far greater damage--potentially to the transmission, transfer case, front differential, or even the engine. This was a serious safety risk, and I urge the NHTSA to investigate this design flaw and consider a recall on affected models before others suffer similar damage.

NHTSA ID
11745798
Incident
Jun 14, 2026
Fuel system
Filed Dec 31, 2025

The HPFP failed and left my child and me dead in the water, stalled in the middle lane of a 50mph street for a half hour, nearly getting hit several times (two other vehicles crashed behind us trying to avoid us). Eventually a Sheriff helped us get the vehicle out of the road and into a nearby parking lot to wait for the tow truck. After we got to the parking lot, the Sheriff got another radio call and left without taking information or referring to a report or report number. This part has an open recall 21V-586, but both the local BMW dealership and BMW NA refuse to repair my vehicle (withou paying $18k), saying my VIN is not a part of the recall, despite my vehicle being the same engine within the production time, and my problem being exactly what was described in the recall. The pump failure has been confirmed by a crank-no-start condition, error code for low fuel rail pressure, and finding metal shavings in the fuel metering valve on the fuel pump. I am seeking assistance to be included in the recall that already exists and am frustrated to have been turned away when my vehicle meets all the criteria listed on the recall document. All of my correspondence with BMW was by telephone, so I do not have emails to attach below.

NHTSA ID
11708127
Incident
Dec 6, 2025
Engine
Filed Dec 28, 2025

Oil leaking from the valves cover onto the manifold and could cause a fire. I have replaced the valve cover on 11/03/2022 miles 107698 I pay 1493.21 for the repair. Last week 12/23/2025 the same thing started again. The oil is leaking again on manifold the car is smoking I am afraid to drive the car. I believe I should not be paying again for the same problem.

NHTSA ID
11707398
Incident
Dec 23, 2025
Engine
Filed Nov 27, 2025

On 11/26/2025, I was driving on the NJ Parkway, Southbound, in the left lane. The Drivetrain Malfunctioned Warning Light came on and within second my car began loosing power. I did not notice any smells. My car stalled as I stopped along the left side of the roadway. I did not have time to maneuver safely to the right, onto the shoulder of the roadway. I maneuvered my vehicle to the left side of the road. My car was pinned against the guardrail to avoid being struck by southbound vehicles. The warning light disappeared. I attempted to restart my car, it sputtered a few time with black smoke coming out of the exhaust. I called 911 and State Police Responded to protect my vehicle from being struck. About an hour later, a tow truck responded and my vehicle was towed to the BMW Dealership, 500 Route 37, Eaton Town, NJ. I believe this catastrophic failure is connected to my vehicles EGR’s system. I had my vehicle serviced at Sterling BMW, Sterling, VA, in early 2025. During that visit I was told that my vehicle’s Auxiliary EGR cooler needed to be replaced. In October 2025, I took my vehicle to BMW of Westbrook, Maine, after I received a notice from BMW that they had extended the warranty on my Auxiliary EGR Cooler and it could be replaced if needed. I provided the Dealership with the information that Sterling BMW provided me about the need to have my Auxiliary EGR cooler replaced. Westbrook BMW examined my car and said there was nothing wrong the my Auxiliary EGR cooler. My vehicle will be looked at tomorrow by Eaton Town BMW. I suspect, I will be told the failure will be related to the EGR system.

NHTSA ID
11701797
Incident
Nov 26, 2025
Fuel system
Filed Jul 15, 2025

My high pressure fuel pump failed. There is a recall affecting these [XXX] ) but apparently my car even though its the same year and model, did not 'qualify'. Its exactly whats listed in the recall and its having exactly the same fault. Im facing an extremely high repair bill because its not a part of the recall.....for whatever reason INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11673688
Incident
Jul 13, 2025
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the EGR module and cooler were malfunctioning and needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V755000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

NHTSA ID
11667370
Incident
Mar 3, 2025
Mileage
108,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed May 11, 2025
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11660268
Incident
May 11, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that the water pump remained running while the vehicle was turned off, causing the battery to drain. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the thermostat, hoses, and water pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted with the water pump continuously running while the vehicle was turned off. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

NHTSA ID
11641132
Incident
Dec 31, 2024
Mileage
95,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 5, 2025

one seat belt in the BACK SEAT on PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL out . stay stuck . can pull out to 1.5 inches then somtimes "3. then back to "1.5

NHTSA ID
11640864
Incident
Jan 25, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing battery drainage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the auxiliary water pump was continuously running after turning off the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with parasitic battery draw due to the auxiliary water pump malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

NHTSA ID
11640470
Incident
Jan 20, 2025
Mileage
123,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2025

My 2015 X5 decided it was not going to start. The vehicle was was looked at by a technician only to determine thay the cam sensor was not active and the car would not start. Moving forward with diagnostics the sensor was ruled out as good. Moving forward the valve cover was taken off for inspection only to find that the cam side bolt was hanging only by the wall of the valve cover. the gear is still in place it has nkt jumping timing but the end of the cam bolt is and has been broken off at the end inside the man approximately a half inch of the end of the bolt is in the hole. I stopped the technician from moving forward with anything else. I recently looked up for a recall but do not see any for the X5 but open recalls on other models. please let me know if this is a problem with the six cylinder turbo and it under sized cam bolt thank you for your help and time.

NHTSA ID
11638552
Incident
Jan 24, 2025
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle began to lose automotive power and reduced speeds and smoke was present coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was driven to the home and while parked in the garage the temperature gauge indicated that the engine temperature was extremely hot. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the coolant pump and coolant pump connector was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 151,000.

NHTSA ID
11635023
Incident
Oct 24, 2024
Mileage
151,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2024
Fire reported1 injury reported

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. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that an EGR failure where coolant leaked and combined with diesel soot causing a fire. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

NHTSA ID
11629910
Incident
Feb 21, 2024
Mileage
103,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 9, 2024

Check engine light: FC 24BF00 - zero-quantity adaptation injector cylinder 2: permitted filtered actuation duration correction too high These are the same issues the 2016 MY cars experience and was given a warranty extension

NHTSA ID
11629722
Incident
Nov 1, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 5, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Automatic Emergency Braking system failed to engage as needed while there were other vehicles nearby. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. Additionally, the manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was provided a 2025 BMW X5 loaner vehicle; however, the contact stated that the same failure occurred while driving the loaner vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to return the loaner vehicle to the dealer. The contact stated that upon returning the loaner vehicle to the dealer, the dealer informed the contact that the failure of his vehicle could not be duplicated. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at various speeds, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was test-driven while the dealer's manager was occupying the front passenger's seat. The dealer confirmed that the Automatic Emergency Braking system was inoperable; however, the dealer informed the contact that they did not know how to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that they would contact the dealer to obtain information on the service that was performed on the vehicle. A case was opened; however, the contact was still awaiting a response from both the dealer and the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

NHTSA ID
11628988
Incident
Nov 12, 2024
Mileage
56,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 23, 2024

My prop shaft has prematurely failed due to the air conditioner drain line outlet directing water on to the prop shaft u joints. This is a recall issue on previous model BMW X5 and obviously a continuing issue on this generation (f15) as well.

NHTSA ID
11626959
Incident
Nov 23, 2024
Fuel system
Filed Nov 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. While the contact's father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the drive train error warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that two days later, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while the contact's father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the drive train warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed to function as intended, the gear shifter did not shift to neutral or drive. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel system. The contact was informed that the complete fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the VIN was not associated with any unknown recall repairs; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was associated with warranty coverage for the fuel pump only. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.

NHTSA ID
11625994
Incident
Sep 18, 2024
Mileage
188,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 8, 2024

Front drive shaft came apart at highway speed-70mph, tearing up oil pan transmission cooler.

NHTSA ID
11624160
Incident
Jun 27, 2024
Fuel system
Filed Oct 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a low coolant message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where the water pump was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was recommended that the head gasket be replaced; however, the dealer could not guarantee that the repair would fix the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic where another diagnostic test was performed. The mechanic discovered a coolant leak inside the EGR module and linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA ID
11621503
Incident
Nov 23, 2023
Mileage
115,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2024

Vehicle stalled in the middle of the road when in drive mode displaying "Drivetrain Malfunction". Couldn't start the engine or shift the gear. Vehicle was at the dealership one week before the incident for 'Drivetrain Malfunction'. Fixed bad fuel injector and was tested. My safety and safety of others was at risk if it had happened at higher speed. Suspecting fuel pump failure. Vehicle is with the dealer and the component should be available for inspection.

NHTSA ID
11617220
Incident
Sep 23, 2024
EngineSuspension
Filed Sep 14, 2024

When I research by your making model, it shows that there are multiple safety recalls for my vehicle. However, when I put in my license plate urban number, it says that there is zero, because I believe that that is some sort of redacted information that’s not true because my vehicle continues to have concerning safety issues and engine issues and the manufacture is refusing to repair. Also, there are suspension issues and under body, rest, and emissions issues that my state Ohio does not test I purchase this vehicle from Carvana and I believe they shipped the vehicle to a state that does not require a mission passing, because that would have been a flag for my vehicle, and it was very difficult for me to register my vehicle and my state due to a clouded title but it’s very hard for me to get information from dealerships because they don’t want to perform the work at cost as a service customer service, and then the seller, of course is hiding this information I need oversight, or some sort of enforcement how I can take my vehicle somewhere and have it inspected for safety, and then enforce the recalls and enforce the warranties that are on them because as I mentioned, I am not I’m getting out Bro blocked and I don’t wanna take accountability and responsibility. I did have a stop at a muffler shop and they said that my underbody is is the scripture is not installed properly, and there are things that are detach to avoid the emissions smoke and those are hidden from the seller I am a nervous Buyer. This is my first time having a vehicle such as this and I believe I have a lemonade and sweet lemon. How can I get it? Inspected it inspected.

NHTSA ID
11614626
Incident
Sep 14, 2024
Engine
Filed Aug 21, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated used a scanner to diagnose the vehicle and determined that injectors #1 and #5 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a local deal where all 6- injectors were replaced; however, the failure had reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA ID
11609983
Incident
Jan 15, 2018
Mileage
68,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 19, 2024

My wife was driving with my kids on the highway here in San Diego. When the vehicle stalled and luckily she was near the shoulder and was able to pull over. We took it to the shop and they stated it was a fuel pump failure. I have never had a car do this it was crazy dangerous for my kids and my wife. I have read so many complaints on this and yet bmw will take no fault for this. Then they want to give me a repair bill of 17k because when these fuel pumps fail they destroy the whole fuel system that touches diesel needs to repaired. I am so upset this is crazy that’s this legal to produce a car like this and there is not a class action lawsuit.

NHTSA ID
11609545
Incident
Feb 20, 2024
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2024

BMW replaced my Egr in 8/22 under the recall and now 23 months later my intake manifold melted. Luckily I stopped the car when I smelled melting plastic and a fire didn’t start. Scary stuff. I guess the Ege recall didn’t fix the problem.

NHTSA ID
11604943
Incident
Jul 26, 2024
Engine
Filed Jun 18, 2024

There is a service bulletin out for this vehicle to extend the warranty to 10 years, 120k miles on parts of the emission control system. The engine trouble light is lit. The vehicle was sold in Canada, but has been resold and transferred to the US. BMW has all the warranty / owner records updated, EXCEPT that the service bulletin for the diesel particulate sensor does NOT show up on the US BMW system! I called a Canadian dealer and had them check. The service bulletin pops right up! Called BMW and they said if I want BMW to fix it, I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR -BACK TO A CANADIAN BMW DEALER-!!! That is RIDICULOUS!! IDENTICAL MODELS of these vehicles are sold on EACH SIDE OF THE BORDER!! Why doesn't the service bulletin APPLY no matter WHICH country they are sold in?

NHTSA ID
11595194
Incident
Apr 5, 2024

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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