Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 188 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2019 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.
Showing 1–25 of 188 · page 1 of 8
I purchased my car in December 2025. In the early summer, I noticed my air conditioning system not working. I took it to my dealership and they did a recharge. I took my car back to the shop and found that after further investigation is an evaporator leak. I had to pay over $6000 in repairs.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the "Emergency SOS Malfunction" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine oil pump and TCB module were faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.
Engine oil pump failure. The housing for the oil pump is made out of plastic and know to fail due to the part turning brittle in the engine surrounded by oil and heat. The oil pump housing has cracked causing a failure at the pump housing. The results are catastrophic engine failure as well as not being able to read engine oil levels on bmw idrive system.
Dear Sir/Madam, I am experiencing an issue with my BMW vehicle whereby, approximately 5 to 10 minutes after beginning to drive, the Driver Assistance System becomes disabled. As a result, both the Blind Spot Detection and Lane Departure Warning functions are deactivated, and a warning message indicating that driver assistance support is restricted appears on the display. I understand that BMW has previously issued Service Action B66 20 19, which recommends replacement of the KAFAS (Camera-Based Driver Assistance System) under certain conditions. Based on my research, the symptoms affecting my vehicle appear to be consistent with those described in that service action. However, when I checked my vehicle information, I was unable to find any open recall or service campaign associated with this issue. While driver assistance technologies are intended to supplement, rather than replace, attentive driving, these systems are nonetheless important safety features that contribute significantly to vehicle safety. A malfunction that causes these features to become unavailable during operation may increase safety risks for drivers and other road users. I would appreciate your guidance regarding the most appropriate course of action to resolve this issue. Specifically, I would like to know whether my vehicle may qualify for repair under the referenced service action or whether BMW can provide additional diagnostic or corrective measures. Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your response.
The BMW B58 Technical Update (B58TU) engine utilizes a variable-displacement oil pump incorporating internal components manufactured from thermoplastic rather than traditional metal. These plastic internal parts are prone to severe thermal degradation and brittleness over time. Under normal operating conditions—and particularly during cold-starts in low ambient temperatures—the plastic elements suffer structural fatigue and catastrophically fracture, destroying the pump's ability to maintain oil pressure. A primary indicator of failure is the vehicle's inability to complete an electronic oil level measurement, quickly followed by a critical "Low Oil Pressure: Stop Engine" warning. This defect poses an immediate and severe hazard to motor vehicle safety. A sudden loss of engine oil pressure while traveling at highway speeds results in immediate oil starvation and catastrophic engine seizure. This causes a sudden loss of motive power and can lead to a loss of power-assisted steering and braking. Operating a vehicle that suddenly stalls or seizes in fast-moving traffic creates an extreme risk of high-speed rear-end collisions and leaves occupants stranded in highly hazardous highway conditions. Because BMW quietly transitioned back to a ruggedized metal oil pump design in later production runs without issuing a safety recall or notice for earlier models, thousands of vehicles remain on the road with an inherently defective, safety-critical engine component. I request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) open a formal safety defect investigation into this component to mandate a safety recall and protect the public.
COMPONENT / FAULT CATEGORY: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM / POWER TRAIN / BLIND SPOT WARNING SUMMARY OF THE DEFECT: On April 11, 2026, my 2019 BMW X5 suffered a sudden electronic system shutdown at highway speeds near the 210 exit, stranding the car on the roadway and requiring AAA towing. BMW of Ontario falsely blamed "liquid damage" in the GSW shifter and texted an inflated quote of $6,616.05, later reduced to $3,616.05 on Invoice #BFCS684959 before waiving fees for oil changing and so on due to communication errors. NO liquid spill occurred. The GSW module near cup holders suffers from an unsealed design defect where ambient condensation causes total drive power loss. DETAILED INCIDENT NARRATIVE: The center console in the BMW X5 (G05) lacks basic liquid/moisture isolation. Condensation or ambient humidity short-circuits critical shifting electronics, causing immediate loss of drive power on public roadways and creating an extreme crash risk. This incident is part of a clear pattern of systemic electrical vulnerabilities on this specific vehicle: 1. STARTER SAFETY RECALL & HIGHWAY SHUTDOWN: Last year, this vehicle suffered a sudden highway shutdown caused by a faulty starter. BMW failed to send a recall notice beforehand. After I was forced to pay out-of-pocket for emergency repairs at Coast BMW, BMW later recognized the recall and issued a full reimbursement this year. 2. BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM FAILURE: The vehicle also suffered an unexplained, premature failure of the Blind Spot Warning system (quoted at over $3,000 to repair and left unaddressed), proving broader electronic/sensor vulnerabilities. Furthermore, dealership handling involved deceptive, erratic quotes ($6,616.05 texted initially vs. $3,616.05 on the invoice) to shift financial liability for a latent design defect onto the consumer.
My sunroof exploded. No signs of anything dropping on it or falling from another vehicle. Shade roof was open. Covered me and my passenger in glass.
The contact’s wife who owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound and the vehicle intermittently stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was taken back to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled again and failed to return to normal operation. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
Around June 10th, I was on vacation when I noticed my AC was not very cold in this vehicle, which I had purchased used about a month earlier. I took it to get recharged while on my vacation, and it blew nice and cold until a few days ago. After doing a little digging, it appears that the 2019 and 2020 model year of the BMW X5 G05 have an evaporator core made of aluminum, and the refrigerant used (R1234yf) is known to be corrosive to aluminum, causing leaks in the core. While this is widely talked about in online forums amongst those who have experienced this issue, it appears no safety recalls have been made about this issue. The problems, as I see it, are two fold: 1> Without a working AC system, the vehicle cannot safely defrost the windows when conditions are favorable for frost or fogginess. 2> The health hazards of inhaling leaked refrigerant, along with it's by-products (like trifluoroacetic acid) do not need to be explained. Refrigerants are known to be dangerous both to human health as well as to the environment, so this is not an acceptable environment to be exposed to. While I have not had an accident caused by this, I believe preventative steps should be taken to prevent them from occuring, given this is a fairly common problem with the 2019/2020 model year of this vehicle.
The oil pump failed on my X5. The factory installed oil pump has a plastic housing that cracks and leads to oil pump failure. BMW replaced the part with a newer model that has a metal housing.
I was shocked by the failure of the oil pump on my 2019 BMW X5. Furthermore, through my research and discussions within the BMW community, it is evident that this specific oil pump associated with 2019 engine component has a documented history of premature failure and known defects (plastic). Given that this is a known vulnerability rather than standard wear-and-tear, I do not believe that I should bear the full burden of such an exorbitant repair cost of $6890. Why is issue has not been recalled by BMW??
I always service and baby my vehicle. Had recently got starter recall & fresh oil change done 2 months at my local BMW Atlantic City NJ dealership. On June 27th, as I was driving the vehicle normally a message popped on the dash stating engine oil is at a minimum level, add 1 liter of engine oil, refill oil immediately. So I went to my earliest autozone bought quart of mobile 1 oil and refilled it. After that the warning message went away and came felt fine. Unfortunately the next day same message popped up, so drove over to BMW service to get diagnosed. Due to the computer system in the vehicle not being able to read the oil level measurement. It would go from 0-18% oil level reading then message would pop up saying unable to read to try again or make sure vehicle is on ground level which I made sure it was. So next day I dropped it off at BMW dealership for diagnosing. After 1 day and half they came to the conclusion that it is a bad oil pump and wants to charge $6,362.31 for repairs. Advisor stated its due to older gen bmw b58 engines using plastic oil pumps inside which causes to break and cause leaks. So they are aware its an common issue but won’t do an recall or service bulletin to fix issue which is very dangerous because the engine could seize up and stall anytime I’m driving around due to not knowing the oil level measurements. It is super risky and unfair for consumers to pay for such a big bill repair. I hope there is recalls or something to help remedy this cause for current & future BMW affected vehicles. BMW is aware of this issue but won’t resolve it.
* Intelligent Braking system. * yes it is available for inspection * I was inches from colliding with the vehicle in front of me when my car finally stopped. * Yes local official BMW dealership inspected and diagnosed the IBS module is defective. * there was no prior warning.
The vehicle is at A&L Motors in Monroeville Pa. The vehicle has suffered a catastrophic, cascading electrical failure caused by a known manufacturing defect in the roof antenna seal. Rainwater entered the vehicle through the defective shark fin antenna seal and flooded the Telematics Control Unit(TCU). Because the TCU communicates directly with the main iDrive head unit via the vehicle's MOST/bus central data network, the water-damaged TCU short-circuited and flooded the network with corrupt electrical data, hard-bricking the iDrive system. A dealership engineer confirmed that water did not physically touch the head unit, eliminating user-error fluid spills. This cascading electrical failure has completely disabled vital safety systems, including the backup camera, forward collision driver-assist radar warnings, blind-spot monitoring alerts, and critical dashboard diagnostic notifications, creating an immediate highway safety hazard. Simultaneously, the active grille shutters (active air flaps) failed due to a defective internal actuator motor, creating a severe risk of sudden engine overheating and thermal shutdown. This component is under a 150K mile manufacturer warranty extension(SIB01 12 19 and later sib01 03 25). BMW of North America Claims Manager Joe 1-800-831-1117Ext1427 has issued an arbitrary final denial for these repairs based on a hearsay rock wedged/strike despite no apparent physical damage and zero photographic evidence. BMW is actively evading its extended warranty obligations for the air dam and a pending class-action settlement framework (Craft v. BMW NA) on the IDrive components. Additionally, this vehicle is actively subject to the critical BMW Starter Motor Overheating Fire Risk Recall NHTSA Campaign No.25V644/26V056. The dealership is unable to complete this urgent fire-safety remedy due to the same bricked Idrive unit. Grounding an owner in an un-safe car with a bricked safety display and an outstanding unremedied recall
Oil pump with plastic parts failing
The engine oil pump failed internally. The vehicle is equipped with a factory-installed variable-displacement oil pump that utilizes an internal thermoplastic adjusting ring. Due to heat cycles and mechanical stress, this plastic component degrades, becomes brittle, and catastrophically shatters or cracks.The first symptom appeared when the vehicle became entirely unable to complete an electronic engine oil level measurement via the iDrive system, consistently freezing and aborting the test at approximately 15% to 20%. This defect directly compromises road safety. A sudden drop in oil pressure causes severe internal engine friction, leading to immediate engine seizure or a total loss of motive power without adequate warning. Experiencing a sudden engine stall while driving at highway speeds places the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at extreme risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. Furthermore, a total engine shutdown disables power-assist steering and braking, making the vehicle incredibly difficult to control and maneuver to safety. Catastrophic mechanical failure from oil starvation also presents a severe under-hood fire hazard if oil leaks onto hot exhaust components.The problem has been officially reproduced and confirmed. The vehicle was brought to Bavarian Werkstatte, where certified technicians diagnosed the issue as an internal structural failure of the variable-displacement oil pump's plastic adjusting ring. The component is currently available for inspection upon request. BMW is fully aware of this defective design. They updated this exact component in mid-2020 to an all-metal oil pump to prevent plastic fragmentation. Despite knowing that the 2019 thermoplastic rings degrade, become brittle, and shatter under normal operating heat cycles, the manufacturer has failed to issue a safety recall in the United States, leaving drivers exposed to dangerous sudden engine failure.
I am writing regarding my BMW X5 xDrive40i, model year 2019. For this G05 model coded cars, repeated transfer case failures have been reported due to a known issue: on the factory they put a wrong oil in it and then published a Technical Bulletin about it as if they are not the ones responsible for that. The problem is, due to that mistake, transfer cases of cars manufactured between 2018-2020 becomes dead in time. Cars shudders, jerking at low speeds, cannot deliver the power to the ground effectively due to intermittent and very disturbing, powerful shudders. This creates a huge safety concern cause: 1) if you are on an intersection the car might not join safely to the traffic in a perceived timing due to the shudders, intermittent power delivery. 2) If you are on a driveway and moving to the street the car might not move to the street for the perceived timing or once moved cannot move safely to join the traffic. 3) If there is a failure on the transfer case and if there is a sudden stop is needed. On the road with no shoulder access or if this is a bridge where there is no shoulder, it creates a huge risk to safely move the vehicle. An unavoidable sudden stop can create a huge accident risk for everybody. This is a very known and very common problem for BMW cars equipped with B58TU engine especially years 2018-2020. BMW is also definitely aware of that and this safety concern but instead of fixing it they moved away their responsibility as if they are not the ones made the mistake. But, when contacted with BMW NA, they refused to help.
I am writing regarding my BMW X5 xDrive40i, model year 2019, engine code B58TU. The vehicle has been serviced at authorized BMW dealerships. For this engine type B58TU especially years 2018-2021, repeated oil pump failures have been reported due to a known design issue: an internal plastic component can develop cracks, potentially leading to a complete oil pump failure. BMW silently replaced the oil pump with the updated version by keeping the same part number but featuring metal internals. Once there is a fail on the oil pumps with plastic components, engine loses access to get the oil an immediate stop is needed. This creates a huge safety concern cause: 1) If you are on a highway at highway speeds it might not be possible to move to the shoulder safely with no engine power or even worse: with a locked engine. 2) If there is a maintenance on the road with no shoulder access or if this is a bridge where there is no shoulder, it creates a huge risk to safely move the vehicle. An unavoidable sudden stop can create a huge accident risk for everybody. Of course any car can get a engine problem on those occasions but this is a very known and very common problem for BMW cars equipped with B58TU engine especially years 2018-2021. BMW is also definitely aware of that and this safety concern cause they updated the design silently. But, when contacted with BMW NA, they refused to help, refused to admit there is a design problem. They also refused to change the oil pump with the updated oil pump even with my proposal of goodwill pricing.
The evaporator for the air conditioning failed. BMW used an aluminum evaporator with yf coolant. Those combined cause the coolant to eat away the evaporator. Once the yf comes in contact to the air it turns toxic. This shouldn't fail at 82,000 miles.
I am reporting a safety concern involving BMW vehicles equipped with the B58 Technical Update (B58TU) engine, commonly found in model years 2019–2021. These vehicles utilize a variable-displacement engine oil pump containing an internal thermoplastic adjusting component responsible for regulating oil pressure. Field failures are increasingly being reported in which this internal component fractures, resulting in sudden loss or instability of engine oil pressure. The failure frequently occurs during cold-start operation in low ambient temperatures. When the component fails, oil pressure regulation becomes erratic or is lost entirely. In many cases, drivers receive little or no actionable warning prior to engine damage or vehicle disablement. Reported precursor symptoms include inability to electronically measure engine oil level, abnormal oil pressure behavior, or sudden drivetrain malfunction warnings. Failures may rapidly progress to engine shutdown or severe mechanical damage caused by oil starvation. Loss of lubrication can cause the vehicle to become disabled without warning while driving or shortly after startup. This creates a safety hazard, particularly when vehicles become immobilized in active traffic or during winter conditions the cold is when they fail the most, where occupants may be exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Replacement of the oil pump requires extensive disassembly of the vehicle and repairs commonly exceed $6,000–$8,000 for just the pump, assuming the motor is unharmed. Owners are currently unable to determine whether their vehicles contain the original thermoplastic oil pump design or a later revised version utilizing metal internal components, as VIN-based parts information now identifies updated components in the car even when no replacement has occurred and the old components are actually in the car. Also, BMW has actively removed the plastic part number out of all dealer networks as well.
1 - Parking Brake inoperative - Unable to disengage parking brake: Recalled part for same year/make/model (Different production MONTH in recall) NHTSA safety recall OMB Control No: 2127-0004 2 - Air conditioner (Evaporator failure) - Releasing chemicals from enclosed HVAC system: Common knowledge failure point, requires entire dashboard disassembly w/High Labor cost Unsafe driving conditions in excessive heat (Las Vegas, local area driven) History: August 2025 - Parking brake stopped working: I obtained a diagnosis from independent service shop stating the center console control panel - containing the Body Domain Controller (BDC) requires replacement. The parking brake is currently inoperable Under NHTSA safety recall OMB Control No: 2127-0004 - Part 573 Safety Recall Report 18V-732: This specific part for this specific vehicle (year, make and model) has been recalled under a different production month. March 2026 - Air Conditioner Failure: The A/C system stopped working (Blowing hot air only). I filled the A/C system on 3/12/2026, and within 2 weeks the system chemicals had been released into the environment due to a leak in the evaporator. The evaporator was diagnosed by two (2) independent mechanics as the failure point of the AC system. The Air conditioner is currently inoperable and I reside in Las Vegas - Temperatures average well over 100 degrees and we are approaching summer. Common knowledge failure point: A/C Evaporator - Located deep within the dashboard at the firewall, requiring an interior disassembly - Skilled labor and time Manufacturer's defect: Upon research, these are very common failure point as a result of the improper engineering of the AC system on this particular vehicle.
I am reporting a safety concern involving BMW vehicles equipped with the B58 Technical Update (B58TU) engine, commonly found in model years 2019–2021. These vehicles utilize a variable-displacement engine oil pump containing an internal thermoplastic adjusting component responsible for regulating oil pressure. Field failures are increasingly being reported in which this internal component fractures, resulting in sudden loss or instability of engine oil pressure. The failure frequently occurs during cold-start operation in low ambient temperatures. When the component fails, oil pressure regulation becomes erratic or is lost entirely. In many cases, drivers receive little or no actionable warning prior to engine damage or vehicle disablement. Reported precursor symptoms include inability to electronically measure engine oil level, abnormal oil pressure behavior, or sudden drivetrain malfunction warnings. Failures may rapidly progress to engine shutdown or severe mechanical damage caused by oil starvation. Loss of lubrication can cause the vehicle to become disabled without warning while driving or shortly after startup. This creates a safety hazard, particularly when vehicles become immobilized in active traffic or during winter conditions the cold is when they fail the most, where occupants may be exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Replacement of the oil pump requires extensive disassembly of the vehicle and repairs commonly exceed $6,000–$8,000 for just the pump, assuming the motor is unharmed. Failures have been reported across multiple production years, and affected vehicle population boundaries remain unclear. Because this condition can result in sudden vehicle disablement without adequate warning especially in the cold, I believe this issue warrants investigation as a potential safety-related defect.
I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2019 BMW X5 that experienced a sudden and catastrophic engine failure at approximately 75,000–80,000 miles. The failure occurred without any prior warning indicators, dashboard alerts, or fault codes. The vehicle lost engine function and required inspection by an authorized BMW dealership. The dealership documented internal engine damage, including metallic debris in the oil system, oil contamination, and bottom-end engine knocking. A full engine replacement was recommended. This raises safety concerns because: The failure occurred without warning Sudden engine failure could create hazardous driving conditions depending on speed and location There may be a broader pattern of similar failures BMW of North America has denied assistance and has not provided any explanation for the cause of the failure. I am submitting this complaint so the incident can be recorded and evaluated as part of any potential defect investigation.
During the last service at the dealership. While they are replacing the battery, they found a melted bolt on the auxiliary battery that causes a loose cable connection and informed me that its a fire hazard. The car has 85k at the moment and all services were done at the dealership. No incident or any repairs. This is not a wear and tear. How can a bolt just melt. It might even melted a while ago and putting drivers in hazard without know because they would not noticed this unless a battery is getting replaced.
My daughter was driving my BMW X5, it went to neutral and not moving, she was panicked and stopped the car and ignition. After restarting the car, it worked for a day, then it happened again, also, I see notifications on dashboard for restraint warning, saying, airbag, and seat belt tension are reduced. I took to Fairfax BMW in VA, BMW quoted $2662, informed that my BMW went out of extended warranty over a month, I asked Goodwill request to BMW, still declined.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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