2025 BMW X5

The contact owned a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated and became uncontrollable. The vehicle traveled over a cliff down an 80-foot drop and rolled over several times before coming to a stop. The contact and her husband were transported to a medical facility. The contact sustained multiple cuts and bruises, a broken left index finger cut to the tendon that required surgical repair, and a laceration on the right leg that became infected, requiring ongoing medical treatment and therapy. The contact's husband sustained five broken ribs, a broken right knee, and multiple head and body lacerations and contusions, requiring three months in a wheelchair and ongoing medical treatment and therapy. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and deemed a total loss. A police report was filed, but the report details were unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 16,368.

NHTSA ID

11771085

Incident

Aug 21, 2025

Mileage

16,368 mi

VEHICLE: 2025 BMW X5 MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT(S): 15,512 COMPONENT: Forward Collision Warning / Pedestrian Warning / Automatic Emergency Braking (City Collision Mitigation) DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: On multiple occasions, the Pedestrian Warning and/or automatic emergency braking system on my 2025 BMW X5 has activated with no pedestrian, vehicle, or obstacle posing any actual risk to the vehicle. These false activations have occurred both at low speed (parking lots/driveways) and at normal driving speed on public roads. In at least two instances, the sudden, hard braking created a real risk of being rear-ended by the vehicle behind me, endangering occupants of both vehicles. SPECIFIC INCIDENTS: 1. XXX, [XXX] (residential/local road): A vehicle merged into my lane from the left ahead of me while maintaining a consistent speed matching mine, posing no collision risk. My BMW slammed on the brakes without warning, nearly causing the vehicle behind me to rear-end us. This endangered multiple passengers in both vehicles. 2. Early XXX parking lot: While backing out of a parking space, a pedestrian was nearby but showed no indication of walking into the vehicle's path. The system triggered hard braking and an audible alarm with no actual risk present. 3. XXX, local street: A pedestrian was walking on the sidewalk with no indication of intent to cross the street. The vehicle braked extremely hard and suddenly, without warning, creating a risk that the car behind us would rear-end us. I have not been in an accident as a result of these events, but the pattern shows the system engaging hard, sudden braking in response to non-threats, including at normal driving speeds on public roads, not just low-speed maneuvers. This creates a risk of rear-end collision and startles/endangers pedestrians and other drivers. I am submitting this report to document the issue and make NHTSA aware in case other X5 owners have this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11767810

Incident

Sep 29, 2026

I was driving my 2025 BMW X5 sDrive40i at approximately 60 mph when the vehicle in front of me stopped abruptly. I immediately applied the brake pedal firmly in an attempt to make an emergency stop. Despite applying heavy and continuous pressure to the brake pedal, the braking force felt unusually weak. The vehicle slowed gradually but continued rolling forward much farther than I expected and did not stop before I made low-speed contact with the rear of the vehicle in front of me. The vehicle did not skid, I did not feel the tires sliding, and I did not observe skid marks. My concern is that the vehicle did not provide the amount of braking force I expected despite firm emergency braking. Because BMW X5 vehicles have been subject to recalls involving the Integrated Brake system, ABS, DSC, and potentially increased stopping distance, I am reporting this incident as a possible safety-related braking defect.

NHTSA ID

11760195

Incident

Aug 25, 2026

While the daytime running lights are on (this vehicle has front and rear daytime running lights, so when the DRL’s are on, the taillights are illuminated as well as the front daytime running lights). When the DRL’s are on, and you use a turn signal, the rear turn signals are almost invisible to the naked eye during the day time. Reason being, the DRL’s are on, so the rear tail lights are slightly illuminated. This vehicle also has a pulsating (fade on/off) turn signals in the front and rear. It’s not a sharp on/off like a typical LED. So when using the turn signal, the rear turn signals (which also act as the taillight and brake light) are very very dim and hard to see as compared to when the DRL’s are off. The photo I will provide shows the left turn signal at its brightest point, the one on top with the daytime running lights off, are very bright and visible, whereas the bottom photo (which shows the rear daytime running taillights on) also shows the left turn signal at its brightest point, and is almost indistinguishable as to whether the turn signal is flashing. Again, both have the left turn signal on at its brightest point. This is very unsafe, and applies to all 2024-2026 BMW X5’s. J would like this rectified.

NHTSA ID

11759784

Incident

Aug 26, 2026

2025 BMW X5...warning lights appeared and voice said emergency stop... emergency stop and tried to pull me off the road. shut down the vehicle for a while... and started up. finished errands. got home. vehicle would not start in the morning. dealership said it was an issue with the braking system... electronics and dead battery . said repaired. got it back. happened again...but got it going. dealership said if it happened again... press the gas pedal and it would clear up the problem. recent issue August 18, 2026. vehicle would not start. got a jump and emergency lights again.. emergency stop. vehicle towed to dealership. was told it had faults with the brake control unit. believed to be fixed but further testing to make sure. I'm worried this will happen on highway or the vehicle is not sellable if I ever want to sell or trade it in

NHTSA ID

11758309

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

While driving eastbound on [XXX] on XXX between approximately 9:29 and 10:21 AM, the vehicle suddenly displayed a red warning instructing the driver to “Take over braking function immediately.” At that moment, adaptive cruise control braking and automated braking assistance disengaged without warning, requiring the driver to manually brake while in traffic. This created an unexpected safety hazard for the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists. Prior to this event, the vehicle had exhibited repeated Driver Assistance instability across multiple service visits, including inconsistent adaptive cruise control behavior, braking‑related restrictions, and GPS mislocation affecting ADAS functions. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer’s authorized dealer across five service visits, including replacement of the head unit and multiple software resets. The underlying malfunction has occurred repeatedly, but the specific braking alert has not been reproduced by the dealer. No crash, fire, or injury occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11757153

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

Our 2025 BMW X5 50e was involved in an accident while slowly pulling into a parking spot at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. While turning right into the striped parking spot, the car suddenly accelerated, swiping the car parked to the right and continued on to break through a rung of the log fence barrier before manual hard braking stopped it from plunging into the canyon below. There was no audible alarm heard and apparently no emergency braking engaged to prevent impact with the other car or log fence. No airbags deployed. Emergency braking was enabled. Drive mode was Hybrid. With the grill damaged and a front sensor hanging below the damaged bumper. We are still awaiting the Park Ranger report.

NHTSA ID

11753465

Incident

Jul 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated while the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's son drove the vehicle to a local gas station. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, however the vehicle had not been inspected.The tow truck driver informed the contact's son that there was a leak in the brake fluid container. In addition, the contact stated that prior to the failure occurring, the vehicle was serviced on April 30,2026 and the recall, NHTSA Campaign Number 24V104000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydrauli) was performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11738055

Incident

May 14, 2026

Due to an implementation error in various OBD diagnostics in the vehicle's control units, in very rare cases itmay happen that stored fault memory codes (DTCs) and the MIL (warning light) are not automaticallydeleted even though the underlying malfunction has already been rectified. This does not comply with the statutory OBD specifications.

Fastening Elements Return

This Service Bulletin provides instructions to clean the intake valves using the BMW Carbon Blaster Tool P/N 81 29 2 208 034 and the S68T / XB1T Kit P/N 83 30 5 BAD 3D5. Refer to SI B04 12 11 for existing documentation about the carbon blaster tool and SI B04 02 26 for the S68T /XB1T tool kit.

Shaft Return

This Service Bulletin provides instructions to clean the intake valves using the BMW Carbon Blaster Tool

In the affected vehicles, an incorrect screwlocking device (circled) may have been usedfor the mounting bolts of the door latch locks.