Engine
3.0L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 191 of 191 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 41 of 191 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Electrical system
71 complaint records1 fire report1 crash report
"Car started hesitating to start then messaged popped up on screen saying my system was overheating I had to pay for a new starter...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
63 complaint records2 crash reports
"Car started hesitating to start then messaged popped up on screen saying my system was overheating I had to pay for a new starter...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Power train
19 complaint records2 crash reports
"BMWUSA failed to advise me of B120524 starter recall. As a result of their failure I have incurred damages that the manufacturer is unwilling to reimburse...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25V644000 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload. | Normally free |
| 24V576000 | Engine And Engine Cooling | BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5, X7, 2020 3 Series Sedan, X6, 2020-2021 7 Series Sedan, 2020 8 Series Convertible, 8 Series Coupe, and 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. | Normally free |
| 22V267000 | Visibility | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive); 2019-2022 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M; 2021-2022 X5 xdrive45e; 2020-2022 X6... | Normally free |
| 21V520000 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one 2019 X5 xDrive 40i vehicle. The instrument panel may not have been manufactured correctly, which could prevent the passenger side air bag from deploying properly in a... | Normally free |
| 21V096000 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7... | Normally free |
| 21V062000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6... | Normally free |
| 20V434000 | Steering | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i and X5 xDrive50i vehicles and 2020 X6M vehicles. | Normally free |
| 19V684000 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i,... | Normally free |
Show 5 more recall campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V541000 | Wheels | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 X5 xDrive50i and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The left side wheel bolts may have been insufficiently tightened and may loosen over time. | Normally free |
| 19V513000 | Fuel System, Other | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 750i xDrive, 2019 M850i xDrive Coupe, M850i xDrive Convertible, X5 xDrive50i, X7 xDrive50i, and M5 vehicles. | Normally free |
| 19V096000 | Seats | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 X5 xDrive40i and xDrive50i vehicles. The attachment bolts for the driver's seat and/or seat belt may not have been properly tightened. | Normally free |
| 18V918000 | Equipment | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i and X5 xDrive50i vehicles. The driver and/or passenger sun visor may have an incorrect air bag warning label, or the label may be missing. | Normally free |
| 18V732000 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i vehicles. The capacitors within the Body Domain Controller (BDC) may short circuit and overheat. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026285 2026-06-09 | Lights And Instruments | 25,552 | Issue: Under certain conditions, the windshield wiping system may not meet certain requirements of Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: This small error does not affect safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. |
| 2025514 2025-09-25 | Engine | 14,573 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the recall repairs completed by a BMW dealer during recall 12 83 24RC (Transport Canada recall no. 2024-444) may not be effective. As a result, certain vehicles require a second repair. |
| 2024544 2024-08-15 | Label | 587,250 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "NONE" when it should read as "NONE / AUCUN". |
| 2024444 2024-08-01 | Electrical | 11,802 | Issue: On certain vehicles, if you try to start the engine repeatedly, the starter could overheat. If this happens, and nearby components contact the starter, it could cause a fire. Safety Risk: A fire can create the risk of injury. |
| 2022202 2022-04-20 | Structure | 6,235 | Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could allow you to close the sunroof remotely without the key fob inside the vehicle. Canadian regulations require the key fob to be in or near the vehicle when closing the sunroof. |
Show 7 more Canadian recalls
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021078 2021-02-18 | Visual System | 2,263 | Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to appear correctly in the central display. |
| 2019480 2019-10-01 | Visual System | 14,323 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the rearview camera does not return to the default settings when it turns on. This could make the rearview image difficult to see if a driver had previously adjusted the camera display brightness at or near the... |
| 2019358 2019-07-24 | Wheels | 2 | Issue: The wheel bolts on the left side of certain vehicles may not be properly tightened. This could cause the bolts to loosen or fall off, and could result in a wheel separating from the vehicle. |
| 2019335 2019-07-04 | Fuel System | 8 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the high-pressure fuel pumps (HPFP) may have been attached to the cylinder head incorrectly. Over time, this could cause the flange of the HPFP to crack. |
| 2019249 2019-05-24 | Label | 1 | Issue: One BMW X5 was produced without a vehicle identification number (VIN) label under the windshield. Canadian regulations require the VIN to be clearly visible from outside the vehicle. |
| 2019070 2019-02-14 | Seats And Restraints | 11 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the bolts for the driver's seat and/or seat belt may not be properly tightened. This could cause the seat or seat belt come loose or detach in a crash. |
| 2018721 2018-12-20 | Label | 1 | The affected vehicle may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 208 - Occupant Protection in Frontal Impacts. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010324 May 2024 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | EVAP SYSTEM PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150 |
| B010324 Sep 2024 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| B010121 Nov 2024 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | For this vehicle, the engine coolant thermostat limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles, as determined from the original in-service date. |
| B011624 Dec 2024 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | the NVLD modules limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the vehicles original in-service / first delivery date. |
| B650222 Jan 2025 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Air Bags | The limited warranty for the Knee Air Bag wire harness repair cable procedure for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / deliver date. |
| B010325 Apr 2025 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Structure | The Radiator Grilles Lower Active Air Flap Assembly limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date. |
| B010325 Mar 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Structure | The Radiator Grilles Lower Active Air Flap Assembly limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date. |
| B010324 May 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| B010226 May 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Structure | SHARK FIN ROOF ANTENNA SEALING SETTLEMENT Extended Warranty |
| B010324 Jun 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date. |
| B011524 Jul 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The NVLD modules limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the vehicles original in-service / first delivery date. |
Show 49 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010226DCS Aug 2026 | Structure | BMW Notice of the Court’s Final Approval for Shark-Fin Antenna Settlement (X3, X4, X5, X6, X7) | |
| B010226 Aug 2026 | Structure | Rear Roof Antenna Shark Fin Cover Sealing Issue | |
| B110426 Jul 2026 | Electrical System | The manual starting of electronic engine oil level measurement from inside the vehicle, usually afterperforming an engine oil service task, is inoperative or it may lock up at between a 15% to 30% completionrate. | |
| B510726 Jul 2026 | SERVICE CAMPAIGN | Structure | In the affected vehicles, an incorrect screwlocking device (circled) may have been usedfor the mounting bolts of the door latch locks. |
| B011323 Mar 2025 | Unknown Or Other | CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: F95 F96 G05 G06 G07 FRONT CENTER CONSOLE CUPHOLDER | |
| B521019 Mar 2024 | Seats | The seat leather upholstery detaches from the front of the thigh support (aka knee bolster) of either front seat. | |
| B611124 Mar 2024 | Electrical System | After performing a BMW Remote Software Upgrade (RSU), the functionality of the Comfort Access andPassive Go/Exit features may be reduced. Also, one or more of the following error memory entries below may be stored in the Basic Central Platform(BCP) module. | |
| B511520 Mar 2024 | Equipment | Deactivated: Currently investigating other components that maybe playing a factors besides what is mentioned in the SIB. Topic is under investigation. | |
| B630418 Mar 2024 | Exterior Lighting | One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored. | |
| B310122 Mar 2024 | Suspension | During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/o router CV boots. | |
| B120721 Mar 2024 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter... | |
| B170122 Jan 2024 | Engine And Engine Cooling | The Check Control message below appears even though the coolant level is not below minimum when theengine is cold. Check Control message (ID 166): Top up coolant. | |
| B510819 Jan 2024 | Visibility | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. | |
| B611305 Jan 2024 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. | |
| B541119 Jan 2024 | Structure | This bulletin outlines known areas of possible water entry, operational noise, or wind noise for the vehicles listed above. It serves only as a diagnostic resource in troubleshooting complaints from the roof area. | |
| B541319 Jan 2024 | Equipment | The roller sunshade (aka sun protection or sunblind) of the front panoramic sunroof is bunching up during operation or may hang down and appear loose. | |
| B320223 Jan 2024 | Steering | SITUATION Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction. 1. A one-time thump sound at the start of movement Shortly after the steering column starts moving, retracting, or extending, a one-time thump noise is heard. | |
| B410219 Jan 2024 | Structure | A crack maybe present on the left C-pillar. The crack does not affect the structure of the vehicle. | |
| B160623 Dec 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (-... | |
| B653423 Nov 2023 | Equipment | Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâÂÂs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. | |
| B661523 Nov 2023 | Equipment | Emergency Stop Assistant is activated. Thisicon will appear in the CID when this function is activated. | |
| B120721 Nov 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter... | |
| B011323 Oct 2023 | Air Bags | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Brightk Consulting, Inc. v. BMW of North America, LLC. The Court has granted final approval of the settlement. | |
| B522319 Oct 2023 | Seats | Second seat row blocking access to third seat row, program seat modules. Visible stitching on first row sport seat. Third seat row backrest Bowden cable routing and length change. | |
| B660523 Oct 2023 | Lane Departure | Various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (ADCAM system) can lead to customer complaints. | |
| B540421 Oct 2023 | Structure | This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry | |
| B513019 Sep 2023 | Structure | A groaning noise is present from the door frame of any door, most commonly when driving over rough roadsor during body flex. This situation may be worse in vehicles which are regularly waxed in the area of the door jamb. | |
| B630923 Aug 2023 | Interior Lighting | The interior lights in the rear of the passenger area do not work. | |
| B650222 Aug 2023 | Visibility | A check control message (CCM) for the restraint system (Air bag) appears. | |
| B652023 Aug 2023 | Back Over Prevention | ?During workshop repairs with software updates, certain customer vehicles may be changed to BMW Operating System 8.5 and returned to customers without making them aware of the change. | |
| B652523 Aug 2023 | Air Bags | BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop: KNEE AIRBAG. | |
| B661223 Aug 2023 | Electrical System | ?BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop for BMW X5, X6, X7, and 7 Series sedan vehicles that were produced between July 7, 2023 and August 15, 2023. Usage of the Highway Assist function (option code 5AX) is not possible. | |
| B320223 Aug 2023 | Steering | ?Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction. | |
| B520121 Aug 2023 | Seats | ?The front seat will not calibrate/initialize, and the stored faults cannot be deleted. | |
| B540123 Aug 2023 | Structure | ?Water leaking into the vehicle from the headliner/microphone area. | |
| B090221 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | With the introduction of the BMW Remote Software Upgrade, all Service Pack 18 vehicles and partial Service Pack 15 vehicles may receive new functionality or modifications in their features. | |
| B120323 Jun 2023 | Equipment | BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop effective June 6, 2023 on certain Model Year 2023 - 2024 BMW vehicles that were produced between October 26, 2022 and May 8, 2023. | |
| B160123 Jun 2023 | Fuel System | A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system (NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). | |
| B320420 Jun 2023 | Steering | A groaning type noise is heard during the height adjustment. | |
| B611320 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | In the event of an accident, the two-battery Dual Storage System (DSS) is disconnected from the electrical system via an internal relay. | |
| B630321 Jun 2023 | Exterior Lighting | Condensation is present on the inner surfaces in one or both taillights (circled). | |
| B630821 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Headlight check control (CC) message 128 "High beam headlight failure" is displayed. The following fault codes are stored during a vehicle test: 80419A - Left high-beam headlight: Short circuit and/or 8041A5 - light outputs: Number of permitted short circuit cycles exceeded | |
| B640821 Jun 2023 | Visibility | The air conditioning cycles from cold to warm air while driving or while at a stand still. The vent outlet temperatures vary by 25 degrees Fahrenheit or more (38 F to 60 F +) without changing any climate control settings. | |
| B011323 May 2023 | Equipment | Interim Class Action Settlement F95/96, G05/G06/G07 front center console cupholder United States District Court Central District of California. | |
| B340720 May 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | DSCi units which potentially have a faulty hydraulic valve were installed in the vehicles. The affected units may activate a sporadic red-colored Check Control Message. | |
| B510222 May 2023 | Structure | In the affected vehicles, faulty spindle drives for the tailgate (lower section) may have been installed, which can fail over time. | |
| B510823 May 2023 | Visibility | Upon opening or closing (i.e., folding in or out) the exterior mirror assembly, a creaking sound is heard from either the driver and/or passenger side. | |
| B511722 May 2023 | Electrical System | Due to the semiconductor supply, the Local Interconnect Network module in either of the exterior mirrors was switched to another controller. That one provides an imprecise voltage measurement, which the main controller interprets as a fault. | |
| B514616 May 2023 | Structure | Upon opening and closing the tailgate, a creaking/groaning sound can be heard from tailgate actuator. |
Showing 60 of 457 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 13 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask the dealer whether the warranty extension on file still applies to this VIN.The manufacturer issued 11 warranty extensions for this vehicle (see the service bulletins section). Extended coverage often runs by years or miles from the original sale, and a repair the seller paid for may have been free.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this BMW X5 →