BMW X5 · model year

2001 BMW X5

214 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 12 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001BMWX5 carries 214 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 19 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 X5 is latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch with 16 filings, followed by electrical system (15) and air bags (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 12 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2001 X5. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

214
Complaints
7
Crashes
19
Fires
17
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

214 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15
AIR BAGS14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING13
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS12
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN7
ENGINE7
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR6
STEERING5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
POWER TRAIN4
SERVICE BRAKES4

Recalls (12)

25V74800031/10/2025

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 X5 vehicles that may be equipped with a sport steering wheel containing a Takata PSDI-4 air bag inflator. The inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humid

00V34100024/10/2000

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE NUT THAT SECURES THE AXIAL JOINT OF THE LEFT STEERING TIE ROD TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX MAY HAVE NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED SECURELY. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOOSENING OF THE NUT AND, INITIALLY TO STEERING WHEEL PLAY AND/OR MISALIGNMENT, AS WELL AS NOISE FR

02V19400024/07/2002

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM PIVOT SHAFT COULD LOOSEN FROM ITS SUPPORT BRACKET.

01V17300024/05/2001

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO AN ASSEMBLY ERROR DURING VEHICLE PRODUCTION, ANY OF THE THREE BOLTS THAT SECURE THE PULLEY TO THE PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED.

01V20600021/06/2001

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

17V04700020/01/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may hav

02V13800016/05/2002

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

01V19700014/06/2001

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO AN ASSEMBLY ERROR, ONE OR BOTH SELF-LOCKING NUTS THAT SECURE THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN CROSS-THREADED ON THE BOOSTER STUDS THAT PROTRUDE THROUGH THE FIREWALL. IN SUCH A CASE, THE NUT(S) WOULD NOT BE FULLY SEATED ON THE STUD

01V19600014/06/2001

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4.4I SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, ABRASION PARTICLES COULD DEPOSIT ON THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITHIN THE SWITCH, CAUSING A DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH THE CONTACTS. IF THE DISRUPTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH THE T

00V26100011/09/2000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE SAFETY BELT LOWER OUTBOARD ANCHORAGE BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SECURED PROPERLY.

03V00100009/01/2003

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE FRONT BRAKE LINE TO SLIP OUT OF THE RETAINING BRACKET LOCATED AT THE FRONT STRUT. THE BRAKE HOSE THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE LINE COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE AND BE SUBJECTED TO WEAR AND ABRASION.

01V03000006/02/2001

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING ASSEMBLY OF THESE VEHICLES, THE LOWER END OF THE SPINDLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSERTED COMPLETELY INTO THE COUPLING. IN SUCH A CASE, THE FASTENING BOLT USED TO SECURE THE CONNECTION MAY NOT COMPLETELY ENGAGE THE SPINDLE WITHIN THE COUPLING. DURING D

Recent Complaints

20250218AIR BAGS

My vehicle is DO NOT DRIVE condition. I have not been able to schedule air bag recall repair because the dealerships in my area will not tow to and from my home, and say no mobile service is available. WHAT ARE MY OPINIONS? PLEASE REPLY .....I currently can't drive my car because I have a unexploded claymore in my face!

20241205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I bought this vehicle and turns out the license plate reads as a Tahoe and now the electricial system u plugged speedometer don't work and everything is going out I need help I'm low on money but need help or resources email me [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20241205ENGINE

I bought this vehicle and turns out the license plate reads as a Tahoe and now the electricial system u plugged speedometer don't work and everything is going out I need help I'm low on money but need help or resources email me [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20241205FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I bought this vehicle and turns out the license plate reads as a Tahoe and now the electricial system u plugged speedometer don't work and everything is going out I need help I'm low on money but need help or resources email me [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20201014AIR BAGS

GOT AIRBAG NOTICE IN MAIL 2019 TOOK MY CAR TO WORLD WIDE BMW NANUET NY DEALER MARCH 23 2019 TOLD ME MY AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS NOT ON THE LIST OF BEING REPLACED MINED YOU MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON WELL BEFORE TAKING IT TO BMW DEALER AND TODAY IS STILL ON I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE AND WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE IT CORRECTED THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER 2,000 TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG MODULE

20200321FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED ENGINE WAS ALSO OFF!

20190801FireAIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR NOTICED WHEN I STARTED IT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG AREA I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF BUT THERE WAS SMOKE STILL COMING AND GETTING THICKER I IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH 911 AND NOTICED FLAMES .FIRE TRUCK SHOWED UP PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT THE WHOLE FRONT AIR BAG AREA AND GLOVE BOX WAS PRETTY BAD

20190801FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR NOTICED WHEN I STARTED IT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG AREA I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF BUT THERE WAS SMOKE STILL COMING AND GETTING THICKER I IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH 911 AND NOTICED FLAMES .FIRE TRUCK SHOWED UP PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT THE WHOLE FRONT AIR BAG AREA AND GLOVE BOX WAS PRETTY BAD

20181104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IN 2001 I HAD A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED THEN IN 2007 ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN, THEN IN 2011 THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN, THEN IN 2018 THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN OVERHEAT AND BLOWS THE HEAD GASKET WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM LAS VEGAS IN GILROY CALIFORNIA ???

Mileage: 536

20181104ENGINE

IN 2001 I HAD A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED THEN IN 2007 ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN, THEN IN 2011 THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN, THEN IN 2018 THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN OVERHEAT AND BLOWS THE HEAD GASKET WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM LAS VEGAS IN GILROY CALIFORNIA ???

Mileage: 536

20180813STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V173000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLAZA BMW (11858 OLIVE BLVD, CREVE COEUR, MO) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED; HOWEVER, THE VIN HAD NO OPEN RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS UNDER THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20180628UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL. MY VEHICLES LOCK CYLINDER IS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR RECENTLY AND WHEN I BOUGHT A NEW KEY THE LOCK CYLINDER PUT THE CAR INTO DEADLOCK.

20171214AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20171212ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 BMW X5 ON ICE, SOFT DIRT ROAD, SLUSH, (ICE WITH PAVEMENT) THE CAR FISHTAILS IN THE REAR. I HAD BRAND NEW WINTER TIRES PUT ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ALIGNED. I HAD 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 115,000

20171212POWER TRAIN

WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 BMW X5 ON ICE, SOFT DIRT ROAD, SLUSH, (ICE WITH PAVEMENT) THE CAR FISHTAILS IN THE REAR. I HAD BRAND NEW WINTER TIRES PUT ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ALIGNED. I HAD 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 115,000

20171212SUSPENSION

WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 BMW X5 ON ICE, SOFT DIRT ROAD, SLUSH, (ICE WITH PAVEMENT) THE CAR FISHTAILS IN THE REAR. I HAD BRAND NEW WINTER TIRES PUT ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ALIGNED. I HAD 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 115,000

20171126ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE TAIL LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES AND THE SIGNAL ON BOTH SIZE IN THE REAR DO NOT WORK THE SIGNAL ON THE RIGHT SIDE ON THE FRONT DOES NOT WORK . I HAVE CHANGE ALL THE FUSES IN ALL THE LIGHTBULBS BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE

20170918FireSTRUCTURE:BODY

2001 BMW X5 4.4I CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT.

Mileage: 270,000

20170918FireENGINE

2001 BMW X5 4.4I CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT.

Mileage: 270,000

20170514ENGINE

PARKED X5 AT A ACE HARDWARE STORE, A PERSON CAME RUNNING IN SAYING A CAR WAS ON FIRE! IT WAS MY X5 IN GLEN ELLEN IL TOTAL LOSS ALLSTATE INSURANCE CLAIM #0158238170KR.

Mileage: 196,000

Compare 2001BMWX5 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 BMW X5 have?
The 2001 BMW X5 has 214 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 19 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 BMW X5?
Yes, the 2001 BMW X5 has 12 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW X5?
The most-complained component for the 2001 BMW X5 is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2001 BMW X5 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.