Total Complaints
16 filings
BMW X5 SAV · model year
16 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2013BMWX5 SAV carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2013 X5 SAV is air bags with 5 filings, followed by engine (4) and service brakes (2). 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 1 active recall campaign, 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 2013 X5 SAV. 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.
Total Complaints
16 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| ENGINE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons,
OIL LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET GETS INTO THE HOT MANIFOLD CAUSING A BURNING OIL SMELL AND SMOKE GETTING INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE AC VENTS CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
Mileage: 68,000
N63 ENGINE FAILURE AND BATTERY CHARGING PROBLEMS. ENGINE BLOWS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM REAR TAILPIPES AND BATTERY INDICATOR STATES LOW CHARGE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BMW AS THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO WEASEL THERE WAY OUT OF THIS BY NOT RELEASING A RECALL.
Mileage: 56,000
N63 ENGINE FAILURE AND BATTERY CHARGING PROBLEMS. ENGINE BLOWS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM REAR TAILPIPES AND BATTERY INDICATOR STATES LOW CHARGE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BMW AS THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO WEASEL THERE WAY OUT OF THIS BY NOT RELEASING A RECALL.
Mileage: 56,000
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK. PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT SEAT. DRIVER LOCKED VEHICLE PREMATURELY WHILE OUTSIDE. PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH KEY FOB BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND. PASSENGER PUSHED LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS IN VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE. DRIVER REENTERED VEHICLE TO TRY TO HELP. UNABLE TO HELP AND DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. OPENED WINDOW AND HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DRIVERS DOOR. ROLLED DOWN WINDOW ON PASSENGER DOOR AND AFTER PULLING UP ON MANUAL LOCK AND PULLING HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED FREEING PASSENGER. ALL DOORS ON VEHICLE WERE LOCKED AND UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ONLY DRIVERS DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN WITH KEY. DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY FRONT RIGHT WITH ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURE CAUSING CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM FUSE TO BLOW. REPAIR INVOICE ATTACHED.
Mileage: 71,000
WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE THE PARKING BRAKE SYMBOL WENT YELLOW AND IT SHOWED A MESSAGE STATING IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PARKING BRAKE. SINCE THE CAR MOVED FINE WITHOUT ANY NOISE AND IT GAVE NO INDICATION OTHERWISE IT SEEMED SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SOME TIME LATER IT STARTER MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRUCK STOP THE BRAKES WERE FOUND EXCESSIVELY HOT IN ADDITION TO MAKING NOISE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A SHOP IT WAS REVEALED THE PARKING BRAKE HAD PARTIALLY ACTIVATED, DRAGGED THE SHOES UNTIL THEY WERE WORN DOWN, MADE METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR HAT AND CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE ON BOTH SIDES. UNDER SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT ONE OR BOTH REAR WHEELS COULD HAVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. THE ERROR MESSAGE ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE OF THIS MODULE IS HIGHLY MISLEADING, SINCE IT SE
Mileage: 88,900
RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY RECEIVED HIGH ENGINE TEMP WARNING ORANGE. IT QUICKLY WENT TO RED AND READ ON DASH TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE LOST MUCH POWER AND STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT LET IT GO FASTER. I HAD TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE SOME VEHICLE SPED THROUGH TO THE RIGHT OF ME WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER. 45,000 MILES AND WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WHEN I TOOK IT TO A SHOP.
Mileage: 45,000
TAKATA RECALL - TAKATA RECALL CONTINUES TO GO UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE IN QUESTION IN PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY SPOUSE AND NINE-YEAR OLD SON. BMW SHARED THIS WEEK ONLY DUE TO MY CONTACT THEM THAT THE AIRBAG FOR THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN ONE MONTH. I HAVE NO FAITH AND AM SEEKING INJUNCTION BY NHTSA TO RESOLVE THIS DELINQUENT RESOLUTION IMMEDIATELY.
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL, FEB 05,2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERNA NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V071 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG: DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE THAT COULD CAUSE THE INFLATOR TO RUPTURE.
THE PARKING BREAK SWITCH LEAVER BROKE. THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLASTIC SWITCH LEAVER IS VERY THIN (FLIMSY), THEREFORE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT NOT TO BREAK UNDER REPEATED NORMAL USE. THIS RESULTS IN THE PARKING BRAKE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. PLEASE SEE UPLOAD PHOTO.
Mileage: 36,600
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X5 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
MY CAR HAS HAD AN OPEN RECALL SINCE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2016 AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM BMW REGARDING WHEN THE RECALL WILL BE REPAIRED. SEVERAL EMAILS TO SERVICE ADVISER RESULT IN A GENERIC RESPONSE THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM 77 YEARS OLD MAN AND MORE THAN 50 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BOUGHT BMW X5 OCTOBER 2013 FROM TENAFLY BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS MY LIFETIME DREAMED CAR. LIKE A BMW SALES SLOGAN ?ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE BMW CAR'S JOY OF DRIVING. BUT AFTER FEW MONTH LATER I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE BMW X5. WHEN I DRIVE TO ACCELERATE PUSH THE GAS CAR DOSE NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS PUSHING GAS. SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY PROBLEM THEY DID SOFTWARE UPGRADE. AFTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAR WAS GOOD RESPONDING DRIVE. BUT FEW WEEKS LATER BACK TO OLD CONDITION. THESE THINGS FOUR MORE TIMES I DID. COULD YOU POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MY FRUSTRATION? HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS: 1. SLUGGISH AND HESITATING RUNNING WHEN ACCELERATION 2. BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND GASOLINE SENSOR PROBLEM?!(I THINK) 3. NOT SMOOTH TRANSITION AND FEEL HEAVY MOVING 4. THIS IS NOT BMW X5 POWER RUNNING WEAK. 5. DRIVING TERRIBLY HEAVILY
Mileage: 7,000
HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM 77 YEARS OLD MAN AND MORE THAN 50 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BOUGHT BMW X5 OCTOBER 2013 FROM TENAFLY BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS MY LIFETIME DREAMED CAR. LIKE A BMW SALES SLOGAN ?ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE BMW CAR'S JOY OF DRIVING. BUT AFTER FEW MONTH LATER I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE BMW X5. WHEN I DRIVE TO ACCELERATE PUSH THE GAS CAR DOSE NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS PUSHING GAS. SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY PROBLEM THEY DID SOFTWARE UPGRADE. AFTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAR WAS GOOD RESPONDING DRIVE. BUT FEW WEEKS LATER BACK TO OLD CONDITION. THESE THINGS FOUR MORE TIMES I DID. COULD YOU POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MY FRUSTRATION? HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS: 1. SLUGGISH AND HESITATING RUNNING WHEN ACCELERATION 2. BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND GASOLINE SENSOR PROBLEM?!(I THINK) 3. NOT SMOOTH TRANSITION AND FEEL HEAVY MOVING 4. THIS IS NOT BMW X5 POWER RUNNING WEAK. 5. DRIVING TERRIBLY HEAVILY
Mileage: 7,000
HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM 77 YEARS OLD MAN AND MORE THAN 50 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BOUGHT BMW X5 OCTOBER 2013 FROM TENAFLY BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS MY LIFETIME DREAMED CAR. LIKE A BMW SALES SLOGAN ?ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE BMW CAR'S JOY OF DRIVING. BUT AFTER FEW MONTH LATER I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE BMW X5. WHEN I DRIVE TO ACCELERATE PUSH THE GAS CAR DOSE NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS PUSHING GAS. SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY PROBLEM THEY DID SOFTWARE UPGRADE. AFTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAR WAS GOOD RESPONDING DRIVE. BUT FEW WEEKS LATER BACK TO OLD CONDITION. THESE THINGS FOUR MORE TIMES I DID. COULD YOU POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MY FRUSTRATION? HERE ARE MY PROBLEMS: 1. SLUGGISH AND HESITATING RUNNING WHEN ACCELERATION 2. BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND GASOLINE SENSOR PROBLEM?!(I THINK) 3. NOT SMOOTH TRANSITION AND FEEL HEAVY MOVING 4. THIS IS NOT BMW X5 POWER RUNNING WEAK. 5. DRIVING TERRIBLY HEAVILY
Mileage: 7,000
VOICE ACTIVATED NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS DO NOT WORK AND ARE A DRIVER DISTRACTION DUE DO TO A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT WORK. SYSTEM IS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HANDS FREE OPERATION TO ENABLE DRIVERS NOT TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND PLACING A PHONE CALL OR DIRECTIONS. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IN IS IN MOTION.
Mileage: 26,000
ENGINE STALLED WHILE VEHICLE AT COMPLETE STOP, WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FOR SEVERAL MILES AND PARKED, THEN RESTARTED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR
Mileage: 5,990
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.