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2013 BMW X5Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 149 owner complaints about the 2013 BMW X5, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-138 the manufacturer reports only 66% of affected cars repaired.

2013 BMW X5
48
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.1× the X5 median · #12 of 25 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 66%Owner complaints14914 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage67kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 19, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Michael Sheehan, CC BY 2.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2013 BMW X5 has problems

149 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags472
Engine454
Power train361
Electrical system212
Fuel/propulsion system91
Service brakes63
Engine and engine cooling60
Seat belts50
Structure52
10 other systems162

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2013 BMW X5 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

77%repaired · 2021 Q2

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 20V-017 · Jan 15, 2020 · 59,965 vehicles · 46,423 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

74%repaired · 2020 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 19V-017 · Jan 14, 2019 · 83,016 vehicles · 61,315 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

73%repaired · 2020 Q2

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Recall 18V-336 · May 23, 2018 · 33,214 vehicles · 24,222 repaired

Risk. If the idler pulley bolt breaks, the vehicle may unexpectedly lose power-assisted steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

67%repaired · 2019 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 18V-030 · Jan 9, 2018 · 41,808 vehicles · 28,172 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
66%repaired · 2018 Q3

Driveline: driveshaft

Recall 17V-138 · Mar 2, 2017 · 121,909 vehicles · 80,845 repaired

Risk. If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Steering

Recall 12V-267 · Jun 13, 2012 · 2,642 vehicles

Risk. LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID CAN SPRAY ONTO HOT EXHAUST PARTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2013 vs. every other X5 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the X5 median. How we score

'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2013 BMW X5, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Idler Pulley Bolt FailureRQ18001 · closed Dec 1, 2018
    Led to recall 18V-336
In owners' words

What X5 owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

During the past raining season, car battery compartment flooded creating a fire/electrical hazard during operation and addition total malfunction of instruments, lighting, warning systems in general, airbags, rendering the vehicle useless. The issue is well documented online by various owners, BMW…
Complaint 11509851 · Mar 2, 2023
PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG HAS FAILED. WAS TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR ANY RECALL, ESTIMATE OF $2,200. WAS TOLD THAT SAFETY SYSTEM IS NOW COMPROMISED FOR PASSENGER.
Complaint 11341987 · Jul 29, 2020 · 70,000 miles
OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE PART TO FIX THE ITEM IS $1,500 INCLUDING LABOR. THE PART IS OUT OF STOCK. SO THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY BMW. APPROVAL TO REPLACE HAS BEEN GRANTED ON OTHER BMW MODELS. WHY ISN'T MINE COVERED? THE SENSOR IS ALWAYS ON EVEN IF NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT.
Complaint 11265229 · Sep 30, 2019 · 120,000 miles

Own a 2013 X5?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.