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2018 BMW X5Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 73 owner complaints about the 2018 BMW X5, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-608 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.

2018 BMW X5
64
CarFlaw IndexSolid year44% below the X5 median · #21 of 25 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 40%Owner complaints735 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage8kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 14, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2018 BMW X5 has problems

73 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
Electrical system151
Fuel/propulsion system111
Engine110
Power train100
Engine and engine cooling90
Fuel system, diesel60
Suspension60
Air bags41
Tires40
9 other systems163

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

5 recalls

2018 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.

40%repaired · 2026 Q3

Wiring: connectors/plugs/receptacles

Recall 24V-608 · Aug 13, 2024 · 720,796 vehicles · 291,682 repaired

Risk. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

91%repaired · 2023 Q4

Delivery: fuel pump

Recall 21V-586 · Jul 29, 2021 · 11,216 vehicles · 10,219 repaired

Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

98%repaired · 2020 Q2

Equipment: electrical

Recall 18V-652 · Sep 20, 2018 · 3,501 vehicles · 3,423 repaired

Risk. An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

100%repaired · 2018 Q4

Control arm: lower arm

Recall 18V-439 · Jun 28, 2018 · 43 vehicles · 43 repaired

Risk. If the lower control arm breaks, vehicle handling and control can be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
94%repaired · 2019 Q2

Suspension

Recall 17V-727 · Nov 17, 2017 · 33 vehicles · 31 repaired

Risk. Loose bolts can affect the performance of the suspension, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

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

2018 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
NHTSA crash tests

2018 BMW X5 safety ratings

2018 BMW X5 SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2018 BMW X5 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2018 BMW X5 side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2018 BMW X5 side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (18.8% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2018 BMW X5, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  2. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  3. High pressure fuel pump failureEA23001 · still open
    Led to recall 24V-957
In owners' words

What X5 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TWO INCIDENTS ACCURED WITH 24HRS. MY WIFE CALLED ME INFORMING THAT THE 2018 X5 WAS SMOKING FROM THE FRONT AND MAKING A WEIRD NOISE, SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN. WHEN SHE GOT HOME, I CHECKED THE UNDER THE HOOD, BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. BUT, CAN SMELL LIKE BURNED WIRING,…
Complaint 11765364 · Sep 18, 2026
On March 9, 2026, I brought the vehicle to BMW of Fairfax for a scheduled appointment. In the week leading up to the visit, the vehicle intermittently failed to start and required jump-starting using a portable battery starter. Despite this issue, the car drove normally, showed no warning lights or…
Complaint 11734949 · Apr 30, 2026
Vehicle: 2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e Recall: NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-608 Complaint Description: My 2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e experienced a sudden Electric Motor Electronics (EME) failure that rendered the vehicle inoperable. This occurred before the recall remedy for NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-608 was…
Complaint 11718491 · Feb 17, 2026

Own a 2018 X5?

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