repaired · 2026 Q3
Electrical system: starter assembly
Risk. An overheated starter motor can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
2019 BMW X5Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 195 owner complaints about the 2019 BMW X5, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 13 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-644 the manufacturer reports only 74% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2019 BMW X5 has problems
195 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
72Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
52Engine2 crash/fire/injury
20Power train2 crash/fire/injury
18Steering
13Service brakes
12Air bags
12Engine and engine cooling
7Seat belts
7Back over prevention
3910 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 72 | 2 |
| Engine | 52 | 2 |
| Power train | 20 | 2 |
| Steering | 18 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 4 |
| Air bags | 12 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 7 | 0 |
| Back over prevention | 7 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 39 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
13 recalls
2019 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.
repaired · 2026 Q2
Electrical system: starter assembly
Risk. A starter motor that overheats can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk. A sunroof that closes without the key fob present inside the vehicle can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2021 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An air bag that does not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Show 9 more recalls
repaired · 2023 Q1
Sensing system: camera
Risk. If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Service brakes, hydraulic
Risk. A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Steering
Risk. A loose bearing plate can affect the vehicle's handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2021 Q1
Sensing system: camera
Risk. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Risk. Loose bolts may allow a wheel to detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Seat belts
Risk. The improperly tightened bolts can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Other: labels
Risk. Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Electrical system
Risk. If the BDC short circuits, other nearby components may also overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
12 owners mentioned a cost$4,431median
Middle half: $1,925 – $8,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2019 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
2019 BMW X5 safety ratings
2019 BMW X5 SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What X5 owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I purchased a BMW X5 on August 5. Several weeks later, I kept noticing rubber pieces coming out of the engine so I lifted the hood and saw disconnected hoses, fraying, holes, extremely worn engine parts and pink wrapping around one metal hose. Two weeks ago a safety recall notice popped up on my…
COMPONENT / FAULT CATEGORY: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM / POWER TRAIN / BLIND SPOT WARNING SUMMARY OF THE DEFECT: On April 11, 2026, my 2019 BMW X5 suffered a sudden electronic system shutdown at highway speeds near the 210 exit, stranding the car on the roadway and requiring AAA towing. BMW of Ontario…
The contact’s wife who owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound and the vehicle intermittently stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic,…
Own a 2019 X5?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.