Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure. It has been recalled 2 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Structure
1
0
0
0
Exterior Lighting
1
0
0
0
Electrical System
1
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Steering › Linkages › Rod › Relay › Connecting19E058000
Filed Aug 28, 2019614 vehiclesZf North America, Inc.
Defect. ZF Group North America Operations (ZF) is recalling certain Lemförder Steering Center Rods sold as aftermarket parts for 1996-2004 BMW 5-Series (E39) vehicles. The steering center rods may have an insufficient ball pin pull force that may allow the rods to detach from the steering knuckle.
Risk. If the steering rod detaches from the steerable wheel knuckle, it can cause sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. ZF has notified the parts distributors, instructing them to inform the end customer. ZF will reimburse them for the affected parts. The recall began August 28, 2019.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan12E029000
Filed Aug 10, 2012585 vehiclesValeo
Defect. This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
Risk. This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Remedy. Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 15, 2011140,000 milesGA
THE HEADLIGHT'S HAVE MANUAL ADJUSTERS ON EACH SIDE, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS POINT TOWARDS THE GROUND BECAUSE THEY ARE BROKEN, I TRIED TO ADJUST THE BEAM AND BOTH SIDES JUST CLICK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE AT NIGHT IT LIMITS YOUR VISION AHEAD TO ABOUT 10 TO 20 FEET. I OWN OTHER VEHICLE'S THAT ARE OLDER THAN THIS VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM. I AM A MEMBER OF A FORUM FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL CAR AND MORE THAN HALF, IF NOT EVERY MEMBER HAS ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION FROM MY DEALER WAS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS FOR A TOTAL OF $1000.00 PLUS. I DON'T THINK A HEADLIGHT SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A VEHICLE AND THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY IS AT RISK BECAUSE OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THESE HEADLIGHTS. THE ADJUSTER'S JUST CLICK AND THE HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS POINT TOWARDS THE GROUND, IM PRETTY SURE IT WAS MADE THIS WAS TO INCREASE VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD AND HAZARDS AHEAD BUT IF THE MECHANISM IS BROKEN THEN THE SAFETY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MY VISION AHEAD IS VERY LIMITED, IT PRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE A BETTER VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD OF YOU AS OTHER CAR'S HAVE. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BY BMWNA FOR ALL USA OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF HEADLIGHT. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Dec 3, 200936,000 milesVA
FAILURE OF THE INFORMATION CLUSTER, MISSING PIXELS)....MILEAGE AND OTHER INFORMATION CAN NOT BE READ.*TR
Structure
Filed Nov 25, 200915,000 milesMI
BMW X5 WITH 15,000 MILES HAD SUCH EXTENSIVE RUST IN THE FRONT END PARTS THAT THE REPAIR COST OVER $2,000. *TR
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Aug 28, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.