2020 BMW X5 Reliability Report

A sudden low oil pressure warning tells the driver to stop immediately, even at highway speed. The dealer finds a failed oil pump, quoted at almost $6k, and warns the engine may still need replacing. Starter failures shut the engine down in traffic, show an overheating message and block shifting to neutral for towing. Several owners say dealers refused to connect the failure to recall 24V-576 or to reimburse repairs paid before the recall notice. A check engine light caused by the active grill shutter also recurs, once at 61,000 miles.

Air bag warning lights are the main complaint, covering driver, passenger, rear and knee air bags. Dealers point to the sensor under the front cup holders. A spill or condensation can reach it through a hole in the holder, rusting the screw and ruining the sensor. Owners say warranty does not cover the repair. In one crash report, the driver air bag did not deploy in a head-on collision, and 2 people were injured, one with a severe concussion. Owners mention a class action lawsuit.

Moisture inside the headlights is the main complaint. The lenses fog up and water pools inside, and the headlights do not clear on their own, even though dealers say the venting will dry them. Owners worry the headlights could fail. Another recurring issue is auto-dimming of the digital instrument and control displays. They dim in daylight, on cloudy days, and at sunrise and sunset, which makes them hard to read. No crashes are reported.

Starter-related fire risk dominates. One report describes smoke and flames from under the hood after the engine failed to start, months after a starter recall notice. Others describe recall 25V-644 sitting open with no remedy, one for over 15 months. Those owners cannot park in a garage and have no confirmed repair date. A separate report describes the air conditioning compressor failing on day 2 of ownership, with a parts wait of 2 weeks to 2 months.

The few reports here describe three different failures. Sunroof glass shatters while driving with no visible debris nearby. Rainwater leaks in on the driver's side near the sun visor and under the dashboard, dripping on the driver and pooling on the floor mat. A soft-close door latch fails without warning, so the front passenger door will not stay shut, and the only alert is a door-open message. Each problem appears in a single report.

Three separate problems appear. One owner reports a brake failure in highway traffic, with warning messages matching recall 24V-104, which does not cover this model year. Another finds the front pads worn metal to metal with no warning from the pad wear sensor, only brake noise. A third describes automatic braking activating at about 50 mph with nothing ahead, jerking a passenger forward, on more than one occasion. No crashes are reported.

Only two reports appear. In one, the steering column squeaks, grinds and gets hot to the touch. After two visits, the dealer traced it to the steering rack, which had to be ordered and replaced. The other owner reports steering faults matching recall 19V-631 and notes the car was built around the same time as the recalled vehicles. Neither report describes a crash or loss of control.