2001 BMW X5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
12 safety recalls list the 2001 BMW X5, and owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
12 safety recalls for the 2001 BMW X5
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 X5 vehicles that may be equipped with a sport steering wheel containing a Takata PSDI-4 air bag inflator. The inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's front air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December…
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
On certain sport utility vehicles, it may be possible for the front brake line to slip out of the retaining bracket located at the front strut. The brake hose that is attached to the brake line could come in contact with the tire and be subjected to wear and abrasion.
Remedy: Dealers will install an additional retaining clip to further secure the brake line to the front strut. Additionally, if inspection of any brake hose indicates that it has experienced damage, the hose will be replaced.…
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Pedals and linkages (service brakes)
On certain passenger vehicles, due to a manufacturing problem, the brake pedal arm pivot shaft could loosen from its support bracket.
Remedy: Dealers will check the brake pedal arm pivot shaft for proper seating in its support bracket. In addition, a pin will be installed to secure the shaft to the bracket. Owner notification began august 14, 2002. Owners…
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. This is a supplement to a recall that began during september 2001 (see recall campaign 01v206). Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable…
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Park/neutral start interlock switch (power train)
Vehicle description: 4.4i sport utility vehicles. Over an extended period of time, abrasion particles could deposit on the electrical contacts within the switch, causing a disruption of the electric current through the contacts. If the disruption occurs when the vehicle is stationary with the transmission in the neutral or park…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission gear position indicator switch. Owner notification began august 14, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
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Vacuum (service brakes)
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. Due to an assembly error, one or both self-locking nuts that secure the pedal assembly to the booster may have been cross-threaded on the booster studs that protrude through the firewall. In such a case, the nut(s) would not be fully seated on the stud(s).
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the two lock nuts to determine if they are properly seated. If the nuts are not properly seated or are cross-threaded, the brake booster will be replaced. Owner notification began august 17, 2001.…
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Pump (steering)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to an assembly error during vehicle production, any of the three bolts that secure the pulley to the pump may have been inadequately tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the power steering pump pulley to see if it is loose. If the pulley is not loose on the pump, the retaining bolts will be torqued to specification. If the pulley is loose, the pump, pulley,…
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Arm (steering)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. During assembly of these vehicles, the lower end of the spindle may not have been inserted completely into the coupling. In such a case, the fastening bolt used to secure the connection may not completely engage the spindle within the coupling. During driving, it would be possible for the spindle…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the spindle to ensure proper insertion in the coupling, and, if necessary, the spindle will be fully inserted and the fastening bolt replaced. Owner notification began february 6, 2001. Owners who…
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Connecting (steering)
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The nut that secures the axial joint of the left steering tie rod to the steering gear box may have not have been tightened securely. This could lead to loosening of the nut and, initially to steering wheel play and/or misalignment, as well as noise from the steering linkage. If vehicle…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and re-torque the nut securing the axial joint of the left steering tie rod. If the torque of the nut is found to be loose, the right nut will also be checked and corrected if necessary, and a…
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The safety belt lower outboard anchorage bolt on the driver's and front passenger's seats may not have been secured properly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the bolts and correct the torque if necessary.
160 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2001 BMW X5 have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 90,911 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 18 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“2023 September BMW issued me a "Stop Drive" letter in the mail. I parked the vehicle and haven't drove it since. Since then ive called the number in letter and visited website. At one time the individ”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 10, 2026 · Air bags
“My vehicle is DO NOT DRIVE condition. I have not been able to schedule air bag recall repair because the dealerships in my area will not tow to and from my home, and say no mobile service is available”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 18, 2025 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2001 BMW X5. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–14 / 16–19 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3/4.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Manual 5-spd |
Compare BMW X5 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW X5 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 BMW X5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 BMW X5 | 6 | 29 |
| 2001 BMW X5 | 12 | 160 |
| 2002 BMW X5 | 3 | 102 |
| 2003 BMW X5 | 3 | 99 |
| 2004 BMW X5 | 4 | 64 |
| 2005 BMW X5 | 2 | 82 |
| 2006 BMW X5 | 2 | 168 |
| 2007 BMW X5 | 8 | 71 |
| 2008 BMW X5 | 10 | 215 |
| 2009 BMW X5 | 12 | 138 |
| 2010 BMW X5 | 14 | 124 |
| 2011 BMW X5 | 14 | 263 |
| 2012 BMW X5 | 10 | 271 |
| 2013 BMW X5 | 6 | 149 |
| 2014 BMW X5 | 8 | 99 |
| 2015 BMW X5 | 6 | 152 |
| 2016 BMW X5 | 5 | 74 |
| 2017 BMW X5 | 6 | 75 |
| 2018 BMW X5 | 5 | 72 |
| 2019 BMW X5 | 13 | 191 |
| 2020 BMW X5 | 11 | 113 |
| 2021 BMW X5 | 12 | 108 |
| 2022 BMW X5 | 1 | 70 |
| 2023 BMW X5 | 4 | 33 |
| 2024 BMW X5 | 8 | 145 |
| 2025 BMW X5 | 5 | 62 |
| 2026 BMW X5 | 2 | 25 |
Checking a specific 2001 BMW X5
How do I know if my 2001 BMW X5 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 12 campaigns currently list the 2001 BMW X5; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V261000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.