RecallMyCar

2004 BMW X5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2004 BMW X5, and owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
64
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 10
complaints citing a crash / fire
16
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2004 BMW X5

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) (power train)

    NHTSA 04V409000 Reported 358 vehicles potentially affected BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

    On certain passenger vehicles with 3.0 l engines and manual transmissions, if the vehicle is in first gear, and moving slowly, with the accelerator pedal held in a constant position of low engine speed and with the clutch pedal held in a partially depressed position, engine speed may increase.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's digital engine management control unit. The recall began on september 8, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

  2. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 04V402000 Reported 297 vehicles potentially affected BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

    On certain sport utility vehicles, the in-tank fuel line may have been attached incorrectly.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the in-tank suction jet pump fuel line and if necessary, reattach according to specifications. This recall began september 9, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

  3. Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    NHTSA 04V344000 Reported 4,102 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the digital engine management control (emc) units were not produced according to specifications.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new digital engine management control unit. The recall began on july 16, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

  4. Differential unit (power train)

    NHTSA 03V475000 Reported 350 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    On certain sport utility vehicles, the bolts that hold the front differential, the right output shaft housing flange at the engine, and the right-hand engine support may be insufficiently tightened.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and retighten the drivetrain fasteners. Owner notification began november 28, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2004 BMW X5 have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 84,481 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 14 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“No start no crank sos light battery drain”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 26, 2025 · Electrical system

“Vehicle rpm’s rev wildly in park and neutral. When driving vehicle speeds up on its own and rpm’s climbs out of control. When stopped at a light or in traffic, car leaps forward against the break .”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 25, 2022 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2004 BMW X5 (X5 4.8IS). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16 mpg
City / Highway13–14 / 19–20
FuelPremium
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 3/4.4/4.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S5); Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd

Compare BMW X5 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW X5 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1999 BMW X510
2000 BMW X5629
2001 BMW X512160
2002 BMW X53102
2003 BMW X5399
2004 BMW X5464
2005 BMW X5282
2006 BMW X52168
2007 BMW X5871
2008 BMW X510215
2009 BMW X512138
2010 BMW X514124
2011 BMW X514263
2012 BMW X510271
2013 BMW X56149
2014 BMW X5899
2015 BMW X56152
2016 BMW X5574
2017 BMW X5675
2018 BMW X5572
2019 BMW X513191
2020 BMW X511113
2021 BMW X512108
2022 BMW X5170
2023 BMW X5433
2024 BMW X58145
2025 BMW X5562
2026 BMW X5225

Checking a specific 2004 BMW X5

How do I know if my 2004 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2004 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 03V475000).

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

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.