2013 BMW X5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2013 BMW X5, and owners have filed 149 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

149

owner complaints to NHTSA

2 / 7

complaints citing a crash / fire

16–22

MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2013 BMW X5

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

Inflator module (air bags)

NHTSA 20V017000 Reported January 15, 2020 59,965 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi,…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may…
Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive

NHTSA 19V017000 Reported January 14, 2019 83,016 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as…

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019.…
Engine (engine and engine cooling)

NHTSA 18V336000 Reported May 23, 2018 33,214 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2013 X5 xDrive 35d diesel vehicles. The engine idler pulley bolt may loosen over time and break.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the idler pulley bolt with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive

NHTSA 18V030000 Reported January 9, 2018 41,808 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, 2009-2010 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2009-2013 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina,…

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March…
Driveshaft (power train)

NHTSA 17V138000 Reported March 2, 2017 121,909 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC, (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2013 X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M and X5 xDrive35d vehicles, 2011-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles, and 2011 x6 ActiveHybrid Vehicles. Water and debris may enter the front driveshaft's universal joint, causing excessive wear and possibly resulting in the…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Steering

NHTSA 12V267000 Reported June 13, 2012 2,642 vehicles potentially affected BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

BMW is recalling certain model year 2012 x5 vehicles equipped with a diesel engine and 2013 x5 and x6 vehicles. Due to a machining error of the steering gear surface, power steering fluid may leak.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the steering gear free of charge. The safety recall began on july 20, 2012. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at…

149 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2013 BMW X5 have filed 149 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 7 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 59,843 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 40 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Air bags47
Engine45
Power train33
Electrical system21
Unknown or other18
Fuel/propulsion system9
Service brakes6
Seat belts5

What owners are reporting

“I’m currently experiencing two issues. I’ve done the necessary repairs on one of the issues. The first concern is related to the idle when starting up the vehicle. The combination meter one of them he”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 19, 2026 · Engine

“A fire started under my hood immediately after starting my car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 26, 2026 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2013 BMW X5 (X5 xDrive35d, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined	16–22 mpg
City / Highway	14–19 / 20–26
Fuel	Diesel, Premium
EPA class	Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine	6/8 cyl, 3/4.4 L
Transmission	Automatic (S6); Automatic (S8)

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 2013 BMW X5

How do I know if my 2013 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 2013 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 12V267000).

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.