The Used Car Index

2016 BMW X5 problems

NHTSA lists 74 complaints for the 2016 BMW X5, 3 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW X5.

At a glance

Complaints
74
With crash
3
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
2
Deaths
0
Recalls
5
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
720,796
Investigations
3
Open investigations
2
Manufacturer communications
364

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2331.1%
ENGINE1418.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1418.9%
POWER TRAIN1317.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM912.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING79.5%
AIR BAGS56.8%
STRUCTURE45.4%
SUSPENSION45.4%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL34.1%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY4
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY2
BACK OVER PREVENTIONWARNINGS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESELDELIVERY1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
mechanical failure2432.4%0.77
electrical electronic2331.1%0.91
loss of control912.2%0.67
fluid or fuel leak68.1%0.78
unclear68.1%0.90
restraint or airbag45.4%0.98
structural or corrosion11.4%0.80
visibility or lighting11.4%0.57
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate5067.6%0.75
low1824.3%0.71
high45.4%0.99
none22.7%0.72

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 74 tagged complaints of 74 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

5 recalls.

24V608000

Date: 2024-08-13. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed t (excerpt)

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. (excerpt)

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V907000

Date: 2021-11-19. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to m (excerpt)

Consequence: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire. (excerpt)

Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in J (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

21V586000

Date: 2021-07-29. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V755000

Date: 2018-10-25. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can (excerpt)

Consequence: The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire. (excerpt)

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

16V919000

Date: 2016-12-21. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 X5 xDrive40e vehicles manufactured July 29, 2015, to September 9, 2015. The affected vehicles have a Digital Motor Electronic (DME) control unit that may have a loose electrical ground cable, possibly causing an under-voltage condition which would result in the transmission shifting to neutral.

Consequence: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the ground cable, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

3 investigations; 2 open.

EA23001

Opened: 2023-03-17. Closed: Not listed.

High pressure fuel pump failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect alle

Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL.

Linked campaign numbers: 24V957.

DP22005

Opened: 2023-01-27. Closed: 2023-08-07.

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: 22V063000.

EA21002

Opened: 2021-09-17. Closed: Not listed.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

364 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM126
EQUIPMENT114
ENGINE40
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING35
POWER TRAIN21
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY18
VISIBILITY16
SEATS14

11037504

Date: 2026-09-22. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler (with EGR Valve) and the Auxiliary Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 25 years without mileage limit as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

11028000

Date: 2026-01-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR

11021811

Date: 2025-08-08. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler (with EGR Valve) and the Auxiliary Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 25 years without mileage limit as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

11021807

Date: 2025-08-01. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

The electric auxiliary heater assembly limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date

11015848

Date: 2025-03-13. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.

The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assemblys Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date

11010892

Date: 2024-11-27. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

The High-Voltage (HV) Battery AssemblysCell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty fordefects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles asdetermined from the original in-service/first delivery date.

10249439

Date: 2024-01-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

The vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on. The following fault codes may be stored in the DDE: 24CE00 Hot film air mass meter: Ratio of measured to calculated air mass too high 27F000 Charge air hose monitoring in idle: Charge air hose fallen down 290900 A

10249437

Date: 2024-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10249018

Date: 2024-01-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.

At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the vide

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
X574

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2016

Sources

Get this record as JSON

The free rate-limited demo needs no key.

curl "https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/demo/vehicle_risk?make=BMW&model=X5&year=2016"

Paid endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/vehicle_risk. MCP endpoint: https://api.theusedcarindex.com/mcp.