2020 Bmw X5 problems and recalls

Owners filed 59 complaints on the 2020 Bmw X5 in the last three full years, out of 107 on record. The most cited component is the Electrical System.

107
Complaints
11
Recalls
3
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
5
Injuries
72.0
Severity index

Severity index 72.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 72.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 28 of 103 by severity index among 2020 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 73% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2020 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 38 complaints (35.5%)38 36%EngineEngine: 30 complaints (28.0%)30 28%Power TrainPower Train: 17 complaints (15.9%)17 16%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 15 complaints (14.0%)15 14%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 14 complaints (13.1%)14 13%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (5.6%)6 6%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 5 complaints (4.7%)5 5%Service BrakesService Brakes: 5 complaints (4.7%)5 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3835.5%
ENGINE3028.0%
POWER TRAIN1715.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1514.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1413.1%
AIR BAGS65.6%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING54.7%
SERVICE BRAKES54.7%

Complaints filed per year

017342020: 52021: 42022: 52023: 52024: 202025: 342026: 34 (partial year)2021222324253426
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20205
20214
20225
20235
202420
202534
2026 (year to date)34
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 4.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (59 against 14).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V63100028/08/2019STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACKBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i and X7 M50i vehicles. The steering rack pinion teeth may break under load, resulting in a loss of steering control.
21V09600019/02/2021BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERABMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDr
19V68400027/09/2019BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERABMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li
20V43400028/07/2020STEERINGBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i and X5 xDrive50i vehicles and 2020 X6M vehicles. The steering column shaft bearing plate may not have been properly attached to the vehicle, allowing it to loosen.
20V52800001/09/2020EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X6 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, X6 M50i, X6M, X7 M50i and 2021 X5 xDrive45e vehicles. The headlamps may allow a blue light to illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to co
21V06200010/02/2021SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive
20V46500007/08/2020POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X5 sDrive 40i, X5 xDrive 40i and one X7 xDrive 40i vehicle. The starter motor may have an extra bolt that could potentially fall into the transmission housing and cause an engine stall.
20V67800004/11/2020SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARMBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 M50i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i and X6M vehicles and 2021 X5 xDrive45e vehicles. The weld between the front axle support and the right front control arm bearing bracket
22V26700020/04/2022VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLYBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive); 2019-2022 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M; 2021-2022 X5 xdrive45e; 2020-2022 X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6M and 2019-2023 X7 xDri
24V57600001/08/2024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLYBMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5, X7, 2020 3 Series Sedan, X6, 2020-2021 7 Series Sedan, 2020 8 Series Convertible, 8 Series Coupe, and 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. In the event the s
25V64400025/09/2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLYBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.

Other Bmw X5 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 11 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-28. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.