2021 Bmw X5 problems and recalls

Owners filed 47 complaints on the 2021 Bmw X5 in the last three full years, out of 102 on record. The most cited component is the Electrical System.

102
Complaints
12
Recalls
9
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
7
Injuries
84.6
Severity index

Severity index 84.6 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 84.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 12 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 87% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 33 complaints (32.4%)33 32%Power TrainPower Train: 26 complaints (25.5%)26 25%EngineEngine: 24 complaints (23.5%)24 24%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 17 complaints (16.7%)17 17%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 8 complaints (7.8%)8 8%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 7 complaints (6.9%)7 7%Air BagsAir Bags: 7 complaints (6.9%)7 7%Service BrakesService Brakes: 6 complaints (5.9%)6 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3332.4%
POWER TRAIN2625.5%
ENGINE2423.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1716.7%
BACK OVER PREVENTION87.8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING76.9%
AIR BAGS76.9%
SERVICE BRAKES65.9%

Complaints filed per year

012252020: 22021: 192022: 112023: 122024: 102025: 252026: 23 (partial year)2021222324252526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20202
202119
202211
202312
202410
202525
2026 (year to date)23
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (47 against 32).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V08900018/02/2021SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:CRITICAL FASTENERSBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X5 sDrive40i and X5 xDrive40i vehicles. The right front brake disc may have been assembled with incorrect fasteners, which over time, could result in the front brake disc becoming loose.
20V76100009/12/2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERYBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The
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
21V15600010/03/2021SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINTBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5 xDrive45e, 2021 X7 xDrive40i, X7 M50i, and XB7 vehicles. The head restraints on the second-row outer seats may be the incorrect type for the vehicle.
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
20V48300014/08/2020TIRESBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X6 (sDrive40i, xDrive40i and M50i) and X5 (sDrive40i, xDrive40i and M50i) vehicles equipped with certain Pirelli tires. The tires may have a damaged inner layer, possibly resulting in a rapid loss of pressure while the ve
21V03100029/01/2021STEERING:COLUMNBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5M, X5 xDrive45e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 M50i vehicles. The steering column shaft's universal joint connection may not have been tightened to specifications, and can beco
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
20V60100030/09/2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERYBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the hy
20V49000018/08/2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERYBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 330e and X5 xDrive45e, 2020-2021 X3 xDrive30e, and 2020 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 vehicles. Loose welding beads may form a conductive path between the hybrid battery cells which could lead to a short-circuit.
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

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.