CAR STARTS TO SHAKE ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN GOING AT A HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY AND NOTICING LEAKS BUT NOT SURE FROM WHERE
2005 BMW X5
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 BMW X5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all X5 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
64 reports with mileage · 18 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
4 reportsI WAS AT A STOP SIGN THEN ACCELERATED ONTO A ROUND-A-BOUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR WAS STILL ON. I TRIED SIGNALING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BUT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS GOING ON & OFF NOT LETTING ME SIGNAL ANYTHING. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK & T…
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I WAS AT A STOP SIGN THEN ACCELERATED ONTO A ROUND-A-BOUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR WAS STILL ON. I TRIED SIGNALING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BUT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS GOING ON & OFF NOT LETTING ME SIGNAL ANYTHING. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK & TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON IT WOULD JUST CLICK AND ALL LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. I WAITED FOR 20 MIN THEN TRIED TO START IT AGAIN & IT DID START BUT THEN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DYING OUT AND EVENTUALLY WOULD SHUT OFF, THERE WAS MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE.
THE 2005 X5 BMW V8 HAS GIVEN ME ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. FROM REPLACING ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, VALVE GASKETS TO FUEL INJECTOR AND IGNITION PROBLEMS. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE STILL ON DRIVE AND SOMETIMES IN MOTION. CAR HAS ALL TYPES OF PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO DRAIN ME FINANCIALLY
ENGINE ICED UP AND HYDRO-LOCKED FROM CONDENSATE. STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITH SLIPPERY ROADS, IN FRONT OF A LOGGING TRUCK. VERY NARROWLY ESCAPED COLLISION. FOUND MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS ON INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT BMW HAS ALLOWED THIS TO CONTINUE OVER TIME AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP I'M USING HAS DEALT WITH MA…
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ENGINE ICED UP AND HYDRO-LOCKED FROM CONDENSATE. STALLED IN TRAFFIC WITH SLIPPERY ROADS, IN FRONT OF A LOGGING TRUCK. VERY NARROWLY ESCAPED COLLISION. FOUND MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS ON INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT BMW HAS ALLOWED THIS TO CONTINUE OVER TIME AND IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP I'M USING HAS DEALT WITH MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS, TOO. USED FOR 17 MILE EACH WAY DAILY COMMUTE SO SHORT TRIP-RELATED PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. *TR
Official recalls
205V504000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Nov 1, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.
05V367000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 26, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ATTACHMENT OF THE BRAKE LINE SUPPORT BRACKET WITHIN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL WAS NOT WELDED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. IT COULD LOOSEN AND OVER TIME THE BRAKE HOSE COULD RUB AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE HOSE COULD BECOME DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ATTACH THE BRAKE LINE SUPPORT BRACKET TO THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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