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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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.

3 crash reports5 fire reports9 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2022
Service Brakes

Faulty Check valve connected to brake booster leaks oil into brake booster causing contamination and loss of power braking. Recall issued for roughly 30,000 BMW X5 vehicles produced from 2007-2010 for a similar issue but none issued for this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11454024

112,000 miles · Mar 27, 2018
Service Brakes

LEAVING HOUSE WE FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING. BRAKE LINES DAMAGED. BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE FABRICATED AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11081441

70,000 miles · Aug 8, 2017
Service Brakes

I CURRENTLY HAVE A BMW X5 2005, WITH 4.4. VIN # [XXX]. BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BRAKE SYSTEM HARDENS WHEN VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AND DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY UNTIL CAR IS RESTARTED. SAME ENGINE AND SAME BRAKE SYSTEM IN DIFFERENT MODEL (740I) HAS BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THE ISSUE. ACCORDING TO BMW SERVICE DESK, THE X5 MODELS…

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I CURRENTLY HAVE A BMW X5 2005, WITH 4.4. VIN # [XXX]. BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BRAKE SYSTEM HARDENS WHEN VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AND DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY UNTIL CAR IS RESTARTED. SAME ENGINE AND SAME BRAKE SYSTEM IN DIFFERENT MODEL (740I) HAS BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THE ISSUE. ACCORDING TO BMW SERVICE DESK, THE X5 MODELS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED WITH SAME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11013600

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2016
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FRACTURED AND LEAKED TO THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FRACTURED AND LEAKED TO THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10862843

118,000 miles · Mar 25, 2015
Service Brakes

THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL I WENT TO USE THE BRAKES AS A SLOW SPEED 5-25MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I WAS COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I ALMOST HIT, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AS NORMAL. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE ONLY WHEN DRIVING REALLY SLOW, OR…

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THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL I WENT TO USE THE BRAKES AS A SLOW SPEED 5-25MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I WAS COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I ALMOST HIT, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AS NORMAL. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE ONLY WHEN DRIVING REALLY SLOW, OR JUST STARTING. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS (BRAKE LIGHT). I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND ALL OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH WERE AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND BACK ON TO SEE IF IT WAS THE COMPUTER OR ABS SYSTEM, THIS DID NOT HELP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (INDEPENDENT) AND HE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS THE VACUUM PUMP THAT HAD AN OIL LEAK. THIS PUSHED THE OIL UP THE VACUUM LINE AND INTO THE BREAK BOOSTER. SO I NEED TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP, VACUUM LINE, AND BRAKE BOOSTER. HE AND I DID A CHECK AND FOUND A RECALL ON THE SAME ENGINE IN DIFFERENT BMW MODELS IN THAT YEAR AND AFTER 2007 IN THE SAME MODEL. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE AND THEY CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THE IT IS WEIRD THAT THE 2005 X5 4.4 V8 IS NOT IN THE RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUES AS OTHER BMW MAKE AND MODELS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM CONCERNED, BECAUSE THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT BMW AND THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF (BECAUSE OF RECALLS), BUT THE 2005 V8 X5 DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10701738

66,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BRAKE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V367000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT DID …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BRAKE FLUID STARTED TO LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V367000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617991

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

MY BREAKS WENT OUT THE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF THE WIOERS DONT WORK THE OUTSIDE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF AT NIGHT I HAVE A OUTRAGEOUS CIOLANT LEAK AND MIRE I HAVE DROVE THE CAR IN ABOUT 5 MONTHS OR LONGER AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS NOW THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ME AND THE KIDS GERS SOAKED BECAUSE I H A VE WA…

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MY BREAKS WENT OUT THE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF THE WIOERS DONT WORK THE OUTSIDE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF AT NIGHT I HAVE A OUTRAGEOUS CIOLANT LEAK AND MIRE I HAVE DROVE THE CAR IN ABOUT 5 MONTHS OR LONGER AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS NOW THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ME AND THE KIDS GERS SOAKED BECAUSE I H A VE WALK THEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERYDAY IT SUCKS SO IM MAKING PAYMENTS FOR SOMETHING I CAN USE IVE HAD COILS REPLACED EVERYTHING IT VIBRATES REALLY BAD WHEN I COME TO A STOP LIGHT IBHAVE HAD NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING JUST PROBLEMS

NHTSA ODI #10545231

110,128 miles · Jun 18, 2013
Service Brakes

I NOTICED THE RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR 2007 -2010 BMW X5, BUT THINK THEY SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER YEARS OF SAME MODEL. MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKE LININGS. HAD THE BRAKE PADS REDONE AND AFTER LEAVING WAS ALMOST IN 4 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTERS FAILING. AFTER FULL ANALYSTS FROM BMW THEY SAID 1800.00 TO REP…

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I NOTICED THE RECALL ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR 2007 -2010 BMW X5, BUT THINK THEY SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER YEARS OF SAME MODEL. MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CHECK BRAKE LININGS. HAD THE BRAKE PADS REDONE AND AFTER LEAVING WAS ALMOST IN 4 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTERS FAILING. AFTER FULL ANALYSTS FROM BMW THEY SAID 1800.00 TO REPLACE, BUT HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES UNTIL THEY WERE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520543

140,000 miles · Jun 12, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes

I JUST GOT MY X5 OUT OF THE SHOP TWO WEEKS AGO DUE TO A ENGINE OIL LEAK WHICH COST 1700 TO REPAIR AND NOW THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM HAS WENT OUT WHICH IS ANOTHER 1200 TO REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER THE 2005 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE FIRST RECALL WAS FOR 2000-2002 AND THE SECOND …

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I JUST GOT MY X5 OUT OF THE SHOP TWO WEEKS AGO DUE TO A ENGINE OIL LEAK WHICH COST 1700 TO REPAIR AND NOW THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM HAS WENT OUT WHICH IS ANOTHER 1200 TO REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER THE 2005 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE FIRST RECALL WAS FOR 2000-2002 AND THE SECOND RECALL WHICH WAS JUST IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR WAS FOR 2007-2010 OBVIOUSLY THE FIX DID NOT WORK AND THEY NEED TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES FROM 2000 UNTIL 2010. WHEN I CALLED BMW ALL THE GIRL ON THE PHONE COULD SAY IS YOUR X5 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519479

98,000 miles · May 21, 2012
Service Brakes

THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS FAILED TWICE NOW ON THIS 2005 BMW X5. BMW HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS IN THE SAME MODEL YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM TO MY VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER AND HAS COSTED ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10459186

Official recalls

2

05V504000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.