10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,857 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 BMW X5 engine problems

engine problem

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2013 BMW X5 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #20

Apr 012019

X5

  • 83,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was traveling down the highway at 76 mph when a message came up telling me "engine hot drive moderately." I continued to drive another 3 miles when the light mysteriously shut off. I took it to the shop when I reached columbia. They determined the water pump has failed and must be replaced. The vehicle has 83, xxx miles. Had I not taken the vehicle in to the shop today and drove it after the light went off the engine could have been ruined or possibly the X5 caught on fire if the light didn't come back on.

- Blackwater, MS, USA

problem #19

Feb 282019

X5

  • miles
Engine malfunction, low power output, BMW dealer sw in the module their were 2 separate misfires but cannot locate the problem

- Morrisville, PA, USA

problem #18

Jan 062019

X5

  • 68,000 miles
Oil leak from the valve cover gasket gets into the hot manifold causing a burning oil smell and smoke getting into the cabin through the ac vents causing a major safety issue.

- Rocklin, CA, USA

problem #17

Jun 042017

X5

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle parked and turned off at my home. Many hours later vehicle was discovered by a one of my children on fire. Resulting fire destroyed the auto and ignited a major fire to my residence.

- Old Greenwich, CT, USA

problem #16

May 202017

X5

  • miles
Running on the highway received high engine temp warning orange. It quickly went to red and read on dash to pull over. The vehicle lost much power and stepping on accelerator would not let it go faster. I had to move to the right on the highway while some vehicle sped through to the right of me while trying to pull over. 55000 miles and water pump had failed when I took it to a shop. A $2000 repair

- Rocklin, CA, USA

problem #15

Jan 012019

X5

  • 65,000 miles
The vehicle has a throttle delay issue. When stopped at a light or stop sign and ready to go it will take as long as 2 seconds for the vehicle to respond and start moving after you depress the gas peddle. This is very dangerous and will eventually cost someone their life.

- Rocklin, CA, USA

problem #14

Nov 102018

X5

  • 44,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine overheat due to water pump failure, car automatically slow down on highway. The car only has 44K mile. Also oil filer housing leaking.

- Monroe Township, NJ, USA

problem #13

Jan 012017

X5

  • 56,000 miles
N63 engine failure and battery charging problems. Engine blows massive amounts of white smoke from rear tailpipes and battery indicator states low charge. This is a known defect to BMW as thousands have complained but BMW is attempting to weasel there way out of this by not releasing a recall.

- Griffin, GA, USA

problem #12

Jul 132018

X5

  • miles
In July 2018 I was notified by BMW of North America that my car has a recall for idler pulley bolt. Overtime this part can come loose, break and impair steering causing a crash. It has now been over 6 weeks and no remedy has been provided. I have contacted BMW of North America twice and alternate transportation is not provided because too many cars are effected. I drive my 3 small children daily ages 5, 4, and 1. BMW has shown no concern over my personal safety and safety of my 3 small children. I have had nothing but issues since purchasing my car as a cpo vehicle. I have been in and out of the service department for check engine light minimum of 6 times. There is also currently a stop sale for this vehicle. If my car is in the dealership lot they would not be able to sell it, how is it safe for me to drive it? my children and myself are putting ourselves in danger and other on the road daily.

- Paramus, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jun 282018

X5

  • 45,000 miles
Running on the highway received high engine temp warning orange. It quickly went to red and read on dash to pull over. The vehicle lost much power and stepping on accelerator would not let it go faster. I had to move to the right on the highway while some vehicle sped through to the right of me while trying to pull over. 45,000 miles and water pump had failed when I took it to a shop.

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 202018

X5

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After 65,00 miles while driving the engine locked up and will not run. The car did not have an oil leak or excessive consumption, but heavy black soot was emitted from the tail pipes enough that has turned the rear tailpipe surround black. I had BMW dealer look at this twice and they found it to be normal. A new engine is 23,000

- Arlington, TN, USA

problem #9

Dec 012017

X5

  • 8 miles
Engine overheating warning. Searched online and found many BMW X5 owners are experiencing the same issue, the likely cause is a bad water pump. If this is happening to many users, it should be recalled. Also I found there was a recall on water pump for 2008-2011 models. Https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2011/10/recall-32-000-BMW-vehicles-mdash-bad-water-pumps/index.htm

- Edina, MN, USA

problem #8

Oct 152017

X5

  • 31,610 miles
Suffered an engine kill at 65mph during highway driving. We received a warning that the engine was overheating approximately 10-15 seconds before the engine shut down and there was no power to the accelerator. Very fortunate to be alive. Car towed and problem per BMW service was the water pump.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #7

Jun 112017

X5

  • 56,000 miles
I heard the engine fan going at max speed. About a mile later, warning messages came on to drive the car moderately and then to pull over and turn it off. Said the engine temperature was too high. Electronic water pump failure

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #6

Jun 162017

X5

  • 56,000 miles
Engine is hot message appeared and car limps at the freeway speed. It seems to be water pump issue

- San Ramon, CA, USA

problem #5

Dec 132016

X5

  • 81,000 miles
Engine is heating up and coolant pump stays on to keep engine from overheating. Vehicle was in motion when problem started. When vehicle is driven over 70mph coolant pump comes on and stays on.

- Erlanger, KY, USA

problem #4

Sep 122016

X5

  • 52,000 miles
Takata aribag has not been resolved. Going on 8 months. Engine shuts down.

- Atlantic Beach, FL, USA

problem #3

Mar 082014

X5 8-cyl

  • 5,990 miles
Engine stalled while vehicle at complete stop, with air conditioning on. The vehicle had been driven at various speeds for several miles and parked, then restarted when the incident occurred.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 242013

X5

  • 9,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 BMW X5. The contact stated while traveling approximately 45 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was moved to the shoulder of the road and failed to restart. The contact also mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 9,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Birmingham, MI, USA

problem #1

Oct 182012

X5 8-cyl

  • 500 miles
Vehicle developed significantly reduced fuel mileage after the first 500 miles. In town range dropped by 40% to 7.8 mpg over the same route, independent of gasoline source or grade. Exhaust gases are very hot and exhibit a pronounced sulfuric, gunpowder like smell. Electrical fans constantly on during city driving attempting to cool the engine. Excessive carbon build up on exhaust components. Engine exhibiting rich running condition. A persistent mechanical engine whine developed emanating from the oil pump, possibly the alternator area of the engine compartment, peaking at 1700-1900 RPM under load. At 1,200 miles, the 8 speed automatic transmission developed erratic shift behavior between 1st-3rd gears. At fairly constant speed, the transmission is shifting between 1st and second gear, alternating up shifting and downshifting without establishing proper gear. Coming to a stop, vehicle surges revolutions by up to 500 RPM on the 3-2 downshift and up to 800 RPM on the 2-1 downshift, causing a sudden and abrupt halt, engine braking effect. Behavior is most pronounced in standard D transmission mode, minimized in ds mode and completely absent in manual mode with automatic downshift. At 2,200 miles, gunpowder like exhaust gas smell more pronounced and evident while average fuel mileage dropped to 6.4 mpg over the same course. Transmission experienced two incidents of failing to up shift into second gear followed by a mechanical clunk and sharp jolt after finally getting in gear. Vehicle does not exhibit any stored or active fault codes within the on-board diagnostics.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

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