2013 Bmw X5 SAV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 13 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Air Bags: 5; Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: 1; Power Train: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 4; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11013091 · 2017-08-06 (August 6, 2017)
THE PARKING BREAK SWITCH LEAVER BROKE. THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLASTIC SWITCH LEAVER IS VERY THIN (FLIMSY), THEREFORE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT NOT TO BREAK UNDER REPEATED NORMAL USE. THIS RESULTS IN THE PARKING BRAKE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. PLEASE SEE UPLOAD PHOTO.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122754 · 2018-08-27 (August 27, 2018)
WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE THE PARKING BRAKE SYMBOL WENT YELLOW AND IT SHOWED A MESSAGE STATING IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PARKING BRAKE. SINCE THE CAR MOVED FINE WITHOUT ANY NOISE AND IT GAVE NO INDICATION OTHERWISE IT SEEMED SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SOME TIME LATER IT STARTER MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRUCK STOP THE BRAKES WERE FOUND EXCESSIVELY HOT IN ADDITION TO MAKING NOISE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A SHOP IT WAS REVEALED THE PARKING BRAKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 88,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854606 · 2016-04-09 (April 9, 2016)
HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM 77 YEARS OLD MAN AND MORE THAN 50 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. I BOUGHT BMW X5 OCTOBER 2013 FROM TENAFLY BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR WAS MY LIFETIME DREAMED CAR. LIKE A BMW SALES SLOGAN ?ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE? I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE BMW CAR'S JOY OF DRIVING. BUT AFTER FEW MONTH LATER I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE BMW X5. WHEN I DRIVE TO ACCELERATE PUSH THE GAS CAR DOSE NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS PUSHING GAS. SO I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY PROBLEM THEY DID SOFTWARE UPGRADE. AFTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE CAR WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10569355 · 2014-03-14 (March 14, 2014)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10569355 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142958 · 2018-10-26 (October 26, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142958 at NHTSA ↗