2013 Bmw X5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
148 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 148 complaints (31.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.0% |
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 | 47 |
| Engine | 44 |
| Power Train | 33 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 5 |
Air Bags: 47; Engine: 44; Power Train: 33; Electrical System: 20; Unknown Or Other: 18; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Service Brakes: 6; Seat Belts: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 81 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 16; 2017: 40; 2018: 13; 2019: 17; 2020: 11; 2021: 9; 2022: 8; 2023: 8; 2024: 7; 2025: 6; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10484970 · 2012-11-16 (November 16, 2012)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566288 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY VEER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT BEFORE COMPLETELY STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKES, ROTORS AND BOLTS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS THEY COULD PERFORM TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194824 · 2019-04-08 (April 8, 2019)
MY 2013 BMW X5 35D WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET, WHEN IT STALLED, LOST ALL POWER AND ULTIMATELY WOULD NOT RESTART. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE, BUT NOT OFF THE ROAD AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A STILL UNIDENTIFIED SOURCED, FUEL LEAK INTO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND FINALLY POOLING INTO THE DDE COMPONENT, FRYING THE DDE COMPONENT TO FAILURE. THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL IN THE DDE COMPONENT THAT IT WAS DRAINED INTO A DRIP PAN AND FUEL COVERED THE WIRING CONNECTION POINTS AS WELL AS HAD DISCOLOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10537200 · 2013-08-26 (August 26, 2013)
TL* 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10759226 · 2015-08-25 (August 25, 2015)
AFTER STARTING THE CAR, PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE, INITIATING A THREE POINT TURN, AFTER THE FIRST PART OF THE TURN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED THE CAR WILL JERK, ACCELERATE, LUNGE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL FORWARD MOTION. THE REVS RHYTHMICALLY SURGED UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 2500RPMS AND IDLE. THE WHOLE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO DRIVE FORWARD. THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE STALLED. WE'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO GET THIS FIXED BUT THEY CAN FIND NO FAULT WITH THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10913921 · 2016-10-05 (October 5, 2016)
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 34+MPH, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY; DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL AND PASSED OUT; BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY EITHER (WAS SERVICED BY BMW DEALERSHIP LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO); VEHICLE SLID STRAIGHT INTO CAR IN FRONT OF IT AND BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WITH DRIVER PRESSING BRAKE PETAL
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10913921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10985020 · 2017-05-11 (May 11, 2017)
RECENTLY STARTED TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN (NOT A RECALL) ABOUT A SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME I WAS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE PROBLEM BUT THE WARRANTY OF PART EXPIRED. THIS MAKES NO SENSE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10985020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10694767 · 2015-03-17 (March 17, 2015)
NO ACCIDENT, JUST A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ACCELERATION DELAY. TOTAL LACK OF ACCELERATION AT A STOP TO GO. THERE IS AN INHERENT LAG UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IN AND GOES, ABOUT A HALF SECOND DELAY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT GOOD WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO BUSY TRAFFIC WHETHER AT A LIGHT OR MERGING. I HAVE TALKED TO BMW TAMPA AND RAN A DIAGNOSTIC WITHOUT SUCCESS FOR A FIX. THEY EVEN ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS BUT BMW GERMANY GUYS THEY SAY WON'T CHANGE THEIR THINKING OR FIX THE ISSUE. IN A NUTSHELL IT'S AS IF THE FUEL DOESN'T GET TO THE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118041 · 2018-08-06 (August 6, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118041 at NHTSA ↗