Electrical System Problems of BMW X5 - part 2

BMW X5 owners have reported 428 problems related to electrical system (under the electrical system category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of BMW X5 based on all problems reported for the X5.

36 Electrical System problem of the 2017 BMW X5

Failure Date: 07/19/2025

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with several unknown warning lights illuminated. In addition, the vehicle lost electrical functions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed coolant pump. The contact was informed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

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37 Electrical System problem of the 2011 BMW X5

Failure Date: 07/19/2025

The comfort access door handle, got so hot it started to melt the plastic exterior handle and produce a lot of smoke would have caught fire if I didn't turn off car and disconnect electrical signal to the cas handle.

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38 Electrical System problem of the 2022 BMW X5

Failure Date: 07/19/2025

Sudden loss of power. Vehicle warning after starting stating power supply issue even after a brand new battery from the dealership. 3 similar incidents in a month. During the final incident the vehicle was again towed to the dealership where it’s been there for over a week and power supply issues persist. They are changing the whole high voltage box due to some unfixable errors.

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39 Electrical System problem of the 2021 BMW X5

Failure Date: 07/17/2025

Similar to the incident described in [xxx] , BMW has refused to assist with repairs related to defective vehicle cupholders, causing the headunit wiring to short out and fail. This also causes any number of safety items to become unavailable as well. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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40 Electrical System problem of the 2025 BMW X5

Failure Date: 07/07/2025

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there were twenty-one failure codes displayed on the infotainment system screen. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle the following day, no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer mobile technician arrived to the residence, and the vehicle was driven to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an improper coding of the electronic modules had caused the digital motor electronics (dme) to not communicate. The contact was informed that the electronic modules needed to be recoded. The dme data was cleared, and the dme was reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,165.

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41 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 07/06/2025

I purchased a used BMW from a local dealership, unaware that the vehicle had unresolved safety and mechanical issues. Over time, I began experiencing repeated problems including: •power loss and hesitation while driving •malfunctioning engine and drivetrain components •electrical system glitches including dashboard warnings that would disappear before I could document them the car has been in and out of shops for diagnostics, and no lasting fix has been found. These defects have created safety concerns for me and my children, as I transport them daily. The vehicle feels unsafe to operate. I believe I may have been sold a lemon and am now pursuing legal remedies, including this formal safety complaint to report the issue.

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42 Electrical System problem of the 2012 BMW X5

Failure Date: 07/04/2025

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed coolant leaking on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the low coolant warning light was illuminated. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant pump failure. The contact was informed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,744.

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43 Electrical System problem of the 2025 BMW X5

Failure Date: 06/13/2025

This 2025 SUV X5 xdrive50e the hybrid battery will over heat in hot weather temperatures therefore the battery will not charge with the issued 110 plug in home charger. BMW was aware of this malfunction and never warned or recalled the information to customers. This vehicle will not allow climate control features to work because there is no charge on the battery as well. The vehicle can overheat and could shut down and this problem was never disclosed to customers. The vehicles were selling in 2024.

44 Electrical System problem of the 2020 BMW X5

Failure Date: 06/12/2025

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact made several attempts, and after approximately an hour, the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle failed to start and was towed to a local dealer. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the starter motor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling). The contact called the manufacturer and asked about the recall for the starter motor and was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

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45 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 06/02/2025

My car said it overheated and would not start. After about 4 hours it did start and I took it to the dealer. They are saying that the battery and starter need replacement. I read that there was a recall for this exact reason on some specific vins for my car model and year. Even though mine doesn't fall under that category it seems like the same issue that was recalled for others. Doing some online searches it seems this issue has happened to quite a few people.

46 Electrical System problem of the 2017 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/30/2025

Battery overheated and melted plastic cover.

47 Electrical System problem of the 2020 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/28/2025

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the message that the engine had overheated, and the vehicle was disabled was displayed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the starter motor. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 80,000.

48 Electrical System problem of the 2011 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/27/2025

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

49 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/24/2025

Car started hesitating to start then messaged popped up on screen saying my system was overheating I had to pay for a new starter.

50 Electrical System problem of the 2020 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/22/2025

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the start/stop feature failed to operate as designed, and the engine failed to restart while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that a "starting engine possibly shortly: system overheated. Restarting engine possible after cooling" message was displayed on the instrument panel. After the contact allowed the engine to cool down, the vehicle failed to restart with the same messages displayed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it remained. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact also discovered and linked the failure to technical service bulletin: b120424. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

51 Electrical System problem of the 2021 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/16/2025

In the middle of a busy intersection, the car just completely shut down. The car only had ~35,000 miles on the odometer and has been serviced only by BMW. It turned out that the water pump broke, which led to downstream impact on additional surrounding systems. BMW X5’s up to model year 2019 had recalls due to faulty water pumps. From an independent search online, it appears there are many owners of 2021 Bmws who have experienced water pump failures like I did. This could have led to a major safety incident as my husband nearly avoided an accident. If this had occurred suddenly on a highway, for example, that could have resulted in a multi-car accident as the car very suddenly died and came to a stop.

52 Electrical System problem of the 2025 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/15/2025

The SUV has been in the dealer service center twice. BMW includes a charging cable a dual 110v/220v intended to charge the car as it is a plug in hybrid. Per the dealer the charging cable and the car are working as intended however when plugged in it will loose charge not gain it. The problem with this is the car will not remote start/ pre-condition in the hot arizona sun without the battery having a charge on it. The design is a heat pump which runs on battery not the ice. The charger is not able to keep up with the electrical demand of the charging system while plugged into a 110v outlet even suppling up to 20a. There is no formal literature about the charging cable being unable to charge the battery when the temperature is more than 90 degrees outside. The dealers suggestion is to install a separate paid for 220v charger (-/+ $2,000). The safety issue is the car will not cool sufficiently for a child to be in the car.

53 Electrical System problem of the 2020 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/14/2025

I own a 2020 bmx X5 s40i. Car was parked and turned off. When I tried to turn the car on, the car refused to start and smoke and fire smell started coming from engine compartment. I opened the hood and could smell a burning smell. Waited for smell to disappear and tried starting the car again. Car would not start and burning smell appeared again. Got a warning on the dashboard that engine compartment was overheated and car would be ready to start after 180 seconds. Called aaa to jump start car and same behaviour was observed and car refused to start. Technician also stated that battery was completely dead. Took car to dealer and replaced main and start/ stop battery. Car still would not start. On inspection dealer observed started mechanism was shorted and needed to be replaced. After replacement, car starts fine without burning smell. Going through recall database, this issue with fire hazard from starter assembly is documented for my make, model and year but when I enter the VIN number it doesnt apply to NY vehicle VIN number. 4 year old child and me were occupants of the vehicle when burning incident happened originally.

54 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/07/2025

The vehicle's electrical system experienced a starter malfunction, which led to a complete failure of the starter. As a result, the car would not start, ultimately causing the battery to fail as well. This failure posed a serious safety risk. I could have been left stranded in the middle of traffic, increasing the risk of a collision that could have caused injury to myself and others. If the malfunction had occurred in a remote location, I could have been left stranded, placing me in a potentially dangerous situation. The issue was confirmed by the dealership. Although there is an active NHTSA recall related to this exact problem, my vehicle’s VIN was not included. However, it should have been—my vehicle was manufactured during the affected production period and experienced the same failure described in the recall. As a result, I had to pay out of pocket for these substantial repairs. The manufacturer failed to include my VIN in the recall, despite clear evidence that my vehicle was subject to the same defect. The manufacturer inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the failure involved both the starter and the battery; however, I was required to pay out of pocket for the replacement of both components. There were no warning lights, error messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure—the vehicle simply stopped functioning without notice. Further research revealed that many other owners have reported the same starter malfunction, frequently resulting in battery failure and the need to replace both components. Although the manufacturer is aware of this widespread issue, they have not issued a comprehensive recall for all affected vehicles. Had they done so, this failure—and the associated safety risks, inconvenience, and significant repair costs—could have been avoided.

55 Electrical System problem of the 2018 BMW X5

Failure Date: 05/07/2025

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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56 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 04/30/2025

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,100.

57 Electrical System problem of the 2016 BMW X5

Failure Date: 04/23/2025

The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, and the contact discovered an unknown liquid leaking underneath of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling; electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

See all problems of the 2016 BMW X5 🔎.

58 Electrical System problem of the 2022 BMW X5

Failure Date: 04/18/2025

Car has premature failure from the ac system. My system started to fail between 40-50k miles. Both the ac compressor and condenser failed causing metal pieces to be in the system. If not fixed, those metal shavings will cause failure in other electrical systems including the hv battery.

59 Electrical System problem of the 2018 BMW X5

Failure Date: 04/14/2025

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

60 Electrical System problem of the 2025 BMW X5

Failure Date: 04/10/2025

Brand new X5 BMW 50e came to a stop and entire car went dead. No start, lights, in total darkness with no emergency lights. Dash screen did show a drive trane malfunction before it totally died. Car was repaired after 2 months and replacement parts malfunction. Car still has electronic issues and has been in the shop 3 times since major failure. Safety issue with no emergency lights and if I had been driving and vehicle went dead I would have had a crash.

61 Electrical System problem of the 2020 BMW X5

Failure Date: 04/02/2025

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the message that the vehicle was overheating was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine, and engine cooling). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the starter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

62 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/26/2025

Vehicle didn’t move after coming to a full stop at a traffic light. And it displayed a message stating the starter has overheated and that it needed to cool down. The timer for the cooldown period kept on increasing up to 180 seconds and consequent attempts to start the vehicle after the cooldown period didn’t help.

63 Electrical System problem of the 2018 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/24/2025

BMW issued a recall in October 2024 regarding the engine coolant pump electrical connector on my 2018 BMW X5 xdrive40e, warning of electrical shorts and fire risks. It's now late March 2025—approximately six later—and BMW dealerships still state explicitly they have no available remedy and no timeline for repair. Recently, my vehicle showed a drivetrain warning message, which I suspect is recall-related. I called BMW corporate recall hotline and my local BMW dealership (BMW of tenafly) today (March 24, 2025). The dealership explicitly stated that they can only perform diagnostics, and even if their diagnostics confirm my drivetrain issue is recall-related, they 'cannot do anything' due to BMW's lack of available recall remedy. When I expressed concern to BMW of tenafly representative that this recall involves serious safety risks (electrical shorts and potential fire), the dealership representative dismissed my concern by simply saying, 'every recall is urgent. ' this response underscores my concern that BMW and its dealerships are not treating this recall issue with adequate seriousness or urgency, leaving consumers like myself at ongoing safety risk. They also mentioned charging $150/day storage if I leave my vehicle at their facility beyond diagnostics, which discourages vehicle owners from having their recall-related safety issues adequately addressed. I’m escalating to NHTSA now because BMW has not provided a recall remedy within a reasonable period, and I'm concerned about ongoing safety issue.

64 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/21/2025

Starter stopped working. Vehicles body style : 2019-2020 BMW X5 (x5 sdrive40i, X5 xdrive40i) SUV descriptive information : power train : gas production dates : approximately 68,105 vehicles have been manufactured with an engine starter of a certain production configuration. Basis for recall population determination: vehicle assembly information and supplier production records were used to determine the specific dates of potentially affected vehicles. Recall component difference to non-recall component: potentially affected vehicles have an engine starter with a certain production configuration. Aug 01, 2018 - may 31, 2020 VIN range 1 : begin : nr end : nr not sequential.

65 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/20/2025

Emergency call malfunction light came on. System is an important vehicle safety features. Vehicle taken to dealership for inspection. No visual damage present on vehicle however water ingress from roof shark fin is causing damage to electrical components, tcb and emergency call function. Shark fin antenna cover determined to be causing water ingress after inspection by BMW dealership. Per their recommendation, further water ingress could damage additional electrical components, some critical and therefore immediate need to replace tcb, aerial antenna, and emergency battery. Vehicle warranty not covering this type of issue. Cost of repair estimated at $2500.

66 Electrical System problem of the 2020 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/13/2025

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that start/stop warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but was unable. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the starter motor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

67 Electrical System problem of the 2019 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/13/2025

I have a 2019 BMW X5. My starter failed and I got a notification at the same time through my BMW app that there was a safety recall "recall 24v-576: engine starter – b12 05 24". The recall instructs the dealer that the correction is "dme software update that will prevent the engine starter from being overloaded". This is all fine. It then gives the instruction "note: some vehicles may also be affected by the following technical campaign: 0012240600 check and, if necessary, replace starter motor please ensure that, if possible, both technical actions are processed at the same time. " my issue is that the initial recall is the clear issue causing the starter failure and they have acknowledged this in the technical campaign following. However, my vehicle's VIN is not included in the technical campaign that instructs them to replace the starter even though it was their negligence which caused the failure which they have acknowledged. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? no I paid to have the starter replaced. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? me and my vehicle were left stranded, sometimes in the road due to auto start, multiple times. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, by the dealer. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? yes, inspected by the dealer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no there were no warnings.

68 Electrical System problem of the 2016 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/07/2025

The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

69 Electrical System problem of the 2020 BMW X5

Failure Date: 03/03/2025

A code for check engine came on and the code is say active grille shutter. I also see there is a safety issue for the same issue on other models of BMW. I'm not seeing one for X5 which needs to be added to the list.

70 Electrical System problem of the 2025 BMW X5

Failure Date: 02/28/2025

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 mph, the blind spot warning light was inoperable, and the forward collision avoidance assist sensor warning light was deactivated on the instrument cluster. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electrical system and harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the lane keep assist system was inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80.



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