Electrical System Problems of BMW X5 - part 2

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.

See all problems of the 2021 BMW X5 🔎.

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.

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.

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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.

See all problems of the 2019 BMW X5 🔎.

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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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.

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 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2022 BMW X5 🔎.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As I was turning into a disabled parking space the vehicle speed suddenly increased speed by itself and hitting the brakes had no effect on the speed. This caused the vehicle to hit a concrete pillar that held the handicap parking sign.

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The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated while at a stop light, the gear shifter independently shifted into neutral. The contact stated after several attempts, the gear shifter was shifted into park. The contact stated that the gear shifter had seized in park(p). The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with internal starter motor shortage. The contact was informed that the starter motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure had occurred at night, while the four minor children were inside the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

On February 14, 2025, my 2020 BMW X5 unexpectedly failed to restart after engaging the auto start/stop function while waiting at a traffic light. Despite multiple attempts, the vehicle would not turn back on, leaving me stranded in active traffic and creating a significant safety hazard. This failure occurred only three months after BMW applied a recall fix (software update) to address a known issue with the starter system. BMW initially issued a nationwide recall in July 2024 related to the starter function, with official letters sent to owners in September 2024. I purchased this vehicle in October 2024 and, upon learning of the recall, took it to an authorized BMW dealership in November 2024, where the recall remedy was applied (software patch). Despite this fix, the vehicle has now suffered a complete starter failure at just 50,250 miles, which is extremely premature for a modern luxury vehicle. BMW technicians at the dealership have confirmed that the starter motor itself has failed and requires full replacement. However, they claim it is unrelated to the recall, despite the failure occurring directly in line with the recall-related system. This issue is not an isolated incident—multiple BMW owners have reported similar failures following the recall fix, suggesting that the software update did not fully resolve the underlying defect. Given that the failure occurred under normal driving conditions and shortly after the recall repair, this raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of BMW’s recall remedy and the reliability of the auto start/stop system. To date, BMW corporate has not yet provided a resolution, and I am seeking answers regarding whether this failure will be covered under an extended recall or goodwill repair. A premature starter failure caused by a known defect is unacceptable and presents a severe safety risk—had this occurred in a more dangerous situation, such as on a highway or at a railroad crossing, the consequences could have been.

The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed and the battery needed to be registered. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 121,000.

Water entering into the vehicle, causing vehicle to reduce power in traffic, due to traction control issues. . Not able to drive vehicle when it’s raining. , along with other issues, pls see first report. .

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I received a recall on my vehicle for an electrical update and was out of town when it malfunctioned. The vehicle would not start on the first try. Tried again and it immediately overheated, with smoke and a burning smell coming from the hood. It was towed to the dealership, and the starter and battery ended up needing to be replaced. I believe the failure of these parts was caused by the software issue that the recall was for. The dealership refused to compensate for the replacement of the battery and starter, claiming that it was not under the recall. When I reached out to corporate, they also refused to help. The car was at the dealership for a month, and the total cost of repairs was $2,200.

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle failed to immediately start. Additionally, while the vehicle was idling the vehicle shut off and had to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the starter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were informed of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 60,000.

The car caught on fire spontaneously when it was parked and locked. The fire started approximately 5 minutes after it was driven for 20 minutes. The fire started under the hood. There was light smoke to begin with which got worse after around 13 minutes and then flames started spewing out at the opening between the hood and the windshield. The car was fully engulfed in flames 5 minutes later with flames going as high as 2 floors. It was finally extinguished by the fire department. The car is currently with my insurance company in their tow yard.

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic; however, the contact used an obd scanner, which diagnosed a failure with the water pump. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system), but the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 72,500.

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the auto start/stop feature activated and the engine was turned off; however, when the light turned green, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to restart as designed. The contact stated that an unknown warning light illuminated but then went off. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure and the contact was provided a fee for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,200.

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The message "system overheating - restarting engine possible after cooling" was displayed. The contact called aaa, who attempted to start the vehicle and to shift to neutral(n), but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was towed to the residence with a special tow truck. The vehicle was able to be jumpstarted by aaa the following day. The vehicle was then driven to the dealer, where it was parked and turned off. The contact stated that the failure recurred at the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact became aware of NHTSA campaign number: 24v576000 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling), which the contact linked to the failure; however, the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing battery drainage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the auxiliary water pump was continuously running after turning off the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with parasitic battery draw due to the auxiliary water pump malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

See all problems of the 2015 BMW X5 🔎.

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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Shark fin antenna - telematic control module malfunctioning. Seems to have a leak issue causing modules inside/under antenna to get wet from rain or car washes. This is causing an error message "sos emergency call system malfunctioning", you will not be able to make calls under an emergency. Other issues include gps, remote start, lane assist, adaptive cruise control etc. . . Not working properly and potentially causing an accident on the road.

The vehicle starter fails intermittently. I have to also keep it out of start/stop mode for efficiency due to this starter issue.