Power Train Problems of BMW X5 - part 1

The vehicle shakes at low speeds with a jolt and vibration when turning. When I pressed the accelerator from a standstill, the gas pedal broke off from its floor mounted bracket.

See all problems of the 2021 BMW X5 🔎.

Like numerous other BMW owners, my transfer case is failing in my vehicle. It’s actively causing jerking/shuddering/locking up at low speeds and while making turns. This poses a significant danger to the driver and passengers in the vehicle, and other drivers as well while turning or trying to merge with traffic. I’ve brought the car into the dealer had the transfer case fluid changed according to the service bulletin that exists for this problem but it persists. I’ve brought the vehicle back into the dealer and told that now BMW suggests paying for another fluid change. This is obviously a known problem (thus the service bulletin), it’s persisted with models like mine for over 5 years, had cost numerous owners significant amounts of monies out of pocket, and poses a safety risk given the transfer case is a foundational component of these vehicles’ drive trains. Finally it’s a problem BMW openly admits they caused with improper fluid in the component. I believe the above meets all criteria for a formal recall that BMW should cover (or reimburse) the costs for given their negligence and the risks it poses. Can you confirm why this hasn’t risen to a formal recall? and confirm the steps you’re actively taking to elevate this to that status with BMW?.

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Drivetrain lights came on out of no where. I was coming to a red light and when car stopped the light on dash came on and message came on for drivetrain malfunction. Car was turned off and on and message went away. Car was brought to dealer and they were able to diagnose saying 3 injector problem and need to replace cylinder head. Was told this a problem with the new v8 engines. Can be dangerous if driving and message is gone and continue driving.

My starter motor overheated and my car would not start and my car indicated the fluids and components were overheated - my dealership confirmed the problem with a video they sent me. If I was still driving the car, I don't know what would have happened to me my daughter and husband in the vehicle. I called my service rep and the dealership is looking into it as my VIN does not have the recall. Nothing was wrong and no lights were on the vehicle prior to the car not starting. I had been driving it for about 25 minutes. In may of this year, not even 6 months ago, they had to replace a "heat management module", which cost me $2500 and they said it is not related. They found 8 fault codes at a frequency of 255. The dealership is telling me this is not related, but I have a hard time believing that.

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The front differential on my BMW failed at just 47,000 miles. There were no warning lights—only a faint grinding noise that gradually worsened. After inspection, the dealership confirmed the failure and quoted $9,000 for replacement. In speaking with other BMW owners, I’ve discovered this issue isn’t isolated. Many have experienced front differential failures around the 50,000-mile mark, suggesting a troubling pattern. This raises serious concerns about the reliability of this component and whether BMW is adequately addressing what appears to be a recurring problem.

2024 BMW X5 with 22k miles, leasing the vehicle. Had the vehicle in the dealer, herb chambers BMW of boston a few months ago to fix a brake recall and change the oil. Dealer said they fixed both, and also said they needed the vehicle all day to fix the brakes, so they got me an uber and then dropped off the vehicle when it was completed. Fast forward to today, October 2, 2025. Drive train warning came up when driving the vehicle, told to find a safe place to stop, within 10 seconds the vehicle lost most of engine power. Was able to stop in a safe location, contacted roadside assistance, numerous warnings came up on screen. Roadside assistance said to start and stop the vehicle and this cleared the message, said that vehicle was safe to drive, it was probably just a sensor issue that put the vehicle into some type of safe mode (what a horrible thing to do, an enormously unsafe as the operator should determine this). Two days later, another drive train warning and the vehicle on it's own moved the transmission into neutral while driving at 30mph. This issue with going into neutral on it's own, I found out through speaking with my wife, that this happened a couple of week prior as well. I called road side assistance and had the vehicle towed, called the dealer to get a loaner as this vehicle is not safe to drive in it's current condition. After this issue, I looked my vehicle up by VIN and saw that the brake recall wasn't fixed yet to my surprise. When I spoke to the dealer today as the vehicle was being towed there with this drive train issue, I said were my brakes for this recall fixed, they said the software issue was fixed, but not the mechanical issue. I said please fix this brake recall while in there looking at this drive train issue. Vehicle is clearly not safe to drive in this condition, and you can use your imagination if this happened while driving at highway speeds or various other scenarios, not good at all.

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Around September, 2025 several small puddles was under the vehicle. Made an appointment with BMW to have a 2021, X5 inspected. The BMW dealership technicians diagnosed the problem as a water pump -engine coolant. There was no previous warning messages notifying a problem with the vehicle cooling system. Vehicle total mileage was around 58,000 miles at the time of problem found. Cost of damage was over $2,000 to fix at dealership.

While driving my 2025 BMW X5 xdrive50e, a “power supply malfunction – stop vehicle immediately” warning appeared on the dashboard, advising me to pull over and call roadside assistance. The vehicle had previously been repaired for the same issue at braman BMW in miami, but the malfunction recurred the next day after getting it back. Prior to this, the car was out of service for 103 days following an accident due to BMW’s inability to supply a backordered acceleration sensor. The repair was completed in August 2025. The repeated “power supply malfunction” messages raise concerns about the reliability of the electrical and hybrid power systems and potential loss of power while driving. The issue has been confirmed and documented by braman BMW. The component remains under BMW inspection.

Component failed: water pump (engine cooling system) - part has been superseded by BMW with upgraded version, indicating manufacturer awareness of defect. Failed component retained and available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: complete water pump failure at 56,611 miles created immediate risk of catastrophic engine overheating and potential engine seizure while driving. BMW-certified mechanic warned that driving vehicle even short distances could result in total engine failure, creating risk sudden loss of power on highways/intersections engine fire from overheating being stranded in dangerous locations/conditions complete loss of steering assist if engine stops confirmation: BMW-certified independent mechanic (formerly employed by BMW) confirmed water pump failure and identified it as "common b58 engine issue. " BMW dealer (silver spring) immediately quoted exact repair cost of $2,300, indicating familiarity with this failure pattern. Mechanic documented that BMW has superseded the original part with an upgraded design, suggesting manufacturer acknowledgment of defect. Inspection status: failed part preserved by mechanic with full documentation including BMW's superseded part number from their system. Vehicle not inspected by BMW due to dealer network failure - three dealers failed to respond, one took 5+ hours to return call, none could provide service in reasonable timeframe. Warning signs: no prior warning symptoms. Failure was sudden and catastrophic. Temperature gauge spiked without warning during normal driving conditions. No previous cooling system issues or warning lights. Regular maintenance performed per BMW specifications. Additional pattern evidence: research reveals extensive documentation of identical b58 engine water pump failures between 40,000-60,000 miles across multiple BMW models (x5, x3, 3-series, 5-series) on owner forums. BMW's decision to supersede the part without issuing a recall suggests they are aware of the defect.

Steering the vehicle in a low gear causes the vehicle to tremble or shudder. The dealership identified the problem to be the transfer case fluid. In manufacturing, BMW put a fluid which did not meet the specifications of the vehicle. The transfer case fluid is documented in the manual of BMW X5 m50i (2021) to be something which does not require replacement in the lifetime of the vehicle. I raised this issue when the vehicle was under warranty, but the dealership ignored the issue. After the warranty period was over (62,000 miles), the dealer recommended that I replace the fluid to fix the shudder issue. It is a very well known issue, and there is a service bulletin issued to the dealerships to deal with this particular case (sib 27 02 20). After the fluid replacement, the issue went away. This issue is widely known by the dealership, and it is a safety issue. I had to pay for the fluid replacement, and I believe BMW should have recalled this issue to replace the fluid for all X5s manufactured in 2020 and 2021. This is a safety issue.

While driving this new 2025 BMW X5 m60i vehicle with only 6200 miles, all of a sudden battery failure indicator came on in the middle of traffic, followed by drivetrain failure / malfunction indicator came on. BMW roadside assistance was contacted, and advised me to have vehicle stopped and pulled over immediately and towed. Situation was dangerous as the traffic was flowing at 40 mph. Vehicle eventually totally lost power. It was towed to local BMW dealership where it was purchased from. The dealership service department was able to reproduce the issue, confirmed that it was a cracked transmission casing, resulting in fluid leak, causing electrical failure and leading to mechanical failure. BMW head office was contacted by the dealership service department and new transmission was requested. Please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the service report attached for details. This is a brand-new vehicle, bought directly from dealership 5 months ago, and had been driven with caution and care. No prior indicators were ever noticed. My safety and safety of nearby vehicles was compromised due to the fact that power was suddenly lost and engine failure unexpectedly occured at such low mileage in fastr flowing traffic. It is incomprehensible that a brand-new vehicle such as this would all of a sudden develop a serious malfunction without prior warning, and have a cracked / broken transmission casing which was found to be leaking fluids. It seems it was defective to begin with.

Failed components 1. Oil pump $8769. 41 2. Cylinder head assembly- valve cover $4280. 83 3. Center console control panel $3051. 93 4. Transfer case replacement tbd 2019 BMW X5 xdrive40i has multiple major component failures at 70,000 miles. Oil pump failed causing loss of oil-level monitoring. The cylinder head assembly was diagnosed with oil consumption, the transfer case exhibited driveline shuddering, and the center console control panel developed internal electrical faults that affect vital vehicle components. All have been diagnosed by BMW of north haven, CT. The oil pump and transfer case failures have created potential loss of engine lubrication and vehicle control putting my safety at risk. The oil-level test aborts at 16% making it impossible to verify oil quantity or pressure while driving. The shuddering occurs during low-speed turns and acceleration. BMW north America reviewed my case and approved goodwill coverage for transfer-case fluid change all other safety-related repairs have been denied. Supporting BMW service bulletins: •sib 27 02 jerking or shuddering from driveline xdrive transfer case atx13-x (faulty factory oil specification). •sib 11 03 n20/n26 engine timing chain and oil-pump drive chain warranty extension (pattern of oil-pump failures in prior engines). •sib b01 13 front center console cupholder liquid ingress (electrical faults from liquid intrusion in 2019–2022 g05 X5). •sib 65 12 roof-mounted antenna housing seal not adhering (water ingress from shark-fin antenna affecting interior electronics). Note: I paid out of pocket to replace and reprogram thetelematics communication box (tcb) due to faulty seal around shark fin. A class action lawsuit is currently in happening for this exact issue in California. These issues are not normal wear and tear. They represent premature mechanical and electrical failures on a well-maintained vehicle as well as posing a safety risk to me and other drivers.

A drivetrain malfunction warning, chassis warning, auto level suspension was locked, and check engine light was on while driving on the freeway. We made it home safely and parked the BMW X5 45e inside the garage. I plugged in my charger and was not able to charge. Went to start on electric mode/hybrid mode but was not able to turn on. Then I switched to sport mode via gas and engine started but stuttered, and was unable to switch gears from parking to reverse or to forward. Engine continued to shut studded and then engine and electrical completely shut down. I will contact BMW riverside on Monday.

Car would randomly not start and went dead at red stop lights on occasion. Had to have the car towed to BMW dealership where they diagnosed it as a bad starter. Car only has 35,000 miles and this appears to be a know problem by BMW and BMW owners.

See all problems of the 2020 BMW X5 🔎.

The drive train failed on the car and left the car without power as the transmission disengaged and was revving in drive mode. This happened when I was making a right turn. Oncoming traffic had to Dodge us making it a very dangerous situation. The shoulder was narrow so half of the car in the number one lane. The car had been back into the dealership many time for similar issue but this time the car actual hard warning signs flash on the screen and loss complete power and maneuverability. A few different lights came on the dash. Prior to the car completely shutting down, the car would down shift really hard and the computer says the car was trying to go in reverse. I’ve loss all confidence in this car and feel unsafe getting back into it.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2023 BMW X5. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact noticed a fluid leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that upon driving from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to exceed 5 mph. The check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The messages " drivetrain malfunction" and "4-wd component" and other unknown messages were displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that while driving 40-50 mph, with her one-year-old daughter in a car seat in the rear of the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving, causing the contact to pull over to the side of the road several times. The contact stated that there were significant safety concerns and did not feel safe driving the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 23v821000 (power train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,900.

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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.

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Reoccurring drivetrain and high voltage issues with my 2022 BMW X545e.

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.

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.

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Vehicle has been vibrating at low speeds when turning or when backing up. Took vehicle to BMW dealership (BMW of nashville in franklin, TN) multiple times during the past 18 months without resolution. On my visit for the same issue this month, dealership finally recognized the issue and said there was a BMW bulletin out about the issue sib 27 02 20. It is very frustrating that 1. The dealership kept stalling and despite test driving the car with me and feeling the vibration, they kept blaming tires or saying it was normal while the bulletin about the issues was generated in 05. 20. 2020 2. It cost me over $627 for them to change the transfer case oil to diagnose and repair the issue. I am still in the testing phase after the transfer case oil change as the vehicle needs to be driven 300+ miles. The dealership and BMW should issue a recall since it is a know issue that the wrong oil was used in the manufacturing process and reimburse the cost charged for diagnostic and transfer case oil replacement. The vehicle is furthermore still under warranty so I should not be paying anything for diagnostics or repairs.

My 2025 BMW X5e was repaired under recall 24v?104 for the integrated brake system. Before this recall, the vehicle did not have any braking hesitation or drag issues. After the recall repair was done (replacement and reprogramming), the vehicle now shows hesitation to move forward after releasing the brake pedal from a complete stop, as if the brakes are still dragging. This creates a safety concern when merging into traffic or driving in stop?and?go conditions. The dealer is unable or unwilling to resolve the issue. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate this recall fix as it may have introduced a new defect.

Two incidents I was driving the vehicle and the notification popped up saying drivetrain error at that moment the car detail and I was unable to go over 30 mph while driving in the fast lane on California highways 2/13/2025 3/30/2025.

While driving on highway at 70 mph, front awd driveshaft failed and caused massive damage to engine and underside of car is destroyed. The flailing driveshaft punched a hole in engine and oil pan, causing all engine oil to spray on hot exhaust and the tires while driving. Luckily was able to slow car and steer it to shoulder, near miss accident. There is recall 17v-138 on this year of BMW X5 for exact issue that happened to me, but BMW states that my VIN is not affected. Yeah right.

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The malfunction is my water pump is cracked & leaking coolant at 40k miles. The get up performance speed is lagging and delayed especially driving using eco mode. The safety is at risk as the car is overheating, slow to accelerate and drive comfortably or safely. BMW of riverside, CA has had to top off my coolant levels twice in a month or so. Bavarian auto house located at 1009 e balsam Ave, anaheim, CA 92805 inspected my vehicle during a brake fluid flush and noticed my cracked leaking water pump. The low coolant levels pop up alert first appeared on my vehicle a month ago in the end of January 2025.

I purchased this BMW X5 xdrive50e vehicle from BMW showroom in kalamazoo, mi as a pre-owned vehicle. It looks like this particular vehicle had already reported an drivetrain issue based on the NHTSA complaint: [xxx] looks like drivetrain malfunction issue is a recurring one in BMW X5 50e and hit with the same issue on [xxx]. Here, I want to file a complaint regarding a safety issues with this 2024 BMW X5 xdrive50e, which currently has 14,065 miles. Vehicle started showing 2 error messages. (1) drivetrain malfunctions error stating that driving is not possible and asking to call the roadside assistance. (2) regenerative braking of the vehicle is disturbed. It is possible to continue driving and asking to schedule a service appointment. On seeing these messages, called the BMW sos line and informed them about the issue and towed the vehicle to the nearest service center. After running the diagnostics on the vehicle, service center confirmed that egs diagnostics test is inconclusive and mechatronics parts require a replacement. Service center stated that some of the parts are available within the country and few has to be shipped from germany. Currently, vehicle is in service center waiting for the parts to get replaced. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle shut off at a stop light and would not restart received a drivetrain malfunction: driving not possible. Call roadside assistance. Message. Have had the vehicle two weeks and has only 710 miles on the odometer. The vehicle was stuck on the highway and unable to move or restart the vehicle the police had the vehicle towed out of the way. Very dangerous situation could have been hit by another vehicle very easily. The vehicle is currently stuck in my driveway until it can be towed to the BMW dealer for repair!.

Vehicle purchase from BMW of devon dear BMW customer relations team, I am writing to express my deep disappointment and frustration regarding my recent experience with a certified pre-owned (cpo) vehicle purchased from BMW of devon. As a loyal BMW customer, I expected a higher standard of quality and service than what I have experienced. I purchased a 2020 BMW X5 (VIN: [xxx] in October 2023 with the confidence that it had undergone a rigorous inspection process, as advertised under your cpo program. However, after driving the vehicle for only 5,000 miles within a single year of ownership, I have been informed that the following costly repairs are required: 1. Brake pads replacement 2. Rplc both lw ctrl ar 3. Rear brake rotars 4. Front thrust arms 5. 4wa integral alignment the estimated total cost for these repairs exceeds $5,000, which is entirely unacceptable given the short duration and low mileage since the purchase. This indicates either a lack of proper inspection and servicing by BMW of devon or a failure to disclose critical information about the vehicle’s condition at the time of sale. As a consumer, I relied on the assurances provided by the BMW cpo program, which is marketed as delivering “ultimate peace of mind” and a vehicle of premium quality. This experience has instead been stressful and costly, undermining my trust in the BMW brand. I demand that BMW of devon and BMW of north America take full responsibility for these shortcomings by covering the cost of all necessary repairs immediately and free of charge. Anything less would not only fail to rectify this issue but also tarnish BMW’s reputation for quality and customer satisfaction. I hope this matter can be resolved promptly and amicably. Please respond within 10 days to confirm your commitment to addressing this issue. Should I not receive a satisfactory resolution, I will have no choice but to escalate this matter further, including but not limited to contact information redacted pursuant to the freedom of informati.

On Dec 9, 2024 I was driving my 2022 BMW X5 45e on (in ev mode) local roads at approximately 30-35mph when all of a sudden I lost power and the steering wheel became tight. My instrument panels all showed a multitude of errors including: "chassis stabilization", "power supply", "reduced power", "transmssion malfuction", and others I do not recall. I was fortunately able to turn into a parking lot slowly, but the steering was tight to the point I had to use 2 hands to make turn. There was also no throttle response. As soon as the car came to a stop, I powered it off and turned it on. The car's screens were blinking and the car would not turn on. I contacted BMW roadside and the car was towed to the dealership at east bay BMW in pleasanton. As of today I am still waiting for a reply on the condition of the vehicle. Yesterday I was told that they will change out the battery first and see if this solves the problem. My biggest concern is that had this happened to me on the highway that I or someone would have gotten seriously injured or may result in death from an accident. I lost power to the car and the steering became stiff.

High pressure fuel pump failure.

See all problems of the 2014 BMW X5 🔎.

My prop shaft has prematurely failed due to the air conditioner drain line outlet directing water on to the prop shaft u joints. This is a recall issue on previous model BMW X5 and obviously a continuing issue on this generation (f15) as well.

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The front driveshaft is known to fail in these vehicles. Mine is very loose and my mechanic advised me to not drive the car anymore until I replace it. When it snaps off, it is known to destroy either the transmission or engine. This needs to be recalled by BMW.

Car indicating drivetrain malfunction and BMW has a service bulletin for the described issue which is to replace the transfer case yet the dealer service center has tried to say it was the radiator blinds and it was not, now saying its spark plugs and ignition coils yet there aren’t any fault codes for it. The car has lost power while on the freeway and could be potentially dangerous since it happens while driving. Plenty of other vehicle owners reporting the same issue yet BMW not being held accountable.