NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2010–2018

BMW X5 M recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints for the BMW X5 M, covering model years 2010 to 2018. Engine is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW X5 M VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
3 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
4 model years with data (2010–2018)

top component: Engine (2 complaints)
latest recall 18V248000 (reported Apr 18, 2018)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW X5 M complaints by model year

1 model year · NHTSA complaints

All 3 complaints are for the 2012 model year.

BMW X5 M complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW X5 M complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
2012	3	0	0	0	0

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW X5 M components

top 2 · NHTSA categories

Engine is the component named most often, in 2 complaints (66.7% of all 3), followed by Electrical System (1).

Components named most often in BMW X5 M complaints (top 2)

Components named most often in BMW X5 M complaints (top 2)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Engine	2	66.7%
Electrical System	1	33.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW X5 M recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name X5 M, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model years 2010 to 2018. 4 model years tie for the most campaigns (1 each).

2 recall campaigns

BMW X5 M recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
2010s	2010: 1 campaign	2011: 1 campaign	2012: 1 campaign	2013: no campaigns	2014: no campaigns	2015: no campaigns	2016: no campaigns	2017: no campaigns	2018: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 18V248000
Reported Apr 18, 2018
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger; Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Model years 2010–2012
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Consequence:
If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 17V727000
Reported Nov 17, 2017
Suspension
Model year 2018
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 SAV, X5 M SAV, X6 SAV, and X6 M SAV vehicles. Bolts that secure the front suspension may not have been properly tightened.
Consequence:
Loose bolts can affect the performance of the suspension, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the wishbone suspension bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW X5 M questions

4 questions

How many recalls does the BMW X5 M have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the BMW X5 M, covering model years 2010 to 2018. The most recent, 18V248000, was reported on April 18, 2018 and is filed under “Engine and engine cooling”.

What is the most common BMW X5 M complaint?

Engine is the component named most often: 2 complaints, or 66.7% of all 3. Electrical System (1) follows. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW X5 M?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW X5 M complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 3 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.