There are 4 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2005 BMW X5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, DRIVER SIDE DOOR DAMAGE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE ISSUES. SOUND OF A KICK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHEN STARTING MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED. THE CONTACT'S RIGHT THUMB WAS SEVERED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RALLYE BMW (1 BRUSH HOLLOW ROAD, WESTBURY, NY 11590) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, AND PROVIDED AN INVESTIGATOR TO CONFIRM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
THE REAR LOCKS ARE LOCKED JAMMED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY MANUAL OVER RIDE TO OPEN THE BACK DOORS. MY KIDS GOT TRAPPED IN AND HAC TO GET OUT FROM THE FRONT DOOR. IF THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE DOORS THE PASSENGERS WOULD BE TRAPPED IN PERMANENTLY AND DIE FROM CARBONMONOOXIDE POISOINING OR FREEZE TO DEATH WITH THE COLD WEATHER. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONSERN THAT CAN BE LIFE THREATENING !!! BMW SHOULD FIX THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS BEFORE ANY BODY LOOSES THEIR LIFE OR KIDS GET HURT TRYING TO GET OUT. *TR
THE PANORAMIC ROOF ON MY 2005 X5 BMW STUCK IN THE VENT POSITION. THE REAR GLASS WOULD NOT RETRACT. MY BMW DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE COMPLETE CASSETTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACES AT A COST OF OVER $5,000.00. FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH REPAIR PEOPLE I AM LED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR BOTH THE X5 AND THE X3. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT BMW HAS THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF REPAIR KITS SO THAT THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY CAN BE REPAIRED FOR THE LOWEST COST TO BMW. I SUGGEST THAT BMW KNOWS THIS IS A RELIABILITY PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM ONCE THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026