There are 4 stored owner reports matching the lighting leading-label group for the 2011 BMW X5 in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 4 of 4 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)Headlight wiring insulation dry rots prematurely within headlight causing system failure, which includes Headlight malfunction and system shorting. Headlights are known to stop working due to wiring shorting out, issues may cause an electrical fire besides malfunction.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER DRIVER ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V152000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED SOMEONE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAVE CHEST AND RIB PAIN. EVEN DEPLOYED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FULLY INFLATED. *TR
THE OVERHEAD READING LIGHTS (4) IN MY BMW X5 DO NOT HAVE PROTECTIVE COVERS ON THEM AND THEY BECOME EXTREMELY HOT WHEN TURNED ON. MY 3 YEAR OLD SON TOUCHED THE LIGHT IN THE BACKSEAT RESULTING IN A BURN AND BLISTER ON HIS FINGER. I AM TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS IS THE DESIGN OF THESE LIGHTS AND THERE IS NO "FIX" TO PREVENT BURNS WHEN THIS EXPOSED LIGHT IS TOUCHED. *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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.