X5 (F15)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2014-2018 BMW X5
That's near the typical rate for PHEVs in this dataset (median 5.7 per year). Within the normal range for the category.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 14 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Battery fires, smoke, thermal runaway. Includes any complaint with fire reported.
Sample complaint excerpts
High-Voltage Battery
- [2016] The component that failed appears to be the hybrid propulsion and charging system, including the high-voltage battery management system and/or integrated charging electronics. The vehicle will not accept a charge from any home or public charging source. The high-voltage battery was replaced approximately one year ago; however, the charging failure persists. The vehicle is available for inspection
- [2016] Subject: Consequential Damage and Failure of Remedy regarding Recall 24V-608 Incident Description: "I am reporting a failure of the manufacturer to provide an effective remedy for Safety Recall 24V-608 (Electric Water Pump) and subsequent consequential damage to the High-Voltage battery system. In September 2023, at approximately 78,000 miles, this vehicle exhibited 'Drivetrain Malfunctions' inc
- [2016] Vehicle looses power with " Powertrain Malfunction' displaying on the dashboard. Several codes for the Hybrid Battery failure. Per BMW USA, Hybrid System has 8 years 80000 mile warranty. BMW USA and or authorized BMW Dealership does not want to honor the warranty, claiming the Hybrid Battery might have been OVERUSED. Vehicle only has 65K miles and it is within the warranty period.
Electric Propulsion
- [2016] The component that failed appears to be the hybrid propulsion and charging system, including the high-voltage battery management system and/or integrated charging electronics. The vehicle will not accept a charge from any home or public charging source. The high-voltage battery was replaced approximately one year ago; however, the charging failure persists. The vehicle is available for inspection
- [2016] Subject: Consequential Damage and Failure of Remedy regarding Recall 24V-608 Incident Description: "I am reporting a failure of the manufacturer to provide an effective remedy for Safety Recall 24V-608 (Electric Water Pump) and subsequent consequential damage to the High-Voltage battery system. In September 2023, at approximately 78,000 miles, this vehicle exhibited 'Drivetrain Malfunctions' inc
- [2016] The electric drivetrain, electric engine and the gasoline malfunctioned while the car was driving at speed from 40-50 miles. The car was build with two engine, the electric motor and a twin turbo gasoline engine. The Electronic drivetrain system was designed for first off start the electric engine will drive car until the battery is depleted then the gasoline engine will take over or some time in
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2016] Vehicle looses power with " Powertrain Malfunction' displaying on the dashboard. Several codes for the Hybrid Battery failure. Per BMW USA, Hybrid System has 8 years 80000 mile warranty. BMW USA and or authorized BMW Dealership does not want to honor the warranty, claiming the Hybrid Battery might have been OVERUSED. Vehicle only has 65K miles and it is within the warranty period.
- [2016] I have received two emails from two different shop foreman’s. One from Niello BMW and the other BMW Fairfield. They both said the malfunctions I am experiencing- slipping, delay in accelerations- is the way BMW manufacturer made the car. One foreman said all the cars like mine he has driven have the same issue. It is a hybrid that needs the hybrid battery to have charge to not experience these mal
- [2018] The AC compressor catastrophically failed and sent metal throughout the AC system. I will have to auction the vehicle and try to get some money from the vehicle to buy another car. I doubt that I will still have the vehicle by the end of August 2024. Because my vehicle is a plug-in-hybrid and AC lines run through it, the check engine light came on because the electric drive could not function prop
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2016] Since 12v battery is down towing truck driver tried to jump start the car, there is no way to move the car, he failed to start car so move manually for towing to BMW service center. they reported EME(controller computer) Board damage, and BMW guessed jump start could damage, so insurance appraiser came to review and rejected this because BMW said there is no way to prove this, and then they charge
Thermal Events
- [2018] The water pump's electrical plug connector has a safety recall without a current available remedy. The issue causes small drops of liquid from the positive crankcase ventilation system to drip down onto the water pump's electrical connector, which could lead to a short circuit and potential thermal event or fire.
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Recalls (10)
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X6 sDrive35i vehicles. The pivot bolt on the front lower-left control arm may not have been properly hardened, which may cause the control arm to break.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with 21-inch tires, however the Tire Information Label states that the vehicles are equipped with 20-inch tires. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
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.
BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X5 xDrive40e vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag modules using certain air bag inflators that may not vent properly in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 X5 xDrive40e vehicles manufactured July 29, 2015, to September 9, 2015. The affected vehicles have a Digital Motor Electronic (DME) control unit that may have a loose electrical ground cable, possibly causing an under-voltage condition which would result in the transmission shifting to neutral.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2014-2018 BMW X5 problems?
The 2014-2018 BMW X5 has accumulated 1,330 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.
Which BMW X5 engine is most reliable?
The 2014-2018 BMW X5 was offered with 1 engine option. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.0L ?-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2014-2018 BMW X5 a good used car?
The 2014-2018 BMW X5 can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 1,330 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014-2018 BMW X5 have?
The 2014-2018 BMW X5 has 1,330 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2014-2018 BMW X5?
There are 10 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2014-2018 BMW X5 vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used BMW X5?
Before buying a used BMW X5, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the X5?
The 2018 BMW X5 received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (18.8% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 1,330 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.