Model year

2013 BMW X5

NHTSA lists 6 recalls and 149 complaints for the 2013 BMW X5 (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 1 recall and 13 complaints under X5 SAV. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. 2 recalls marked do not drive. The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (47), ENGINE (45), POWER TRAIN (33). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA rated 4 variants 4 stars overall. EPA rates it 16–22 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $4,350–$5,150, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

20V017000 · Jan 15, 2020

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes,…

19V017000 · Jan 14, 2019

Do not drive

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles. These…

18V336000 · May 23, 2018

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2013 X5 xDrive 35d diesel vehicles. The engine idler pulley bolt may loosen over time and break.

18V030000 · Jan 9, 2018

Do not drive

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, 2009-2010 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2009-2013 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California,…

17V138000 · Mar 2, 2017

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

BMW of North America, LLC, (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2013 X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M and X5 xDrive35d vehicles, 2011-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles, and 2011 x6 ActiveHybrid Vehicles. Water and debris may enter the front driveshaft's universal…

12V267000 · Jun 13, 2012

STEERING

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 X5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A DIESEL ENGINE AND 2013 X5 AND X6 VEHICLES. DUE TO A MACHINING ERROR OF THE STEERING GEAR SURFACE, POWER STEERING FLUID MAY LEAK.

Complaints

149 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 2, fire flag on 7, injury field 8, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

AIR BAGS47
ENGINE45
POWER TRAIN33
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
SERVICE BRAKES6
SEAT BELTS5
STRUCTURE:BODY5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name	Recalls	Complaints
X5 SAV	1	13

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (1). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
RQ18001	Idler Pulley Bolt Failure · STEERING; STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS; STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM	Apr 18, 2018	Dec 1, 2018

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (4). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
Variant	Overall	Front	Side	Pole	Rollover	Photo
M SUV AWD	4	3	5	5	4 · possibility 0.174	NHTSA photo
Xdrive35D SUV AWD	4	3	5	5	4 · possibility 0.174	NHTSA photo
Xdrive35I SUV AWD	4	3	5	5	4 · possibility 0.174	NHTSA photo
Xdrive50I SUV AWD	4	3	5	5	4 · possibility 0.174	NHTSA photo

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
X5 xDrive50i · 4.4L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive	Premium Gasoline	14	20	16	—	—	$5,150
X5 xDrive35i · 3L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive	Premium Gasoline	16	23	19	—	—	$4,350
X5 xDrive35d · 3L · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive	Diesel · Diesel	19	26	22	—	—	$4,350

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2013 BMW X5 at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All BMW X5 model years