Model year
2021 BMW X5
NHTSA lists 12 recalls and 110 complaints for the 2021 BMW X5 (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 1 recall and 1 complaint under X5 HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (36), POWER TRAIN (30), ENGINE (25). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA rated the SUV AWD 4 stars overall. EPA rates it 15–23 mpg combined and 63 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,550–$5,500, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 29 complaints
- 2001 160 complaints
- 2002 102 complaints
- 2003 99 complaints
- 2004 64 complaints
- 2005 82 complaints
- 2006 168 complaints
- 2007 71 complaints
- 2008 215 complaints
- 2009 138 complaints
- 2010 124 complaints
- 2011 263 complaints
- 2012 271 complaints
- 2013 149 complaints
- 2014 99 complaints
- 2015 152 complaints
- 2016 74 complaints
- 2017 75 complaints
- 2018 73 complaints
- 2019 193 complaints
- 2020 113 complaints
- 2021 110 complaints
- 2022 72 complaints
- 2023 33 complaints
- 2024 145 complaints
- 2025 63 complaints
- 2026 28 complaints
- 2027 0 complaints
Recalls
22V267000 · Apr 20, 2022
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive); 2019-2022 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M; 2021-2022 X5 xdrive45e; 2020-2022 X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6M and 2019-2023 X7…
21V156000 · Mar 10, 2021
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5 xDrive45e, 2021 X7 xDrive40i, X7 M50i, and XB7 vehicles. The head restraints on the second-row outer seats may be the incorrect type for the vehicle.
21V096000 · Feb 19, 2021
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE; BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i…
21V089000 · Feb 18, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:CRITICAL FASTENERS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X5 sDrive40i and X5 xDrive40i vehicles. The right front brake disc may have been assembled with incorrect fasteners, which over time, could result in the front brake disc becoming loose.
21V062000 · Feb 10, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5…
21V031000 · Jan 29, 2021
STEERING:COLUMN
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5M, X5 xDrive45e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 M50i vehicles. The steering column shaft's universal joint connection may not have been tightened to specifications, and can…
20V761000 · Dec 9, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The…
20V678000 · Nov 4, 2020
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 M50i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i and X6M vehicles and 2021 X5 xDrive45e vehicles. The weld between the front axle support and the right front control arm bearing bracket…
20V601000 · Sep 30, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the…
20V528000 · Sep 1, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X6 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, X6 M50i, X6M, X7 M50i and 2021 X5 xDrive45e vehicles. The headlamps may allow a blue light to illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to…
2 more recalls are in the NHTSA file for this name and are not listed here. Campaign numbers above link to NHTSA.
Complaints
110 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 9, fire flag on 3, injury field 7, 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.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| X5 HYBRID | 1 | 1 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP22005 | Pedestrian alert sounds · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM | Jan 27, 2023 | Aug 7, 2023 |
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid SUV AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| M SUV AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated · possibility 0 | — |
| SUV AWD | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.159 | NHTSA photo |
| SUV RWD | Not rated | 4 | 5 | 5 | Not Rated · possibility 0 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X5 xDrive45e · 3L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Plug-in Hybrid | 19 | 22 | 20 | 63.0 | 400 | $4,100 |
| X5 sDrive40i · 3L · Automatic (S8) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 21 | 26 | 23 | — | — | $3,550 |
| X5 xDrive40i · 3L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline · Hybrid | 21 | 25 | 23 | — | — | $3,550 |
| X5 M50i · 4.4L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 16 | 22 | 18 | — | — | $4,550 |
| X5 M · 4.4L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 13 | 18 | 15 | — | — | $5,500 |
| X5 M Competition · 4.4L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 13 | 18 | 15 | — | — | $5,500 |
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 2021 BMW X5 at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.