NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 BMW X5 SAV Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 BMW X5 SAV has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 13 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 BMW X5 SAV. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2013 BMW X5 SAV owner complaints

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW X5 SAV, describing incidents dated March 8, 2014 to January 6, 2019.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 5 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11183676 · Filed March 2, 2019
OIL LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET GETS INTO THE HOT MANIFOLD CAUSING A BURNING OIL SMELL AND SMOKE GETTING INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE AC VENTS CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
ODI #11142990 · Filed October 26, 2018
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK. PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT SEAT. DRIVER LOCKED VEHICLE PREMATURELY WHILE OUTSIDE. PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH KEY FOB BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND. PASSENGER PUSHED LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS IN VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE. DRIVER REENTERED…
ODI #11142958 · Filed October 26, 2018
N63 ENGINE FAILURE AND BATTERY CHARGING PROBLEMS. ENGINE BLOWS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM REAR TAILPIPES AND BATTERY INDICATOR STATES LOW CHARGE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BMW AS THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO WEASEL THERE WAY OUT OF THIS BY NOT RELEASING A RECALL.

Read all 13 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 BMW X5 SAV in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021
Recall Query RQ18-001: Idler Pulley Bolt Failure
Closed December 1, 2018
- Recall 18V-336

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #16V071000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 5, 2016 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 840,000 vehicles

Repair completion: 49.28% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified November 1, 2016 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 BMW X5 SAV. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

13 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 BMW X5 SAV.

Engine

ODI #11183676

Incident: January 6, 2019 · Filed: March 2, 2019

OIL LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVER GASKET GETS INTO THE HOT MANIFOLD CAUSING A BURNING OIL SMELL AND SMOKE GETTING INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE AC VENTS CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

Structure

ODI #11142990

Incident: October 21, 2018 · Filed: October 26, 2018

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND IN PARK. PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT SEAT. DRIVER LOCKED VEHICLE PREMATURELY WHILE OUTSIDE. PASSENGER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH KEY FOB BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND. PASSENGER PUSHED LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS IN VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE. DRIVER REENTERED VEHICLE TO TRY TO HELP. UNABLE TO HELP AND DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. OPENED WINDOW AND HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DRIVERS DOOR. ROLLED DOWN WINDOW ON PASSENGER DOOR AND AFTER PULLING UP ON MANUAL LOCK AND PULLING HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED FREEING PASSENGER. ALL DOORS ON VEHICLE WERE LOCKED AND UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ONLY DRIVERS DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN WITH KEY. DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY FRONT RIGHT WITH ACTUATOR MOTOR FAILURE CAUSING CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM FUSE TO BLOW. REPAIR INVOICE ATTACHED.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11142958

Incident: January 1, 2017 · Filed: October 26, 2018

N63 ENGINE FAILURE AND BATTERY CHARGING PROBLEMS. ENGINE BLOWS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE FROM REAR TAILPIPES AND BATTERY INDICATOR STATES LOW CHARGE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BMW AS THOUSANDS HAVE COMPLAINED BUT BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO WEASEL THERE WAY OUT OF THIS BY NOT RELEASING A RECALL.

Service Brakes

ODI #11122754

Incident: July 28, 2018 · Filed: August 27, 2018

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE THE PARKING BRAKE SYMBOL WENT YELLOW AND IT SHOWED A MESSAGE STATING IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PARKING BRAKE. SINCE THE CAR MOVED FINE WITHOUT ANY NOISE AND IT GAVE NO INDICATION OTHERWISE IT SEEMED SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SOME TIME LATER IT STARTER MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRUCK STOP THE BRAKES WERE FOUND EXCESSIVELY HOT IN ADDITION TO MAKING NOISE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A SHOP IT WAS REVEALED THE PARKING BRAKE HAD PARTIALLY ACTIVATED, DRAGGED THE SHOES UNTIL THEY WERE WORN DOWN, MADE METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR HAT AND CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE ON BOTH SIDES. UNDER SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT ONE OR BOTH REAR WHEELS COULD HAVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. THE ERROR MESSAGE ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE OF THIS MODULE IS HIGHLY MISLEADING, SINCE IT SEEMS WITH THE FAILURE OF THIS MODULE THE VEHICLE HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER THE PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED OR NOT.

Engine

ODI #11113494

Incident: June 28, 2018 · Filed: July 25, 2018

RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY RECEIVED HIGH ENGINE TEMP WARNING ORANGE. IT QUICKLY WENT TO RED AND READ ON DASH TO PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE LOST MUCH POWER AND STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT LET IT GO FASTER. I HAD TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE SOME VEHICLE SPED THROUGH TO THE RIGHT OF ME WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER. 45,000 MILES AND WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WHEN I TOOK IT TO A SHOP.

Air Bags

ODI #11024216

Incident: June 2, 2016 · Filed: September 19, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - TAKATA RECALL CONTINUES TO GO UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE IN QUESTION IN PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY SPOUSE AND NINE-YEAR OLD SON. BMW SHARED THIS WEEK ONLY DUE TO MY CONTACT THEM THAT THE AIRBAG FOR THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN ONE MONTH. I HAVE NO FAITH AND AM SEEKING INJUNCTION BY NHTSA TO RESOLVE THIS DELINQUENT RESOLUTION IMMEDIATELY.

Air Bags

ODI #11016453

Incident: August 1, 2016 · Filed: August 21, 2017

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL, FEB 05,2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERNA NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V071 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG: DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE MAY PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE THAT COULD CAUSE THE INFLATOR TO RUPTURE.

Service Brakes

ODI #11013091

Incident: July 27, 2017 · Filed: August 6, 2017

THE PARKING BREAK SWITCH LEAVER BROKE. THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLASTIC SWITCH LEAVER IS VERY THIN (FLIMSY), THEREFORE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT NOT TO BREAK UNDER REPEATED NORMAL USE. THIS RESULTS IN THE PARKING BRAKE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. PLEASE SEE UPLOAD PHOTO.

Air Bags

ODI #10967712

Incident: March 7, 2016 · Filed: March 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X5 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags

ODI #10916838

Incident: October 18, 2016 · Filed: October 18, 2016

MY CAR HAS HAD AN OPEN RECALL SINCE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2016 AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM BMW REGARDING WHEN THE RECALL WILL BE REPAIRED. SEVERAL EMAILS TO SERVICE ADVISER RESULT IN A GENERIC RESPONSE THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

Other BMW X5 SAV model years

Check your 2013 BMW X5 SAV VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW X5 SAV at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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