Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 BMW X5 problems
Owners filed 29 complaints about the 2000 BMW X5 with NHTSA between Jun 2000 and May 2016. The most-cited component is visibility (7).
Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Visibility7
- Power train7
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Electrical system2
- Seat belts2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Exterior lighting2
- Suspension1
- Service brakes1
- Structure1
- Engine1
- Steering1
- Traction control system1
- Tires1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
6
0
2
1
3
0
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Visibility
7 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN INSIDE THE DOOR DUE TO A FAULTY REGULATOR. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED AND FIVE DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BROKE. THE CONTACT HAS CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUESTED THAT THEY ASSUME THE COST SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A DEFECT INVESTIGATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Power train
7 reports1 related recall
“ON JUNE 3, 2009 I TOOK MY X5 BMW TO CHECKERED FLAG BMW 5225 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA 23454 TO HAVE AN INCONSISTENT HESITATION CHECKED. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION LIGHT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR 3 DAYS, THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ON JUNE 6, 2009 , TOLD MY HUSBAND AND I THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE X5 HAS A SEAL TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE MANUAL A WARNING LIGHT SHOULD HAD CAME ON PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN TRANSMISSION SAFE MODE INFORMING ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THIS WOULD PREVENT ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. BASICALLY HE TOLD US THE VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH A DEFECTED TRANSMISSION MODULECONTROL PART. WE TOLD HIM TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WASN'T MY FAULT IT WAS DEFECTED. HE REFUSED TO REPAIR IT . *TR”
Latches/locks/linkages
3 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW X5. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE THROUGH ANOTHER DOOR AND NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR ALSO WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Electrical system
2 reports1 fire
“PULLED VEHICLE INTO GARAGE AND FRONT, RIGHT SIDE STARTED SMOKING. MY DAUGHTER AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN INTO THE HOUSE TO ALERT MY HUSBAND. WITHIN SECONDS, SMOKE FILLED THE GARAGE AND FIRE WAS VISIBLE UNDER FRONT, RIGHT TIRE AND THROUGH HOOD. I CALLED THE 911 AND MY HUSBAND TRIED TO DOUSE THE FLAMES. THIS NOT WORKING, SO MY HUSBAND MADE THE DECISION TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, HOWEVER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. HE QUICKLY MADE THE DECISION TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR FRAME TO THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. SECONDS LATER, THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DOUSED THE FLAMES. THEY ALSO HAD TO CUT OPEN THE HOOD TO ENSURE ALL FLAMES WERE OUT PRIOR TO LEAVING. *TR”
Seat belts
2 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW X5. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT. AFTER SOME TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAT BELT REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
2 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“THE BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.