Driving enthusiasts have always loved the products offered by the Bavarian brand BMW. The 2013 BMW X5 is the latest iteration of the brand’s first SUV and it is a car that brings as much practicality as possible into a fun-to-drive package. The car has been quite decent in terms of reliability as well and we can see that owners have liked it a lot. This year, we find a few BMW X5 airbag problems, gearbox, as well as, engine trouble that has resulted in huge repair bills. With 135 complaints as well as 7 recalls, we have to take a deeper look into the car's history to know more about reliability. The price of this car is also increased and is now at an MSRP of $48,895. There is intense competition in the segment due to cars like the Porsche Cayenne, the Audi Q7, and the Lincoln MKX. Let us learn more about the BMW X5 problems in the sections to follow.
2013 BMW X5 User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical problems:
- There are many cases in which people have reported cooling issues with the car. Overheating such an expensive car can result in very catastrophic consequences.
- The EGR cooler is a part that can fail in several cars and this will send toxic fumes inside the cabin.
- A lot of owners have reported sudden unintended acceleration in the car that has resulted in collisions.
- There are a few instances of a steering issue that makes the car hard to steer. The wheel eventually locks up and a power steering failure is generally reported.
- There are other issues associated with the engine including oil leaks. Many people have also had the cars stalling and coming to a stop.
- The transmission system has several associated complaints including bearing knocks and driveshaft failure. They show regarding driveshaft failure was taken up in a recall. This can be identified as a shudder or hesitation while accelerating.
- The parking brake can fail and this will make the car roll down when parked.
Electrical system problems:
- Due to a software failure, several cars have had the backup camera not working reliably.
- The passenger seat alarm also goes off in many cars when the passenger vacates the seat and the seat pad sensor has to be replaced.
- Many cars have had electrical shorts that have resulted in fires and this will damage the car.
- The door latches also fail in many cars and they are not able to be opened. It seems to be a common problem in cars equipped with BMW comfort access.
- Some cars have had electrical problems that have resulted in complete electrical shutdowns that left people stranded in the middle of the road.Multiple cars have also reported that the battery drains completely even when the car is started regularly.
Miscellaneous problems:
- Many people have complained that although the manufacturer has issued recalls, the parts are not made available on time.
Safety problems:
- The most common complaint about the car is regarding the airbags and their issues with the occupancy sensor. This will often produce airbag warnings and fail to detect when passengers are present in the seat.
- Many cars have reported that the airbags did not correctly deploy when collisions occurred.
- The passenger restraint system is a common area for malfunctions to occur and the seatbelt alarm goes off even when there was nobody in the passenger seat. This will also lead to confusion in airbag deployment.
- The forward collision avoidance system was also allegedly having problems stopping the car in the middle of the road even when there is nothing upfront.
2013 BMW X5 Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA Campaign Number |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
January 15, 2020 |
20V017000 |
Driver’s frontal airbag inflator can explode |
The driver’s frontal airbag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator |
|
2 |
January 14, 2019 |
19V017000 |
Passengers' frontal airbag inflator can explode |
The passenger’s frontal airbag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator |
|
3 |
May 23, 2018 |
18V336000 |
Engine belt idler pulley may break |
The engine belt idler pulley braking will result in the vehicle running properly |
Dealers will inspect and replace the idler pulley bolt |
|
4 |
January 9, 2018 |
18V030000 |
Passengers frontal airbag inflator can explode |
The passenger’s frontal airbag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator |
|
5 |
March 2, 2017 |
17V138000 |
Front driveshaft universal joint may fail |
Water and debris may cause excessive wear, causing the front driveshaft to fail |
Dealers will replace the front driveshaft |
|
6 |
February 5, 2016 |
16V071000 |
Driver’s frontal airbag inflator can explode |
The driver’s frontal airbag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator |
|
7 |
June 13, 2012 |
12V267000 |
Steering gear may leak power steering fluid |
Power-steering fluid could be sprayed onto hot exhaust parts and cause fire due to a machining error in the steering gear |
Dealers will inspect and replace steering gear |
Should you buy the 2013 BMW X5?
The BMW X5 is an excellent luxury car that can double up as a performance buy. It is also a car that provides you with the best interiors in the segment as well as a wide range of features. But in terms of reliability, it has thrown up a few issues in the manufacturer has tried addressing them through recalls. Although not all of them have been resolved completely, we still feel that this car is a good buy because it has certain strengths that are unique to it. Also, you should note that most of the complaints are registered a long time ago and the manufacturer has fixed most of the issues reported above by the time you’re reading this article.
