The BMW X5 has enjoyed ascendancy in the luxury midsize SUV segment for a while since there was far little competition to compete against. This would be the reason why BMW let their 2015 X5 have some issues that could have been easily rectifiable mid-manufacturing. Although the 2015 BMW X5 provides you with the luxury, performance, and status you would desire, is it safe? The official records show 6 recalls and 74 complaints. Most recalls would make the occupant's life miserable, as they majorly deal with the airbags and coolant leaks that can cause a fire. The complaints as well are correlated to these recalls, and how difficult it is to get them fixed in a reasonable period. How does the 2015 X5 compete against the likes of the Acura MDX, the Audi Q7, and the Mercedes-Benz ML 350? Let’s find out.
2015 BMW X5 User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Problems
- Engine fires and recalls- If we had a dollar for every complaint about the “EGR coolant leak” recalls taking a ridiculous amount of time to get fixed, we wouldn’t have much. But, it is still worth noting how careless the manufacturer is in getting the parts ready on time. Others found out about the recall the hard way when their engine caught on fire due to the coolant leaking. There were also a few complaints about the engine failing, broken valves, and oil leaks. There are currently two recalls made for now about the “EGR coolant leaks”, you can refer to NHTSA ID: 21V907000 and 18V755000 for more details.
- Powertrain hesitation- Some users have complained about the vehicle hesitating in shifting gears, sometimes causing the vehicle to jerk or abruptly going to neutral when it was supposed to be in the drive or park mode. No further information regarding the problem has been provided.
- Steering failure- Though this issue is relatively less recurring, it is concerning to understand that the drivers would lose control of their vehicle when they make a turn, as their steering fails to respond to the driver’s input. So far no solutions or reasons as to why this happens have been provided. .
Electrical Problems
- Electrical malfunction- Multiple warning messages and “passenger restraint system malfunction”, along with the entire electrical system shutting down abruptly are some of the issues faced by the users. This would be co-related to the structural issue mentioned below.
- Short circuit due to moisture accumulation- Users would get a notification about “passenger restraint system malfunction" due to moisture buildup when it rains, especially in the rear where the electrical systems are mostly located. In some cases, this has caused some vehicles to short circuit and catch on fire in this area. BMW has not provided any solutions, and dealerships are reported to ask for a lot of money to fix the problems.
Safety Problems
- Airbag system concerns- Among the 2015 BMW X5 problems, buyers have reported two issues with the airbag system. The first problem is concerned with the non-deployment of the airbags, which has resulted in injuries in a couple of cases. However, for other users, whether or not their SUV qualifies under the TAKATA recall is a confusing and worrying concern. Currently, there is no help provided by the brand.
2015 BMW X5 Recalls
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional remarks. |
Remedy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
November 19 2021 |
21V907000 |
Coolant leaking inside the EGR might cause a fire. |
SAV diesel vehicles are equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. This EGR system's cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, resulting in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold. |
Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and replace the intake manifold for free. |
2 |
July 29 2021 |
21V586000 |
High-pressure fuel pump fail failure |
The high pressured fuel pump might fail, resulting in the engine stalling. |
Your dealership will replace the high-pressure fuel pump for free. |
3 |
October 25 2018 |
18V755000 |
Coolant leaking inside the EGR might cause a fire. |
SAV diesel vehicles are equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. This EGR system's cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, resulting in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold. |
Your BMW dealership will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced, all for free. |
4 |
September 21 2016 |
16V683000 |
Incorrectly welded driver airbag inflator. |
The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal airbag inflator that may have been improperly welded. As a result, would cause the airbags to separate from the housing, and would let the occupant hit the metal plate, which can lead to serious injury or death. |
Your dealership will replace the driver's front airbag for free. |
5 |
March 13 2015 |
15V147000 |
Head protection system airbag improper inflation. |
In the affected vehicles, the Head Protection System (HPS), the airbag may not be securely connected to the airbag inflator gas generator. |
BMW will notify owners, and your dealers will replace the Head Protection System for free. |
6 |
October 17 2014 |
14V65000 |
Left rear seat frame steel plate. |
In the vehicles equipped with the optional rear comfort seat, the left rear seat belt attachment point may not have been sufficiently welded. |
The dealership will replace the left rear seat frame, free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2015 BMW X5
Though there are far few complaints officially for the 2015 BMW X5, the recalls can be concerning. If that was not enough, users have stated how difficult it is to deal with the dealership on getting these recalls fixed as well. These recalls when not fixed have caused the engine to catch up on fire. Not to mention the water leaking into the vehicle causing electrical malfunction and even short circuits leading to fires. The 2015 BMW X5's common problems are few but still a worrisome matter nonetheless. We would suggest for you go for the 2015 Acura MDX. The Acura SUV has few recalls, fewer complaints, and still maintains a 5- star NHTSA safety rating.