MODELYEARINDEX

BMW X5

1,152 complaints across 12 scored model years and 73 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · BMW X5 Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2021 vs model median 2.5×
Model median3× median
Electrical 24
Driver Assist 15
Engine 14
Avoid

2011 · 2021

Best

2010 · 2016

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.33× 19 B
2011
1.71× 86 D
2012
1.55× 68 D
2013
1.23× 78 D
2014
0.90× 41 C
2015
1.05× 48 D
2016
0.34× 21 B
2017
0.95× 44 D
2018
0.68× 36 C
2019
1.31× 75 D
2020
0.66× 35 C
2021
2.52× 106 F
2022 P
2.13× 106 D
2023 P
0.91× 47 C
2024 P
3.67× 245 F
2025 P
1.96× 97 F

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

Recalls

73 campaigns on record, 5 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
17V683000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV) 2010, 2011 740,561
24V608000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP 2016–2018 720,796
24V104000 ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2024, 2025 266,716
19V684000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2019, 2020 257,473
23V707000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 2010, 2011 157,796
25V644000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY 2019, 2020 145,102
16V746000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2010, 2011 136,188
17V138000 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT 2011–2013 121,909

+ 65 further campaigns

Others in Midsize SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura MDX
20162020
C
Audi Q7
20172021
C
Audi Q8
2019
C
BMW X6
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Traverse
20102011
C
Dodge Durango
20112012
C
Dodge Journey
20142015
C
Dodge Nitro
none flagged
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2021 X5
Complaints in window
106
Severity-weighted
212.5
Model median (weighted)
84
vs model median
2.52×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
12
Open investigations
0
Score 22.1 F