KnownCarProblems2000 BMW X5 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 BMW X5, most often about the visibility and wipers (24% of complaints). It is 26th of 27 X5 model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2000 BMW X5 problems
Visibility and wipers
7 complaints · 24%Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, power window devices and controls, windshield wiper/washer.
1.windshield wipers suddenly stopped working at highway speed during heavy rain and traffic putting me in a dangerous situation (problem was not caused by a fuse). 2. Windshield seems to continously degrade (mini-craters like it would desintegrate itself) ... Not caused by stone or other road related objects. Dealer…
Dt: the contact stated the windshield wipers completely and randomly failed to work. The windshield wiper quit four times in two years. The first time this happened the BMW dealership replaced the motor. It quit again about six months later. Since then the dealer has not been able to duplicate the problem; mostly…
Transmission
7 complaints · 24%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
The way the front drive shaft was designed caused premature wear . The vehicle did not move when in gear and a whining noise was heard in the transmission area. . The consumer believed there was a serious design flaw with the driveshaft. The driveshaft had a coupling on one end and a spline on the other end, the…
- while driving the 2000 BMW X5 at 40 MPH the transmission disengaged, causing the rpms to rise rather than dropping back into gear. The disengaging and dropping back into gear happened about 4-8 times within 10-15 minutes. The contact took vehicle to a european vehicle repair facility, and they stated that the…
Doors and locks
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: doors.
Tl 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…
Brakes
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 BMW X5 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's front air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed december 29, 2025. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning december 23, 2025. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 19v015.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2000-2001 x5 vehicles that may be equipped with a sport steering wheel containing a takata psdi-4 air bag inflator. The inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: This could initially cause some brake fluid leakage, and eventually lead to a substantial loss of brake fluid. There could be a noticeable reduction in brake performance if a loss of front brake performance occurs.
Fix: Dealers will install an additional retaining clip to further secure the brake line to the front strut. Additionally, if inspection of any brake hose indicates that it has experienced damage, the hose will be replaced. Owner notification began february 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, it may be possible for the front brake line to slip out of the retaining bracket located at the front strut. The brake hose that is attached to the brake line could come in contact with the tire and be subjected to wear and abrasion.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: Eventually, the brake pedal arm could detach from the bracket, rendering the service braking system ineffective, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will check the brake pedal arm pivot shaft for proper seating in its support bracket. In addition, a pin will be installed to secure the shaft to the bracket. Owner notification began august 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-332-4269.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, due to a manufacturing problem, the brake pedal arm pivot shaft could loosen from its support bracket.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Continued chaffing can cause the anticorrosion coating of this brake line to fail, allowing the brake line to rust through and leading to loss of brake fluid, failure of the rear brake circuit, and extended stopping distances, and a possible crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a rubber spacer below the plastic carrier to prevent sagging and subsequent contact between the oil and brake lines. Brake lines whose anticorrosion layer is found to be damaged as a result of contact with the oil line will be replaced. Owner notification began august 14, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: 4.4i sport utility vehicles. There is a plastic carrier to which the oil filter housing is attached. Oil supply and return lines are attached to the filter housing. Over time, this carrier could sag slightly. If this happens, one of the oil lines, which are armored with steel mesh, could come into contact and chafe a steel brake line located immediately underneath.
Transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
Risk: If this problem occurs, the ability to maintain speed in traffic and/or accelerate could be greatly diminished, possibly leading to a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission gear position indicator switch. Owner notification began august 14, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: 4.4i sport utility vehicles. Over an extended period of time, abrasion particles could deposit on the electrical contacts within the switch, causing a disruption of the electric current through the contacts. If the disruption occurs when the vehicle is stationary with the transmission in the neutral or park positions, the transmission will switch automatically into the emergency program, which is displayed in the instrument cluster via a warning lamp and a message, "trans. Fail-safe prog." in this case, the vehicle can be driven in lower gears only with limited engine output.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Risk: Operation of the vehicle, especially in rough road conditions, can cause the clearance between the collar and the steering rack to increase to the point where the input shaft can separate from the rack, resulting in a loss of steering capability.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering rack input shaft collar for proper positioning, and reposition is necessary.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The lower steering shaft coupling includes a plastic collar which fits over the lower steering rack input shaft. This collar is pushed down onto the steering rack and tightened during assembly. On some of the affected vehicles, the collar may not have been pushed down fully onto the rack at the assembly plant.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2000 BMW X5
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 BMW X5?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: visibility and wipers (7 complaints); transmission (7 complaints); doors and locks (3 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2000 BMW X5 have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 31, 2025 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the BMW X5?
- It is 26th of 27 X5 model years by number of complaints, with 29 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.