KnownCarProblems2016 BMW X5 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW X5, most often about the electrical (31% of complaints, typically around 102,000 miles). It is 19th of 27 X5 model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2016 BMW X5 problems
Electrical
23 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles.
My 2016 BMW X5 e40 stalled and lost all propulsion power multiple times while driving in traffic, the first time at about 40 MPH and the subsequent times at around 25 MPH, forcing me to drive the car onto the shoulder and try to restart it. There was no indication of any kind and no warning light given prior to the…
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5 phev. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system), but the failure persisted. The contact stated that a month after the repairs were completed, the coolant connector would stay on and drain the battery. The contact stated…
Engine
21 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5 phev. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system), but the failure persisted. The contact stated that a month after the repairs were completed, the coolant connector would stay on and drain the battery. The contact stated…
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, and the contact discovered an unknown liquid leaking underneath of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign…
Other or unspecified
14 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 10,500 miles.
Upon first service, based upon whirring noise in front of car, service advisor advised that the front tires were badly cupped on the inside and outside edges and needed to be replaced. A second service advisor advised that the BMW X5 with the sports package naturally cupped the front tires and most people choose to…
BMW has in my opinion delivered cars with a safety risk due to distracted driving risk due to their poor software. The method for connecting to and operating an iphone (and perhaps other phones) via the radio and speakers is clumsy and distracting. For example, the software demands six or seven interactions with the…
Transmission
13 complaints · 18%Front driveshaft needs to be replaced due to excess wear, perhaps transfer case as well. Very similar to safety recall campaign 17v-138:from april/2017 (same issue, my model is one year older than recall notice), but BMW na will not cover the repair cost for this defect.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The vehicle was then taken…
Fuel system
12 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: delivery.
According to the manufacturer sticker BMW X5 5.0 gets 15/21mpg. I wish I get anywhere near that. I get about 11 average mpg. I took the car to the dealer twice and I called BMW north america and they said that is the way it is. You will never get what you see on the sticker. So when you buy a car never trust what they…
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The message "drivetrain failure" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel…
Visibility and wipers
5 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. While driving 60 MPH, the sun roof exploded. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,140.
While driving down the highway, without overpasses or cliffs near, the sunroof exploded outward, and raining glass down on to the passengers. The temperature was moderate. Vehicle has approx 6000 miles.
Air bags
5 complaints · 7%When the vehicle was stationary the air bag malfunction light came on after a loud pop noise was heard on the front passenger side of the dashboard. We then took the vehicle to BMW for a safety inspection. Please see attached initial report where they claim the airbag has failed and want US to pay $3000 to replace it.
Body and structure
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
My car BMW X5 was damages by accident, which was caused by the malfunctioning of the tailgate, which open spontaneously twice without warning neither by sound nor by command. The accident happened when I turned on the engine with attempt to move from the building garage. Allegedly warning system must be designed in…
I was driving my BMW X5 at approximately 9:30pm on interstate 93 going north in massachusetts, when I heard a explosion above my head. I immediately exited the highway to examine what had cause the explosion. When I examined the roof of the vehicle, I noticed a huge crater in the center of the sunroof with shards of…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 BMW X5 recalls
Electrical: connectors/plugs/receptacles
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on march 28, 2025. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc. (bmw) is recalling certain 2012-2015 x1 sdrive28i, x1 xdrive28i, 2012-2016 z4 sdrive28i, 528i, 528i xdrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 x5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xdrive, 328xi gran turismo, 2013-2017 x3 sdrive28i, x3 xdrive28i, 2015-2018 x4 xdrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Fuel system: fuel system, diesel
Risk: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18v-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18v-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on january 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in june 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on july 6, 2022. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xdrive, 2014-2018 328d sports wagon, 328d xdrive sports wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xdrive, 2015 740ld xdrive, 2015-2017 x3 xdrive28d sav, and 2014-2017 x5 xdrive35d sav diesel vehicles equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on january 14, 2022. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xdrive, x5 xdrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xdrive, 2015 740ld xdrive, and 2015-2017 x3 xdrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
Engine: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)
Risk: The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began may 13, 2019. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2013-2018 bmw 328d and 328d xdrive, 2014-2018 328d sports wagon and 328d xdrive sports wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xdrive, 2015 740ld xdrive, 2015-2017 x3 xdrive28d sav and 2014-2017 x5 xdrive35d sav vehicles equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
Electrical: wiring
Risk: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the ground cable, free of charge. The recall began february 6, 2017. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2016 x5 xdrive40e vehicles manufactured july 29, 2015, to september 9, 2015. The affected vehicles have a digital motor electronic (dme) control unit that may have a loose electrical ground cable, possibly causing an under-voltage condition which would result in the transmission shifting to neutral.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
High pressure fuel pump failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe21-021 on october 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (my) 2019-2020 ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7l cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, odi sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both fca and bmw, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by fca and bmw.during the investigation fca filed rec
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2016 BMW X5
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 BMW X5?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (23 complaints, typically around 102,000 miles); engine (21 complaints, typically around 115,000 miles); other or unspecified (14 complaints, typically around 10,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 BMW X5 have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 13, 2024 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the BMW X5?
- It is 19th of 27 X5 model years by number of complaints, with 74 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.