2001 BMW X5 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 7%of 160 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 113,744miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the steering of the 2001 BMW X5, 7% of the 160 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 113,744 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 3 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving at approximately 80 MPH steering gear broke. This happened with no warning. Vehicle lost steering control. Owner had the Bmw roadside assistance tow the vehicle to the Bmw dealership. This is when the owner was informed as to what had happened to the vehicle. Owner was told by the manufacturer that an engineering team would be out to inspect the vehicle. As of today that never happened.”
NHTSA complaint #10117287, filed 2005-04, 41,000 miles“Steering column binds when turning in either direction. The vehicle was taken tot the dealer who determined that the vehicle was operating within specs.”
NHTSA complaint #10083783, filed 2004-09, 62,000 miles“The contact owns a 2001 Bmw X5. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to operate properly. The driver coasted the vehicle onto the road shoulder and then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic potentially located a failure with the steering column spindle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10972004, filed 2017-04, 140,000 miles“The contact owns a 2001 Bmw X5. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized while driving at a low speed. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 01v173000 (steering). The contact was informed to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to plaza Bmw (11858 olive blvd, creve coeur, mo) where the failure was confirmed; however, the VIN had no open recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #11119625, filed 2018-08, 120,000 miles“Takata recall. The contact owned a 2001 Bmw X5. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, a coyote jumped in front of the vehicle. The contact attempted to void a crash and swerved causing an unknown rear wheel to detach from the vehicle. The vehicle then flipped over several times and crashed upside down into the side of a residential home. A police report was not filed. The air bags failed to deploy. The seat belt failed to restrain the contact who was ejected from the vehicle when the impact occurred. The contact sustained internal bruising that required medical attention. …”
NHTSA complaint #10967473, filed 2017-03Related recalls
- 01V173000May 24, 2001Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to an assembly error during vehicle production, any of the three bolts that secure the pulley to the pump may…Covers: BMW X5 2001
- 01V030000Feb 6, 2001Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. During assembly of these vehicles, the lower end of the spindle may not have been inserted completely into the…Covers: BMW X5 2001
- 00V341000Oct 24, 2000Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The nut that secures the axial joint of the left steering tie rod to the steering gear box may have not have been…Covers: BMW X5 2001
Related service bulletins
- 10036979Jun 1, 2010Bmw: a new technical process has been created for bmw to identify causes of steering complaints with a wide range of models.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 5% |
| 2024 | 3 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 3% |
| 2022 | 5 | 7% |
| 2021 | 3 | 3% |
| 2020 | 3 | 3% |
| 2019 | 18 | 9% |
| 2018 | 2 | 3% |
| 2017 | 3 | 4% |
| 2016 | 3 | 4% |
| 2015 | 7 | 5% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% |
| 2012 | 20 | 7% |
| 2011 | 18 | 7% |
| 2010 | 8 | 6% |
| 2009 | 6 | 4% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 4 | 6% |
| 2003 | 3 | 3% |
| 2002 | 6 | 6% |
| 2001 | 11 | 7% |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2001 BMW X5
31 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
18 complaintsAir bags
16 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSuspension
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 BMW X5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology