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Engine coolingPart report

2009 BMW X5 Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
4%of 138 total for the year
Median mileage
94,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2009 BMW X5, 4% of the 138 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 94,500 miles. 2 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.

“This issue is for a 2009 Bmw X5 3.5d (diesel) SUV. When slowing down to a near or rolling stop at approximately 2 MPH and then attempting to accelerate quickly while turning, the vehicle continues to roll without power for up to 3 seconds. Scenario: pull up to an intersection for a right or left turn, slow to a near stop, then accelerate. The vehicle just rolls forward when crossing traffic or attempting to pull away quickly. Meanwhile, traffic is approaching you at speed and an accident could easily occur. …”

NHTSA complaint #10305662, filed 2010-02, 5,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the engine seized. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was a certified BMW mechanic, where it was diagnosed with VANOS bolts failure. The contact was informed that the VANOS bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. …”

NHTSA complaint #11668182, filed 2025-06, 175,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated that after pulling into a parking space there was white smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle and the engine started overheating. The contact added coolant immediately. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure had occurred twice. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump, thermostat, and heater hoses had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the coolant had leaked out and the engine started overheating. …”

NHTSA complaint #11645921, filed 2025-03, 230,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2009 Bmw X5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55-65 MPH, the vehicle would suddenly decelerate to about 25 MPH. The vehicle would then completely shut down with no power steering or power brakes. After the failure, the check engine light would illuminate. The contact pulled the emergency brake and the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership. The dealer stated that they made repairs to the computer. The contact experienced the same failure the day after receiving the vehicle from the dealer. …”

NHTSA complaint #10354607, filed 2010-09, 14,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”

NHTSA complaint #11496807, filed 2022-12

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202512%
202234%
202176%
20201513%
2019126%
2018912%
201745%
201679%
201596%
201455%
201364%
2012124%
2011104%
20101310%
200964%
2008167%
200734%
200674%
200556%
200423%
20032424%
20022121%
20013119%

Other parts of the 2009 BMW X5

Fuel system
42 complaints
Air bags
41 complaints
Engine
30 complaints
Electrical system
16 complaints
Brakes
10 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
10 complaints
Other or unknown
9 complaints
Seats
9 complaints
Steering
6 complaints
Exterior lighting
5 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 BMW X5

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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