2013 BMW X5 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine overheating that ends with the vehicle stalling or dropping into limp mode, door locks that jam or lock themselves, and front driveshaft or transfer case noise and shudder. Complaints are spread fairly evenly from low mileage up past 100,000 miles, and several describe the failure arriving with little or no warning rather than building gradually.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine overheating and stall from water pump failure

   • 15 complaints (10%)
   • median 57,706 mi at 5.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe an overheat warning appearing, sometimes followed within seconds by loss of power, a forced slow-down or a complete shutdown while driving. Repairs are typically diagnosed as a failed water pump and thermostat, and owners say the warning can disappear again, which makes it easy to keep driving. Several note that the vehicle had no prior leaks or other signs. Reported from about 32,000 to 84,000 miles in the sample, often during highway driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the water pump and thermostat have been replaced and when; on a test drive watch for the temperature gauge moving and for the cooling fan running constantly. The coolant-pump settlement bulletins describe this symptom and coverage terms.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My water pump failed at 57,000 miles while on the freeway. The car stalled at 30 MPH until I could finally exit. Very dangerous situation. After leaving two messages on Bmw dealer voice mail, I was towed to nearest auto shop that I had used previously. $1450 in repairs for faulty water pump/thermostat (bad design flaw - electronic sensor issue? ) Bmw will not reimbusrse me since repairs weren't done at their repair shop, and have not issued a recall for 2013's even though they have for 2011-2012 models. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11362870, filed 2020-10, 57,706 miles

   “Suffered an engine kill at 65mph during highway driving. We received a warning that the engine was overheating approximately 10-15 seconds before the engine shut down and there was no power to the accelerator. Very fortunate to be alive. Car towed and problem per Bmw service was the water pump.”

   NHTSA complaint #11034031, filed 2017-10, 31,610 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Doors lock themselves or will not open

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • median 56,500 mi at 5.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2022

   Complaints describe doors that will not open from the inside handle, actuators that lock the car with the key fob still inside, and in a few cases the vehicle locking itself right after a door is shut. Owners report repeatedly pressing the unlock button to get a door open, and some say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or replaced a junction box module without resolving it. Mostly reported between about 15,000 and 105,000 miles, with no clear pattern of weather or driving conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Try every door from inside and outside, lock and unlock with the fob from a distance, and check that the comfort-access functions work; ask whether any door actuator or the footwell/junction module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On thursday, may 2nd, 2019, my wife and 19-month old son were at the park and returned to the vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot. My wife had the key fob in her bag. She placed her bag on the floor of the car, just behind the front passenger's seat. She placed our son in his car seat, strapped him and closed the door. The vehicle then proceeded to lock itself, thus locking my son in and my wife out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11205828, filed 2019-05, 96,000 miles

   “After a concert, I drove my X5 out off a parking lot with my wife. I could feel a little bit about something uncommon on the driver side door, but did not pay much attention because there is no sign on indicator board showing the doors did not closed. At a traffic light, I turned to right, and diver door opened suddenly. I have to slow down, and tried to close the door while driving, but the door could not be closed. The door lock did not work. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10721556, filed 2015-05, 17,700 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Front driveshaft failure and transfer case shudder

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 64,500 mi at 6.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2024

   Owners describe a loud bang or clunk followed by the front driveshaft detaching or its bolts failing, in some cases puncturing the oil pan or damaging steering lines. Others report shuddering or hesitation under acceleration that was diagnosed as a transfer case problem. Some note their vehicle was not covered by the driveshaft campaign even though the failure matched it. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 120,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   Recall 17V138000

   What to check: Ask whether campaign 17V138000 was performed or whether the front driveshaft and its universal joint have been inspected or replaced, and feel for shudder or hesitation during a hard acceleration test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Universal joint and drive shaft broke. Per technician at Bmw dealership exactly the same as following recall although my VIN is not covered under the recall: recall number 17v138000 recall date 03/02/2017 component power train:driveline:driveshaft driving on a city street when load bang, followed by increasing load noise. Pulled right over. Driveshaft slammed into oil pan causing loss of all oil and hydraulic steering fluid”

   NHTSA complaint #11115636, filed 2018-08, 62,000 miles

   “The contacts wife owns a 2013 Bmw X5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, a loud clunking noise was heard coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over the side of the road and discovered oil was emerging from under the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, they determined that the front drive shaft bolts failed and the oil tank was punctured. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 101,971.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322387, filed 2020-04, 101,971 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Passenger seat occupancy sensor and airbag light

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the airbag and seatbelt warning lights staying on, or the seatbelt chime sounding after a passenger leaves, traced to a failed seat occupancy sensor. Complaints describe quotes in the thousands of dollars for the repair and say the dealer declined coverage; some also mention the Takata passenger inflator recall and long waits for parts. Reported from about 65,000 to 120,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 19V017000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V030000 · DO NOT DRIVE2 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the airbag and seatbelt lights go out and that the passenger airbag status changes when someone sits in the seat; ask whether the passenger inflator recalls were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During frontal impact at 34+MPH, airbag did not deploy; driver hit steering wheel and passed out; brakes did not function properly either (was serviced by Bmw dealership less than 2 months ago); vehicle slid straight into car in front of it and brakes did not engage properly with driver pressing brake petal”

   NHTSA complaint #10913921, filed 2016-10, 67,000 miles

   “Occupancy seat sensor is malfunctioning. The part to fix the item is $1,500 including labor. The part is out of stock. So this is happening to many Bmw. Approval to replace has been granted on other Bmw models. Why isn't mine covered? The sensor is always on even if no one is in the seat.”

   NHTSA complaint #11265229, filed 2019-09, 120,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Oil consumption, leaks and smoke from the engine bay

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe smoke from under the hood or the tailpipes, a burning smell in the cabin, and low-oil warnings between services, with dealers diagnosing valve cover gaskets, valve stem seals or turbo coolant lines. Some reports describe heavy soot on the tailpipes and, in a few cases, an engine that stopped running. Complaints often reference the N63 oil-consumption settlement bulletins. Mostly reported between about 56,000 and 105,000 miles.

   Recall 18V3360006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt-oil smell on the dipstick, inspect the tailpipes for heavy soot, and ask whether the N63 customer care package or any oil-consumption repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My x-5 started producing smoke from under the hood while driving and while stopped at a traffic light. When I reached home, I didn't see the smoke anymore, but it smelled like something was burning. A few days later, the oil at minimal level warning light came on. I took my truck into the galleria Bmw dealership and was told that my valve gasket cover was broken and that oil was leaking out, causingthe burning smell. My last oil change service was less than 6 months prior to having this issue, at the same dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11315578, filed 2020-03, 68,000 miles

   “After 65,00 miles while driving the engine locked up and will not run. The car did not have an oil leak or excessive consumption, but heavy black soot was emitted from the tail pipes enough that has turned the rear tailpipe surround black. I had Bmw dealer look at this twice and they found it to be normal. A new engine is 23,000”

   NHTSA complaint #11103992, filed 2018-06, 65,000 miles

Buying note. Get a pre-purchase inspection that covers the cooling system, the front driveshaft and transfer case, and oil consumption history, and confirm which open recalls have been completed for the specific vehicle. Service records showing a replaced water pump, driveshaft work and any N63 oil-consumption repairs are the most useful thing to ask for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.