2018 BMW X5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other X5 years
- Fewer complaints than other years 20th of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW X5. That ranks 20th out of 28 X5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (15 complaints, 21%), typically at around 7,965 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 72owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 BMW X5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 15 | 21% | 7,965 | — | — |
| Engine | 11 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 | 15% | 2,900 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 15% | 6,965 | — | — |
| Power Train | 10 | 14% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 13% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 6 | 8% | 48,095 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 6% | 200 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 4% | 1,200 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 3% | 6,200 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 14,240 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | 1,400 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 BMW X5 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump
Problem: 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.
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.
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: 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.
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.
Equipment:electrical
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
Risk: An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X6 sDrive35i vehicles. The pivot bolt on the front lower-left control arm may not have been properly hardened, which may cause the control arm to break.
Risk: If the lower control arm breaks, vehicle handling and control can be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower-left control arms and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Suspension
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 SAV, X5 M SAV, X6 SAV, and X6 M SAV vehicles. Bolts that secure the front suspension may not have been properly tightened.
Risk: Loose bolts can affect the performance of the suspension, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the wishbone suspension bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- High pressure fuel pump failure (EA23001) — opened Mar 17, 2023, still open, led to recall 24V957.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Two incidents accured with 24hrs. My wife called me informing that the 2018 x5 was smoking from the front and making a weird noise, she stopped the vehicle and the vehicle started again. When she got home, i checked the under the hood, but could not see anything. But, can smell like burned wiring…
The windshield wiper reservoir leaks fluid. The reservoir has been filled by the dealership and I was informed it is a safety hazard to not have it repaired. After some research, this is a common issue in 2016-2018 BMW X5 models.
The driveshaft malfunctioned which caused the vehicle to lose control. Yes, it is available at the repair shop. Wife was driving with mother-in-law and [XXX] child at highway speeds (55) requiring her to maintain control and pull over without getting hit by other cars. Independent repair shop…
On August 4, 2026, my vehicle was involved in a direct frontal collision with a brick wall. I was driving with two minor passengers, one seated in the front passenger seat and one seated in the rear passenger seat. The collision resulted in significant front-end damage and a total loss…
I am reporting a recurring catastrophic high-pressure fuel-pump/fuel-system failure in my 2018 BMW X5 after BMW previously repaired the same type of failure, and subsequently performed the NHTSA HPFP recall on my vehicle. I am a 71 year old driver. This was a repeat catastrophic failure after…
Other BMW X5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 X5 | 26 | 2 |
| 2025 X5 | 62 | 5 |
| 2024 X5 | 145 | 8 |
| 2023 X5 | 33 | 4 |
| 2022 X5 | 70 | 1 |
| 2021 X5 | 109 | 12 |
| 2020 X5 | 113 | 11 |
| 2019 X5 | 191 | 13 |
| 2018 | 72 | 5 |
| 2017 X5 | 75 | 6 |
| 2016 X5 | 74 | 5 |
| 2015 X5 | 152 | 6 |
| 2014 X5 | 99 | 8 |
| 2013 X5 | 149 | 6 |
| 2012 X5 | 271 | 10 |
| 2011 X5 | 263 | 14 |
| 2010 X5 | 124 | 14 |
| 2009 X5 | 138 | 12 |
| 2008 X5 | 215 | 10 |
| 2007 X5 | 71 | 8 |
| 2006 X5 | 168 | 2 |
| 2005 X5 | 82 | 2 |
| 2004 X5 | 64 | 4 |
| 2003 X5 | 99 | 3 |
| 2002 X5 | 102 | 3 |
| 2001 X5 | 160 | 12 |
| 2000 X5 | 29 | 6 |
| 1999 X5 | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW X5 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 BMW X5?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 15 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 BMW X5?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 BMW X5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other X5 model years, the 2018 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.