Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

67 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
28

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 5 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

transmission slipping 6unintended acceleration 5premature wear 5
A recent report: xDrive all-wheel-drive has made the car slow down unexpectedly and produce a shudder, especially in slow corners and under gentle acceleration. The vehicle has also rapidly accelerated upon entering…
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xDrive all-wheel-drive has made the car slow down unexpectedly and produce a shudder, especially in slow corners and under gentle acceleration. The vehicle has also rapidly accelerated upon entering or exiting a freeway on ramp.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763265 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
13

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

sudden stalling 4electrical shorts 3software faults 2
A recent report: The high-voltage battery system (this is a plug-in hybrid) began intermittently displaying a "battery not properly charging" warning approximately 6 months ago; the issue would resolve after plugging…
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The high-voltage battery system (this is a plug-in hybrid) began intermittently displaying a "battery not properly charging" warning approximately 6 months ago; the issue would resolve after plugging in and charging. On July 14, 2026, while driving, the vehicle displayed a "critical battery failure - pull over immediately and drive slowly" warning. The driver pulled over and shut off the vehicle; the warning cleared and the car appeared to drive normally afterward. This warning recurred several times over the following weeks under the same pattern. On August 6, 2026, the same critical battery failure warning appeared while driving; this time steering feel and drivetrain response were abnormal, and the air conditioning and several electronic features stopped working. Our safety, and the safety of other drivers on the road, was put at risk by the sudden loss of full vehicle control while in motion. The vehicle has been at an authorized BMW dealership for inspection since August 7, 2026; a full diagnosis is pending. Dealer service staff independently remarked that two other BMW X-series plug-in hybrids came in that same morning with the identical warning and symptoms, suggesting this may be a widespread component defect rather than an isolated issue.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11755843 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
7

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

loss of braking 3software faults 3unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: I was driving my 2022 BMW X5 on the highway at approximately 78 mph when the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly applied the brakes without any obstruction or vehicle in front of me. A warning appeared…
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I was driving my 2022 BMW X5 on the highway at approximately 78 mph when the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly applied the brakes without any obstruction or vehicle in front of me. A warning appeared instructing me to release the brakes while driving. This created a dangerous situation and could have caused a rear-end collision. The vehicle has approximately 34,000 miles. This appears to be a malfunction of the automatic emergency braking system. This happened on 2 seperate occasions.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11728841 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
8

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

premature wear 3loss of steering 3
A recent report: The front Continental PremiumContact 6 tires, size 275/35ZR22, DOT [XXX] , developed abnormal and premature tread/shoulder failure. The condition included splitting, tearing, separation along the…
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The front Continental PremiumContact 6 tires, size 275/35ZR22, DOT [XXX] , developed abnormal and premature tread/shoulder failure. The condition included splitting, tearing, separation along the shoulder area, and exposed internal cords. I first raised concerns about the tire condition at about 20,000 miles. An alignment was performed at 20,142 miles, but the condition later worsened. One of the front tires deteriorated while the vehicle was being driven, creating a serious safety risk. The condition was documented with photographs and dashcam evidence. The vehicle was not safely drivable on the affected tire. The full set was later replaced based on BMW’s recommendation, at a cost of $2,358.75. A warranty/defect claim was submitted through the BMW / Dealer Tire / Continental process, but I did not receive a clear manufacturer-level inspection explanation or meaningful response. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11726969 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: When fully extended, the seatbelt will occasionally twist or fold as it is being retracted, sometimes causing the belt to be stuck or jammed in the retractor and rendering the seatbelt inoperable and…
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When fully extended, the seatbelt will occasionally twist or fold as it is being retracted, sometimes causing the belt to be stuck or jammed in the retractor and rendering the seatbelt inoperable and in need of repair. BMW considers this an issue caused by "outside influence" (not a manufacturer defect) that is not covered under warranty repair, even if this issue occurs during normal operation of the seatbelt.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11695356 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
4

Most reports here involve other issues. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

other issues 4
A recent report: Windshield cracks with slightest chip Happened twice

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11709532 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
6

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 2premature wear 1
A recent report: 1. What component/system failed, and is it available for inspection? The HVAC (heating/ventilation/air-conditioning) system — specifically the A/C evaporator and its condensate drainage — in my 2022…
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1. What component/system failed, and is it available for inspection? The HVAC (heating/ventilation/air-conditioning) system — specifically the A/C evaporator and its condensate drainage — in my 2022 BMW X5 (G05). It emits a recurring musty/vinegar-like odor, consistent with microbial contamination on the evaporator. The system remains installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was safety put at risk? The odor indicates mold/microbial growth in the cabin air supply, which is a respiratory air-quality concern for the driver and passengers . A strong odor on start-up is also a distraction that draws my attention away from driving . BMW's own bulletin attributes the odor to microbial contamination on the evaporator. 3. Reproduced/confirmed by a dealer or service center? I recently scheduled a service for next Wednesday. 4. Inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others? Not yet escalated to BMW corporate (no PUMA/TSARA technical case opened). Not inspected by police or insurance. 5. Warning lamps/messages/symptoms, and when they first appeared? No warning lamp or dashboard message is associated with this condition [true — odor triggers no telltale]. The symptom is the odor itself: a musty/vinegar smell fro

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11752075 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 67 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2021 and 2026, roughly 14 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.