2021 BMW X5 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 BMW X5. The most-reported areas: Electrical System (37), Power Train (27), Engine (24).
Key takeaways
- 106 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 37 | 35% |
| Power Train | 27 | 25% |
| Engine | 24 | 23% |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 | 16% |
| Back Over Prevention | 9 | 8% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 | 7% |
| Air Bags | 7 | 7% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 6% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 4% |
| Structure | 4 | 4% |
| Steering | 3 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 BMW X5 SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 BMW X5 SUV RWD | Not rated | 4/5 | 5/5 | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,electrical System - filed 2026-09-21
My 2021 BMW X5 xDrive40i Sport (112,000 miles) intermittently fails to start, occurring on approximately 80% of start attempts, and displays the message "Repeat Start Attempt." The issue first occurred on September 8, 2026, while the vehicle was parked at my residence and was confirmed by BMW Roadshow Memphis on Septem...
Electrical System - filed 2026-09-13
The starter motor malfunctioned, which then prevented the car from starting when it was hot. It could only be started after it had completely cooled down. Additionally, the fault code indicated that there was a problem with the starter motor. I also noticed that there was a similar recall before, so I'm wondering if th...
Electrical System - filed 2026-09-08
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that the AC was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and an independent mechanic on several occasions to repair the AC; however, the failure reoccurred after each repair. The AC was not replaced. The contact believed that the issue was caused by Hybrid system.
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More for the 2021 BMW X5
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.