2003 BMW X5 power train problems
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2003 BMW X5 — 16% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“While driving, I stopped at an intersection. When I started to go, there was a loud grinding noise and the car would not move. I had to get the car pushed out of the intersection. I tried restarting the car and as soon as you put it in gear, you heard the grinding noise. I had it towed to my local…”
filed Apr 17, 2018
“As I was driving my bmw x5 I stopped at a red light and once the light turned green I begin to press the accelerator to move it didn't move and it made a loud rowing noise. U was then stuck in the middle of the hwy with moving traffic. I took it to the mechanic shop and they said it was the…”
filed Mar 20, 2017
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Power Train problems in other X5 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 X5 | 7 | 12% |
| 2024 X5 | 15 | 11% |
| 2023 X5 | 7 | 23% |
| 2022 X5 | 16 | 27% |
| 2021 X5 | 24 | 24% |
| 2020 X5 | 16 | 16% |
| 2019 X5 | 17 | 9% |
| 2018 X5 | 9 | 13% |
| 2017 X5 | 9 | 12% |
| 2016 X5 | 12 | 17% |
| 2015 X5 | 13 | 9% |
| 2014 X5 | 12 | 12% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 BMW X5
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.