2013 BMW X5 power train problems
36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2013 BMW X5 — 24% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“My vehicle has suffered catastrophic electrical failure due to water intrusion directly into the rear cargo compartment. This water ingress has destroyed vital electronic control modules that were designed and placed in low-lying, unsealed body cavities—an engineering layout heavily documented as a…”
filed Jun 26, 2026
“After driving for an hour I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the car, I opened the hood to and noticed the smoke coming from under the plastic cover which covers the turbo and catalytic converter In That area. After removing the cover I saw a bright flame coming from under the hood.”
filed Sep 3, 2024
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Water and debris may enter the front driveshaft's universal joint, causing excessive wear…Campaign 17V138000 · Mar 2, 2017
Power Train problems in other X5 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 X5 | 4 | 18% |
| 2025 X5 | 7 | 11% |
| 2024 X5 | 16 | 11% |
| 2023 X5 | 7 | 23% |
| 2022 X5 | 23 | 34% |
| 2021 X5 | 26 | 25% |
| 2020 X5 | 17 | 15% |
| 2019 X5 | 18 | 10% |
| 2018 X5 | 10 | 14% |
| 2017 X5 | 9 | 12% |
| 2016 X5 | 13 | 18% |
| 2015 X5 | 14 | 9% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2013 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.