2020 BMW X5 vs 2021 BMW X5
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 BMW X5 | 2021 BMW X5 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 111 | 105 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 12 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 373 | 288 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 9 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 54,000 mi | 36,400 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW X5 | BMW X5 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 39 | 36 |
| Engine | 33 | 24 |
| Power Train | 17 | 26 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 15 | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 | 7 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 5 |
| Structure | 4 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 10 | 0 |
| Stalling | 9 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 7 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 6 |
2020 BMW X5
2021 BMW X5
Compare all BMW X5 vs BMW X5 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.