2007 BMW X5: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2007 BMW X5
On the 2007 BMW X5, the failure owners report most often is airbag inflator rupture, with 21 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 100,000 miles. Overall it scores 66 out of 100, high risk for a 2007.
High risk for a 2007 — 229th riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. 119 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 23 named failure modes on the 2007 BMW X5, and the three most-reported carry 39% of everything filed.
Airbag inflator rupture leads with 21 reports and about 1.1 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other fuel system problem follows with 15 reports, median 95,000 miles.
Fuel pump failure follows with 10 reports, median 100,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into fuel (31), airbag (23) and brakes (16).
At what mileage it happens
49 of the reports on the 2007 BMW X5 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 100,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 20% by 50,000 miles, 53% by 100,000 miles and 88% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 90,000 and 100,000 miles, which alone holds 18% of the dated reports.
8% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, so this is mostly a story about older, higher-mileage cars.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 23. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 2 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 2 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.58, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: airbag inflator rupture at $0–$0, other fuel system problem at $300–$2,200, fuel pump failure at $600–$2,600 and other brake problem at $300–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
8% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 21 | 1 | — | 123k | — | 1.1 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 15 | 6 | — | 97k | — | 0.8 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 10 | 7 | — | 100k | — | 0.5 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 9 | 6 | — | 104k | — | 0.5 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 6 | 2 | — | 209k | — | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 4 | 4 | — | 140k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 1 | — | 112k | — | 0.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 43k | — | 0.2 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 90k | — | 0.2 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 3 | 1 | — | 37k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Oil leak | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 180k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 129k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 99k | — | 0.1 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 142k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 134k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 199k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 82k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 22 | 7 | — | 113k | — | 1.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2007 BMW X5 draws about 6.3 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 83rd percentile of complaint rates among 2007 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 18,988 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2007 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Airbag inflator rupture
Takata recall- my 2007 bmw x5 after start up and pulling it in gear (rather drive or reverse ) would automatically go back to park. Even stopping at stop sign or traffic lights it would go back to park. I called the bmw service center and they are suppose to reach back out to me for an appointment. I was in cincinnati a few days ago and nearly got in a accident because it stopped at a traffic light and went into park again when I stopped for a red light and went to go on green.
Other fuel system problem
Recently my vehicle has been smelling of gasoline. The cabin fills up with the odor. The outside of the vehicle smells when it is running or shortly after turning off the engine. In the last few months the smell has got worse. I only recently became aware of a recall specifying similar issues. I wanted to make record of my issue and complaint regarding my vehicle.
Check engine light comes on whenever the gas cap is opened when re-fueling and a noticeable burnt smell is noticed inside the vehicle. I have to have it towed to the nearest repair shop servicing bmw near me. Please see photos attached. I incurred about $2230 in repair charges. From then on, the problem hasn't re-occured.
Fuel pump failure
Car had 56000 miles on it, at 99500 motor went, then air springs, parking brake, takata recall,when the transmission, vacuum pump, and how the recall on the fuel pump. Today the I drive went out in total myself and the warranty company have spend over 24000. Dollars on a car that per bmw is the ultimate driving machine, more like junk!!! And no parts in sight to repair the air bags or the fuel pump. I think a class action should be filed. I'm 58 years old not 18 I take good care of my cars. The car value on kelly blue book is only 12000. We need help to make bmw stand behind where quality not their hand in our back pockets, no car that cost 77500.00 in 2007 should have all these problems. A ford or chevy would do better. I've been told that bmw knew there was a problem with the 2007-2010 x5 with the 4.8 I engine and I drive but never made it good, just ask anyone that owned one. My last one I think kia would hold up better!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way the car has 125200 now, I'm afraid to drive it, it just quits with no warning. *tr
Car had 56000 miles on it, at 99500 motor went, then air springs, parking brake, takata recall,when the transmission, vacuum pump, and how the recall on the fuel pump. Today the I drive went out in total myself and the warranty company have spend over 24000. Dollars on a car that per bmw is the ultimate driving machine, more like junk!!! And no parts in sight to repair the air bags or the fuel pump. I think a class action should be filed. I'm 58 years old not 18 I take good care of my cars. The car value on kelly blue book is only 12000. We need help to make bmw stand behind where quality not their hand in our back pockets, no car that cost 77500.00 in 2007 should have all these problems. A ford or chevy would do better. I've been told that bmw knew there was a problem with the 2007-2010 x5 with the 4.8 I engine and I drive but never made it good, just ask anyone that owned one. My last one I think kia would hold up better!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way the car has 125200 now, I'm afraid to drive it, it just quits with no warning. *tr
Recalls on the 2007 model year
NHTSA has issued 8 recall campaigns covering the 2007 BMW X5, affecting an estimated 51,307 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module and air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
59,965 vehicles 2020-01-15- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
4,007 vehicles 2020-01-15- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2012 X5 xDrive35d, 2008-2012 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2007-2012 X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSPI-2) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
83,016 vehicles 2019-01-14- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
41,808 vehicles 2018-01-09- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, 2009-2010 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2009-2013 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." BMW is also recalling certain 2007-2010 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X5 xDrive35d, X6…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
740,561 vehicles 2017-10-30- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
- Consequence
- An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
48,951 vehicles 2017-01-10- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2012 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, BMW is recalling certain 2009 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, and X5 M vehicles…
- Consequence
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed March 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
136,188 vehicles 2016-10-17- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have…
- Consequence
- The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
97,738 vehicles 2016-05-25- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5M vehicles, 2009-2011 X5 xDrive35d vehicles, 2008-2011 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, BMW…
- Consequence
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2007 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2007 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2007 — 229th riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 27 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2000 comes out best at 62 and 2024 worst at 84, with 2007 itself at 66.
If the model year is negotiable, 2000 and 2002 score lower than 2007 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2007–2015 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 66 and 2014 the weakest at 79.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2007-2015 generation, 2007 BMW X5 scores best at 66 and 2014 BMW X5 worst at 79.
What this page cannot tell you
119 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 119 reports, 49 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 41% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2007 BMW X5?
The most-reported failures are airbag inflator rupture (21 reports, median 125,000 miles), other fuel system problem (15 reports, median 95,000 miles) and fuel pump failure (10 reports, median 100,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2007 BMW X5 reliable?
It scores 66 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 229th riskiest of the 365 2007 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2007 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the BMW X5 is best?
Within the 2007–2015 generation, 2007 scores best at 66 out of 100 and 2014 worst at 79. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed