Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 BMW X5. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Water Pump Connector May Short Circuit
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
- Consequence
- An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
High-Pressure Fuel Pump May Fail
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
- Consequence
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Risk of Shock or Fire from Charging Cable
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 330e iPerformance, i3 Rex, i3 Sport Rex, X5 xDrive40e, i3 BEV, i3 Sport BEV and 2019 i8 and i8 Roadster vehicles and 2018-2019 530e iPerformance, 530e xDrive iPerformance and 740Le xDrive iPerformance vehicles. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
- Consequence
- An electrical shock or a fire can increase the risk of injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the charging cable, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Lower Control Arm May Break
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X6 sDrive35i vehicles. The pivot bolt on the front lower-left control arm may not have been properly hardened, which may cause the control arm to break.
- Consequence
- If the lower control arm breaks, vehicle handling and control can be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower-left control arms and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Improperly Torqued Wishbone Suspension Bolts
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 SAV, X5 M SAV, X6 SAV, and X6 M SAV vehicles. Bolts that secure the front suspension may not have been properly tightened.
- Consequence
- Loose bolts can affect the performance of the suspension, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the wishbone suspension bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (72)
72 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 72 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 15 | 20.8% |
| Engine | 11 | 15.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 11 | 15.3% |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 15.3% |
| Power train | 10 | 13.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 9.7% |
| Suspension | 6 | 8.3% |
| Air bags | 4 | 5.6% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4.2% |
How 2018 compares with other X5 years
Best and worst X5 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 98 | 8 |
| 2015 | 152 | 6 |
| 2016 | 74 | 5 |
| 2017 | 74 | 6 |
| 2018 | 72 | 5 |
| 2019 | 191 | 13 |
| 2020 | 113 | 11 |
| 2021 | 108 | 12 |
| 2022 | 69 | 1 |
| 2023 | 33 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 BMW X5 suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,850
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 401 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 29 / 25 | $3,850 | 401 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 25 / 24 | $3,400 | 248 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | $3,900 | 426 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $4,100 | 434 |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 21 / 17 | $4,850 | 517 |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 19 / 16 | $5,150 | 549 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 X5 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 BMW X5 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW X5 have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 24V608000 (engine), 21V586000 (fuel pump), 18V652000 (electrical), 18V439000 (suspension), 17V727000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 BMW X5 problems?
Owners filed 72 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (15), Engine (11), Fuel/propulsion system (11) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 BMW X5 get?
EPA rates the 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 23 city, 29 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 BMW X5 get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 BMW X5 suv awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (18.8% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 X5 compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 BMW X5 model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (72) and the 2019 the most (191). The 2018 drew 72. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.