The Lemon Index2004 BMW X5.
The 2004 BMW X5 has too few complaints to score: 6 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 16 mpg combined. The best BMW X5 year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 64 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every BMW X5 year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 43K to 111K miles on the car (54 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 4
- transmission & drivetrain 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH 3.0 L ENGINES AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, IF THE VEHICLE IS IN FIRST GEAR, AND MOVING SLOWLY, WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HELD IN A CONSTANT POSITION OF LOW ENGINE SPEED AND WITH THE CLUTC…
- fuel system, gasoline 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE IN-TANK FUEL LINE MAY HAVE BEEN ATTACHED INCORRECTLY.
- transmission & drivetrain 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8 AND 12 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL (EMC) UNITS WERE NOT PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.
Show all 4 recalls
- transmission & drivetrain 2003
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THE RIGHT OUTPUT SHAFT HOUSING FLANGE AT THE ENGINE, AND THE RIGHT-HAND ENGINE SUPPORT MAY BE INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems BMW told dealers about
BMW sent dealers 81 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Retail delivery stop on 2004 my 8 & 12 cylinder vehicles produced may 2004 through july 2004
- Harsh 2-1 downshift
- Replacement of front outer cv joint
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $5000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
2004 BMW x5 steering vibrates and pulls slightly to the left, cigarette lighter came apart,center console opens on its own.
2004 BMW X5 owner · NHTSA complaint 10148676
More owner reports
Transmission shuts down while engine is still running. A warning light illuminates saying transmission has shut down.
NHTSA complaint 10065323
Quick answers
Is the 2004 BMW X5 reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 6 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2004 BMW X5 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (33%), electrical (33%) and visibility (33%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 BMW X5 have?
4 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 BMW X5 get?
16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2004 BMW X5 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 43,600 and 111,800 miles. The middle report was at 88,500 miles, from 54 complaints.
Does the 2004 BMW X5 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 33% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2004 BMW X5 cost in fuel a year?
About $5000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2004 BMW X5 have?
3.0L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl.
What BMW X5 year is better than the 2004?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2016 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works