The Lemon Index2005 BMW X5.
The 2005 BMW X5 has too few complaints to score: 4 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 3 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 82 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every BMW X5 year. 2005 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 61K to 115K miles on the car (64 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 3
- equipment 2007
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BMW BIKE CARRIERS, P/N 82110393954, SOLD FOR USE ON MY 2005 BMW X3 AND X5 VEHICLES.
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
- brakes 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ATTACHMENT OF THE BRAKE LINE SUPPORT BRACKET WITHIN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL WAS NOT WELDED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.
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 88 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Harsh 2-1 downshift
- Replacement of front outer cv joint
- Driveability complaints due to cooling fan relay failure
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.
Quick answers
Is the 2005 BMW X5 reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 4 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2005 BMW X5 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (25%), tires (25%) and lights (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 BMW X5 have?
3 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 BMW X5 get?
16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 BMW X5 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 61,000 and 115,000 miles. The middle report was at 88,500 miles, from 64 complaints.
Does the 2005 BMW X5 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 25% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 BMW X5 cost in fuel a year?
About $5000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 BMW X5 have?
3.0L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl.
What BMW X5 year is better than the 2005?
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