2020 BMW X5 engine problems

The 2020 BMW X5 has 38 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 27% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

Engine complaints

27%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

X5 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

24V576000EngineAugust 1, 2024 · 105,588 units

Defect

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5, X7, 2020 3 Series Sedan, X6, 2020-2021 7 Series Sedan, 2020 8 Series Convertible, 8 Series Coupe, and 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. In the event the starter motor fails, repeated attempts to start the vehicle can cause the starter motor to overheat from an electrical overload.

Consequence

A starter motor that overheats can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

What owners report

“The car caught on fire spontaneously when it was parked and locked. The fire started approximately 5 minutes after it was driven for 20 minutes. The fire started under the hood. There was light smoke to begin with which got worse after around 13 minutes and then flames started spewing out at the…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 2, 2025 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2020 BMW X5 have?

NHTSA has 38 complaints about the 2020 BMW X5 engine — 27% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2020 BMW X5 engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 24V576000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.