Most common 2016 BMW X5 problems
Share of the 74 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW X5 complaints by model year
Best X5 years: 2016, 2014, 2017. Years to avoid: 2024, 2025, 2012, 2011, 2019. Compare all years →
2016 BMW X5 recalls (5)
Electrical system › Wiring › Connectors/plugs/receptacles
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.
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.
Fuel system, diesel
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755.
Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge.
Electrical system › Wiring
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 X5 xDrive40e vehicles manufactured July 29, 2015, to September 9, 2015. The affected vehicles have a Digital Motor Electronic (DME) control unit that may have a loose electrical ground cable, possibly causing an under-voltage condition which would result in…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the ground cable, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2016 BMW X5:
High pressure fuel pump failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2016 BMW X5 owners say
Electrical system all 23 →
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5 PHEV. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), but the failure persisted. The contact stated that a month after the repairs were completed, the coolant connector would stay on and drain the battery. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned off at night, the coolant connector overheated and the battery drained. The contact needs to jump-start the battery every day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer refused to repair the vehicle, stating that it was already repaired. The contact stated that the coolant connector damaged the EME (Electrical Machine Electronics). The dealer confirmed that the problem may be EME. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact stated that the failure is worsening. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the air shaft suspension and the cylinder were replaced, and other unknown repairs were completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure might be associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V919000 (Electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
Engine & cooling all 21 →
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5 PHEV. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), but the failure persisted. The contact stated that a month after the repairs were completed, the coolant connector would stay on and drain the battery. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned off at night, the coolant connector overheated and the battery drained. The contact needs to jump-start the battery every day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer refused to repair the vehicle, stating that it was already repaired. The contact stated that the coolant connector damaged the EME (Electrical Machine Electronics). The dealer confirmed that the problem may be EME. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact stated that the failure is worsening. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the air shaft suspension and the cylinder were replaced, and other unknown repairs were completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure might be associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V919000 (Electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the air shaft suspension and the cylinder were replaced, and other unknown repairs were completed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure might be associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V919000 (Electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, and the contact discovered an unknown liquid leaking underneath of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2016 BMW X5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 23 / 25 / 24 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 BMW X5 a good car?
Based on 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 X5 rates average: 38% fewer complaints than a typical year of the X5 at the same age. It is one of the best X5 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 BMW X5?
The electrical system — 23 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (21) and transmission & drivetrain (13).
How many recalls does the 2016 BMW X5 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2016 BMW X5, the most recent from August 13, 2024 (connectors/plugs/receptacles). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW X5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2014 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2025, 2012, 2011 and 2019. See the full BMW X5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 BMW X5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 47% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.