Collision Avoidance complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Vehicle: 2026 BMW X5 System involved: Parking Assistant Professional (automatic parking) Description of the incident: While using Parking Assistant Professional on my 2026 BMW X5, the vehicle performed an automated parking maneuver and reversed into a stationary wall, causing damage to the rear window, tail light, and paint. The maneuver was initiated by the automated parking system. During the event, there were no audible or visual warnings, no alert prompts, and no system disengagement prior to impact. The vehicle continued reversing until contact occurred. I did not manually apply throttle or steering input during the automated maneuver. The obstacle was a fixed, stationary wall in a normal parking environment. BMW North America later informed me that their investigation concluded the system operated as designed and that certain sensor limitations are described in the owner's manual. …
On [redacted], my 2026 BMW X5 (VIN [redacted], 22,314 mi) was damaged during an automated reverse parking maneuver by BMW Parking Assistant, with automatic emergency braking enabled. Three failures occurred. I have used Parking Assistant nightly for ~6 months to back into my home garage: ~180 identical maneuvers, zero prior incidents or warnings. Nothing about the garage or environment changed. Failure 1: The system calculated and executed a trajectory that steered the vehicle into the garage structure. First contact was at the driver side rear fender flare. Failure 2: No graduated proximity warnings sounded during the approach. The first and only sensor alert occurred simultaneously with impact. The alert at contact proves the sensors were functional, yet no advance warning was given. Failure 3: After contact was detected and the alert sounded, the vehicle kept moving. …
The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention camera display audio system failed to function as intended. The back-over prevention camera audio alert failed to beep when the vehicle was close to other vehicles or objects. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that a computer test was performed; however, the failure was not duplicated. Additionally, the technician test drove the vehicle, but the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact had a neck injury and stated that the failure of the back-over prevention system was an inconvenience. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30.
Driving home on a two lane road that is joined by a side road at a 45degree angle. A woman ran the stop sign and suddenly appeared on my road right in front about 40-50 feet away. The BMW did not show any visual or audible warning and the forward collision mitigation system functioned in a substandard way not mitigating the crash into the woman's drivers door. Damages amounted to 25.8k to my vehicle and took 48 days to repair at my local BMW dealer in Albany NY. BMW states to me that the system worked properly. If that was the case how come I had massive front end damage impacting about 30 mph. The BMW manual shows a frontal cross traffic intrusion and leads one to believe in the system. It is substandard and needs revision by BMW engineering.
The Integrated Brake System and Dynamic Safety Control both malfunctioned, not turning on. The car is totaled, so I don't think anything is available for inspection. There was water on the highway, and the car ended up going off the road into the grass and rolled over a few times before landing at the bottom of the ditch 100ft away. The car was not inspected because I was not aware of the major recall until I started looking into it. There was a snapshot of the DTC codes two weeks before the incident and there were codes specifically for the IB system as noted in the recall. There may have been one or two times throughout driving the car beforehand that a error light popped up, but then it disappeared almost immediately after.
The contact owns a 2024 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped when the warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was not depressed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.
The car safety features should not allow the vehicle to move with an open door. It should also alert driver with warning if passenger door is ajar before and when in motion. The car did not register at any point (sound, dash light or otherwise) while the car door was moving that the rear driver side passenger door was ajar and door hit something. Even after collision, the vehicle still did not send any collision notice, signal driver door was open or stop automatically at any point.
The car model I have includes an additional fee for a "drivers" assistance package; this feature doesn't work as designed. BMW likes to call it 'limitations of the system', but will not offer any repair, correction or refund for this "issue". Unfortunately, this issue is such a hazard and pops up so spontaneously, if there were any cars around I would have collided with them. BMW says this is called "greying". The systems doesn't recognize or sense the terrain and attempts to warn the driver, BUT the car will veer on it's own into the second lane or try to cruise into the median. I have this incident on video. It will also not slow to stop when exciting the highway offramp; there have been many times where it has actually dangerously accelerated. I will attach the slip from the dealership, which I have been to 3 times, with no solution. …
Related recalls (2)
Back over prevention › Software
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735.
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW X5 years have collision avoidance problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2024 (20), 2021 (15), 2022 (12), 2025 (12) and 2019 (11) model years. Collision Avoidance complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 2024.
Is there a recall for BMW X5 collision avoidance problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 21V-096 (software, Feb 19, 2021); 19V-684 (camera, Sep 27, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do BMW X5 collision avoidance problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles; 56% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the warnings (38 mentions), followed by the automatic emergency braking (36).
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.