The contact owned a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the contact became aware of sparks outside the driver's and passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact became aware that there were flames coming from under the hood. The contact stated that the fire had started in the engine compartment. The message "Add Coolant" was displayed, and there was an abnormal odor while the vehicle was on fire. The contact immediately exited the vehicle. The Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was completely burned and was towed to a tow yard, where it was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel). Additionally, the EGR cooler and the diesel particulate sensor were replaced under warranty; however, the repairs failed to fix the vehicle. The manufacturer, BMW, was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
2015 BMW X5 engine problems
51 complaints (34% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 103,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 51
- of this car's complaints
- 34%
- typical mileage
- 103,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Exhaust system1
- Engine: oil/lubrication: filter/screen1
- Cooling system: pump1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
BMW X5 engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2015 BMW X5 engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
- What is wrong
- 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 integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
- Risk
- The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
- 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. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 18V755000 · Recall details
What 2015 BMW X5 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Oil leaking from the valves cover onto the manifold and could cause a fire. I have replaced the valve cover on 11/03/2022 miles 107698 I pay 1493.21 for the repair. Last week 12/23/2025 the same thing started again. The oil is leaking again on manifold the car is smoking I am afraid to drive the car. I believe I should not be paying again for the same problem.
On 11/26/2025, I was driving on the NJ Parkway, Southbound, in the left lane. The Drivetrain Malfunctioned Warning Light came on and within second my car began loosing power. I did not notice any smells. My car stalled as I stopped along the left side of the roadway. I did not have time to maneuver safely to the right, onto the shoulder of the roadway. I maneuvered my vehicle to the left side of the road. My car was pinned against the guardrail to avoid being struck by southbound vehicles. The warning light disappeared. I attempted to restart my car, it sputtered a few time with black smoke coming out of the exhaust. I called 911 and State Police Responded to protect my vehicle from being struck. About an hour later, a tow truck responded and my vehicle was towed to the BMW Dealership, 500 Route 37, Eaton Town, NJ. I believe this catastrophic failure is connected to my vehicles EGR’s system. I had my vehicle serviced at Sterling BMW, Sterling, VA, in early 2025. During that visit I was told that my vehicle’s Auxiliary EGR cooler needed to be replaced. In October 2025, I took my vehicle to BMW of Westbrook, Maine, after I received a notice from BMW that they had extended the warranty on my Auxiliary EGR Cooler and it could be replaced if needed. I provided the Dealership with the information that Sterling BMW provided me about the need to have my Auxiliary EGR cooler replaced. Westbrook BMW examined my car and said there was nothing wrong the my Auxiliary EGR cooler. My vehicle will be looked at tomorrow by Eaton Town BMW. I suspect, I will be told the failure will be related to the EGR system.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the EGR module and cooler were malfunctioning and needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V755000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that the water pump remained running while the vehicle was turned off, causing the battery to drain. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the thermostat, hoses, and water pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted with the water pump continuously running while the vehicle was turned off. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing battery drainage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced twice; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the auxiliary water pump was continuously running after turning off the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with parasitic battery draw due to the auxiliary water pump malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
My 2015 X5 decided it was not going to start. The vehicle was was looked at by a technician only to determine thay the cam sensor was not active and the car would not start. Moving forward with diagnostics the sensor was ruled out as good. Moving forward the valve cover was taken off for inspection only to find that the cam side bolt was hanging only by the wall of the valve cover. the gear is still in place it has nkt jumping timing but the end of the cam bolt is and has been broken off at the end inside the man approximately a half inch of the end of the bolt is in the hole. I stopped the technician from moving forward with anything else. I recently looked up for a recall but do not see any for the X5 but open recalls on other models. please let me know if this is a problem with the six cylinder turbo and it under sized cam bolt thank you for your help and time.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle began to lose automotive power and reduced speeds and smoke was present coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was driven to the home and while parked in the garage the temperature gauge indicated that the engine temperature was extremely hot. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the coolant pump and coolant pump connector was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 151,000.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the contact observed smoke emanating from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road where he observed fire emanating from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by hand and the contact sustained hand injuries. Medical attention was not needed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that an EGR failure where coolant leaked and combined with diesel soot causing a fire. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Vehicle stalled in the middle of the road when in drive mode displaying "Drivetrain Malfunction". Couldn't start the engine or shift the gear. Vehicle was at the dealership one week before the incident for 'Drivetrain Malfunction'. Fixed bad fuel injector and was tested. My safety and safety of others was at risk if it had happened at higher speed. Suspecting fuel pump failure. Vehicle is with the dealer and the component should be available for inspection.
Questions about the 2015 BMW X5 engine
Does the 2015 BMW X5 have engine problems?
Owners have filed 51 complaints about the engine of the 2015 BMW X5, 34% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2015 BMW X5 engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 103,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2015 BMW X5 engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 18V755000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW X5 have bad engine?
The BMW X5 model years with the most engine complaints are 2011 (118 complaints), 2012 (104 complaints) and 2008 (81 complaints).
Other 2015 BMW X5 problems
Fuel system 50Airbags 14Transmission 14Electrical 13Steering 7Body 6Seat belts 6Suspension 5Driver assistance 4Brakes 3Lights 3Seats 2Visibility 2Acceleration 1Wheels 1
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