2025 BMW X5 driver assistance problems

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · MA

VEHICLE: 2025 BMW X5 MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT(S): 15,512 COMPONENT: Forward Collision Warning / Pedestrian Warning / Automatic Emergency Braking (City Collision Mitigation) DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: On multiple occasions, the Pedestrian Warning and/or automatic emergency braking system on my 2025 BMW X5 has activated with no pedestrian, vehicle, or obstacle posing any actual risk to the vehicle. These false activations have occurred both at low speed (parking lots/driveways) and at normal driving speed on public roads. In at least two instances, the sudden, hard braking created a real risk of being rear-ended by the vehicle behind me, endangering occupants of both vehicles. SPECIFIC INCIDENTS: 1. XXX, [XXX] (residential/local road): A vehicle merged into my lane from the left ahead of me while maintaining a consistent speed matching mine, posing no collision risk. My BMW slammed on the brakes without warning, nearly causing the vehicle behind me to rear-end us. This endangered multiple passengers in both vehicles. 2. Early XXX parking lot: While backing out of a parking space, a pedestrian was nearby but showed no indication of walking into the vehicle's path. The system triggered hard braking and an audible alarm with no actual risk present. 3. XXX, local street: A pedestrian was walking on the sidewalk with no indication of intent to cross the street. The vehicle braked extremely hard and suddenly, without warning, creating a risk that the car behind us would rear-end us. I have not been in an accident as a result of these events, but the pattern shows the system engaging hard, sudden braking in response to non-threats, including at normal driving speeds on public roads, not just low-speed maneuvers. This creates a risk of rear-end collision and startles/endangers pedestrians and other drivers. I am submitting this report to document the issue and make the federal safety agency aware in case other X5 owners have this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 15, 2026 · Driver assistance · AZ

While driving eastbound on [XXX] on XXX between approximately 9:29 and 10:21 AM, the vehicle suddenly displayed a red warning instructing the driver to “Take over braking function immediately.” At that moment, adaptive cruise control braking and automated braking assistance disengaged without warning, requiring the driver to manually brake while in traffic. This created an unexpected safety hazard for the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists. Prior to this event, the vehicle had exhibited repeated Driver Assistance instability across multiple service visits, including inconsistent adaptive cruise control behavior, braking‑related restrictions, and GPS mislocation affecting ADAS functions. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer’s authorized dealer across five service visits, including replacement of the head unit and multiple software resets. The underlying malfunction has occurred repeatedly, but the specific braking alert has not been reproduced by the dealer. No crash, fire, or injury occurred. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · NV · crash

Our 2025 BMW X5 50e was involved in an accident while slowly pulling into a parking spot at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. While turning right into the striped parking spot, the car suddenly accelerated, swiping the car parked to the right and continued on to break through a rung of the log fence barrier before manual hard braking stopped it from plunging into the canyon below. There was no audible alarm heard and apparently no emergency braking engaged to prevent impact with the other car or log fence. No airbags deployed. Emergency braking was enabled. Drive mode was Hybrid. With the grill damaged and a front sensor hanging below the damaged bumper. We are still awaiting the Park Ranger report.

Filed May 15, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · NJ

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated while the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's son drove the vehicle to a local gas station. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, however the vehicle had not been inspected.The tow truck driver informed the contact's son that there was a leak in the brake fluid container. In addition, the contact stated that prior to the failure occurring, the vehicle was serviced on April 30,2026 and the recall, the federal safety agency Campaign Number 24V104000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydrauli) was performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN was unavailable.

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Driver assistance · 30 miles · MO

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.

Filed Dec 21, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · NY · crash

While attempting to park forward into a handicapped parking space, the car lurched forward approximately 4 feet instead of braking/stopping. The braking system appeared to fail and the electrical/sensors/ADAS warnings did not engage. The vehicle drove over a cement parking block and struck a building shrub, signage and hvac unit.

Filed Nov 23, 2025 · Airbags, Driver assistance · GA · crash · 1 injury

On September 2, 2025, my 2025 BMW X5 xDrive50e was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. Despite the severity of the impact, the following safety systems failed to deploy: Front airbags Driver seatbelt pretensioner BMW Assist / automatic emergency notification Witnesses reported that my vehicle briefly went airborne before landing with the rear wheels up on a curb. I suffered neck injuries, and my vehicle sustained significant frontal damage. BMW later downloaded the Event Data Recorder (EDR) and confirmed: A frontal non-deployment event Three fault codes in the airbag control module (ACSM) post-crash The crash algorithm activated and reset ΔV reached approx. 12.4 mph longitudinal Forward Collision Mitigation system issued an acute warning 0.5 seconds before impact BMW states the “impulse was not sufficient” to trigger restraint deployment BMW has refused to provide: The deployment thresholds (ΔV criteria) for airbags or pre-tensioners Any engineering explanation for why restraint systems did not activate Any technical rationale for the ACSM fault codes Any escalation beyond Customer Relations All I have been given is an unsigned summary letter and the raw EDR file. BMW Customer Relations stated that engineering is “not customer-facing” and that no additional information will be provided. This leaves serious concerns that: The restraint systems did not function properly in a real-world impact. BMW is refusing to disclose the engineering basis for its conclusions. Consumers may be at risk if this is a repeatable failure mode. I am requesting the federal safety agency review this incident as a potential defect in the airbag, pretensioner, and/or crash-sensing system in the 2025 BMW X5. I can provide the EDR report, photos, BMW’s letter, and full correspondence upon request. VIN: [XXX] Mileage: ~10,700 Crash Date: 09/02/2025 BMW Case #: XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 23, 2025 · Driver assistance · NY

The rear cross traffic alert on this vehicle either does not work at all or, when it does work, it is ineffective in warning the driver. I brought the vehicle into my BMW dealer and they told me that it is operating as intended. In most cases, when backing out of a parking space or my driveway, I get no warning at all. In some cases, I did get some faint warning that was not obvious enough to actually get my attention. Many times, when I was backing up, I almost was hit by a passing car because I expected to get a warning and did not. There is a very large number of complaints about this problem on the internet. Unfortunately, I did not see these complaints before buying the vehicle. Had I known that this safety feature was ineffective in what it was designed to do, I would not have bought the vehicle. I am actually considering selling vehicle after only 7 months of ownership and taking a loss as a result of this problem. If there is a loss to be taken, it should be by BMW not me as the consumer. I believe that BMW has committed fraud with respect to rear cross traffic alert. They falsely represent that the vehicle has rear cross traffic alert which is a material fact known by them to be false. Buyers, to their own detriment, rely on this false representation in deciding to buy the vehicle. The buyer is not getting an important safety feature that they paid for and the absence of the safety feature puts them at risk of a collision.

Filed Aug 28, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V104000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 contact had not experienced a failure.

Filed Aug 20, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · MS

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V104000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes Hydraulic). The contact called the dealer, who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact a second notice would be provided when parts became available. The contact had not experienced a failure.