BMW X5 collision warning 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 Dec 3, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · OH

Three weeks ago the instrument cluster indicated a failure of the front collision avoidance system and said to have the vehicle examined by the dealer. I dropped it off two weeks ago and have been informed that they're having trouble updating the instrument panel and other component software. Other times the instrument panel would go dark for several seconds while driving. There is an open recall on X5 models produced from 01/24. Mine is not included as it was produced 11/23. Recall is 24V‑138

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 Nov 22, 2025 · Airbags, Driver assistance · FL

Because of this water intrusion, the following safety systems have malfunctioned or failed: • ABS and DSC (stability control) warnings • Chassis stabilization warning • Frontal collision and pedestrian warning malfunction • Airbag system warning • Loss of audible warning tones • MOST bus communication failure • Electrical modules intermittently shutting down or throwing codes These failures affect braking, stability control, crash avoidance, and driver alerts, creating a significant safety risk while driving. This is not normal wear or maintenance. Many BMW owners have reported the same issue: clogged or poorly designed sunroof drains that route water directly into areas containing critical electronics. Once water reaches these modules, it causes electrical shorts and safety system failures that require expensive repairs. BMW dealerships typically diagnose this as “water damage,” but the location of the drains and the placement of the electronics indicate a design flaw that allows a simple drain issue to disable major safety systems. I am filing this complaint because the water intrusion should not be able to cause total failure of ABS, DSC, collision warning, and airbag-related systems. This is a safety-related design defect, not wear and tear. I request the federal safety agency review and investigate BMW sunroof drain failures and their impact on essential vehicle safety functions.

Filed Jul 17, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · GA

Formally reporting a serious and recurring safety issue with my 2021 BMW X5. Over the past five months, I experienced three separate incidents where the vehicle abruptly stopped while driving, each time displaying a red car warning light on the dashboard. The red malfunction symbol was similar to the below image (found online) Description of the Issue: Each of these terrifying safety experiences occurred while the vehicle was in motion—all on surface streets—the car suddenly came to a jarring and immediate stop on its own without my input or applying the brakes. There were no cars close to or in front of me or debris in the road that would require the car to stop to avoid impact. The red car icon appeared on the dashboard (commonly associated with collision warning or automatic emergency braking systems). The abrupt stop caused my seatbelt to constrict, jarring of my neck and ongoing concern that it will happen again. Thankfully, no accident occurred, but the abrupt stops could have easily caused a serious or fatal accident, especially under highway conditions. My Concerns: This represents a serious safety hazard not only to me and my passengers but to other drivers on the road. The issue appears to be a malfunction in the automated safety or integrated systems, possibly involving the forward collision warning or automatic emergency braking systems. My local BMW dealership (Gwinnett Place BMW) has given me an estimate of $480 to perform 2 hours of scans/diagnostics to inspect the vehicle. No loaner car or transportation offered. This is a known issue and documented in online forums and comments. I have lost confidence and trust in my vehicle and feel unsafe. For a $70k automobile that should not be the case. Requested Action: I am requesting BMW investigate this matter urgently, outline next steps at no charge since multiple reports exist of similar incidents, and provide a clear resolution, including any necessary recalls

Filed Jul 3, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · NY · crash

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.

Filed May 9, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 80 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the blind spot warning light was inoperable, and the Forward Collision Avoidance assist sensor warning light was deactivated on the instrument cluster. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electrical system and harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the Lane Keep Assist System was inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80.

Filed Jan 27, 2025 · Driver assistance · 9,000 miles · PA

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.

Filed Aug 27, 2024 · MD · crash

I was turning right into a parking space when the vehicle suddenly accelerated and did not stop when I removed my foot from the accelerator and tried to brake. The car continued to accelerate through a low cinder block wall and did not stop until it dropped 3-4 feet off the side of the parking lot into the sidewalk/street. Fortunately I was not hurt and there were no pedestrians or vehicles in the roadway, but my car was deemed a total loss. The collision warning didn’t come in, and airbags did not deploy. I reported the incident to BMW NAmerica, who sent an inspection team to the collision center. After 7 weeks I was told that the vehicle data recorder captured ‘an incident” but did not record any information to verify that I attempted to brake, or to otherwise provide details of the incident. I was told the inspection found no mechanical issues and the all weather floor mat (installed by the BMW dealer) was installed incorrectly and must have gotten stuck on the accelerator. Furthermore, I was told that although the mat was a BMW product, it was installed by the dealer so the manufacturer was not responsible. BMW offered me a small goodwill settlement provided I sign a non disclosure agreement, which I declined to do. I’m reporting this to ensure you have a record should you receive similar reports from others. I received no written communication from BMW detailing the safety investigation.

Filed Feb 16, 2023 · Acceleration, Transmission · WA

The active and passive safety systems would disable themselves and I would get the following errors from the vehicle. 1. Rear Differential lock 2. Four-wheel drive system 3. Chassis stabilization 4. Drivetrain malfunction 5. Reduced driver assistance 6. Traction control reduced or off 7. Dynamic stability control 8. Dynamic traction control When these errors came up on the multimedia screen it would say that it was ok to continue to drive and to call and make a service appointment, no need for BMW roadside assistance. The following systems would be affected or turned off automatically. 1. Lane keep/lane departure assist 2. Blind spot monitoring 3. Cruise control 4. Forward collision warning/braking 5. Pedestrian warning/mitigation 6. Auto hold 7. Auto high beam assistant 8. Remote start 9. Side collision avoidance 10. Intelligent safety 11. Drive recorder 12. Back-up assistance 13. Auto park assistance 14. Active protection 15. Dynamic stability control 16. Dynamic traction control 17. Hill descent control 18. Speed limit information 19. Speed limit assistance 20. Park distance control 21. Cross traffic warning The warnings for these systems could come on right after starting the vehicle or anytime you are driving. What happens when the above systems are not working properly is the car can and will cut the throttle, that can be a temporary event or during the entire drive. It has happened to me where the throttle pedal and throttle response was working as normal then getting onto the freeway the systems went crazy and the gas pedal stopped working. So either the car comes to a stop or you stop the car. When stopped you have to put the vehicle in park, turn it off, turn it back on and put into drive and hope this resolves the issue so you can continue to drive. Sometimes it works and everything will be fine the rest of the drive, other times it doesn’t.