BMW X5 sudden acceleration problems

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL · crash

On August 16, 2026, while using the Automatic Parking/Parking Assistant feature on my 2026 BMW X5 M60i, the vehicle was performing an automated reverse parking maneuver. During the maneuver, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated backward toward a vehicle parked behind me and struck it. The acceleration occurred while the Parking Assistant system was controlling the maneuver. Because of the sudden acceleration and short distance to the vehicle behind me, there was insufficient time to recognize the unexpected movement and intervene before impact. A passenger in my vehicle witnessed the incident. I reported the incident to BMW. BMW North America subsequently inspected the vehicle and advised that it performed multiple automatic parking maneuvers but was unable to reproduce the excessive speed. BMW stated that the cameras and obstacle-distance displays operated normally during its testing and that no malfunction was identified. BMW also provided the vehicle's EDR data. BMW states that the EDR recorded no event and therefore contains no speed, acceleration, throttle, brake, or other incident-specific data from the collision. Accordingly, BMW's subsequent testing does not establish what the vehicle was doing during the actual incident. BMW also initially advised that no video existed because Drive Recorder was not activated. However, my BMW ConnectedDrive account for this VIN shows “BMW Drive Recorder – Active.” I have asked BMW to clarify whether Drive Recorder itself was active but a particular recording setting or trigger was not enabled. The precise cause is UNKNOWN. My concern is a possible intermittent malfunction of the Automatic Parking/Parking Assistant system involving unexpected acceleration/speed control during an automated reverse parking maneuver.

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · WI · crash

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

Filed Aug 1, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · NC · crash · 8 injuries

I have a 2026 BMW X5 50E. I experienced the same malfunction twice in the same day. The first occurrence was when I was taking my husband to a doctors appointment. While parking the car and when I was almost at a stop the vehicle lurched forward and was stopped by the concrete curb. My husband asked me what happened and I said I don’t know. The second occurrence was about two hours later after visiting a second doctors office I headed to a lunch spot. I pulled into a parking spot and had come almost to a stop and once again the vehicle lurched forward with an even more powerful sudden acceleration. The vehicle struck a metal railing, bordering, an outdoor dining area. Once the railing was hit It pushed into a large freestanding metal continuous privacy panel. The privacy panel collapsed on people and caused multiple injuries. This incident endangered the safety of myself and the safety of many others. There were multiple injuries. I have not yet had the vehicle inspected by a third-party. I received no warnings on the car or through the app prior to the failure. These incidents occurred on July 31, 2026 between 10 AM and 12 PM. I have read and saved the error codes available on the car. There may be some that are associated with the incident. Also of note the incident occurred several days after a software update on July 26 at 1:30 AM

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 Feb 5, 2026 · Acceleration, Fuel system · FL · crash · 1 injury

We are reporting a safety issue with the BMW X5 xDrive50e model year 2025. I purchased this car on December 9, 2024, from BMW of Pembroke Pines, 14800 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines FL 33331. Within two months of purchase, we found that car has unintended acceleration while it is about to be parked at very slow speed. I reported this safety issue to BMW dealer in Pembroke Pines FL where I purchased the Car. The dealership kept this car of investigation. After about five weeks they returned the car with a comment on my invoice that car is working normally. On October 24, 2025, while on vacation to St. Augustine FL and parking at the visitor center SUV accelerated and hit the wall of the visitor center. All the airbags opened and saved us from serious injuries. The crash report of this incident is attached to this report. BMW failed to investigate this issue and put us and others at high risk.

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 Jul 26, 2024 · Fuel system · CA

Unintended acceleration when slowing to a stop. Car accelerated requiring significant brake pressure to avoid hitting the stopped car ahead. This has happened on two separate occasions. Checked to see if carpet or any other physical interference could have caused the issue. No issues found. Cruise control was lot activated and incident was a low speed.

Filed Apr 24, 2024 · Acceleration · CA · crash

I was parking the car in a parking lot. I had my foot completely off of the gas pedal while allowing the car to roll forward into a parking spot. The car suddenly accelerates and I could not slam on the brakes fast enough to prevent damage. This was the 3rd time this type of incident occurred in this car.

Filed Sep 27, 2023 · Acceleration, Transmission · 36,000 miles · NY · crash · 4 injuries

The contact owned a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while sitting in the vehicle and with the vehicle running, it suddenly accelerated on its own. As a result, the vehicle jolted into traffic and collided first with a bicyclist before continuing on to collide with the rear of another vehicle. The bicyclist sustained minor injuries. A pedestrian later reported that they were also struck by the vehicle, but the contact stated that she was skeptical of the validity of their claim. The air bags did deploy. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The driver and passenger were both treated on scene by EMS and later evaluated at an area hospital for injuries resulting from air bag deployment. The bicyclist and a pedestrian were both treated at an area hospital for unknown injuries. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and declared a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 36,000.

Filed Jul 20, 2023 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · WA · crash

The contact owns a 2022 BMW X5. The contact stated while entering into a parking lot, the vehicle accelerated on its own without any warning, causing the contact to strike some plants in the parking lot and causing damages under the vehicle. No one was injured. A police report was filed. The dealer was contacted but did not diagnose the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and sent a tech to diagnose the vehicle that stated no failure was found. The failure mileage was 10,000. The VIN was not available.