2017 BMW X5
The 2017 BMW X5 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, gas and diesel large SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the X5 xDrive 35d, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 75 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X5 xDrive40e | Plug-in hybrid | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 83 kW AC Induction | 23 | 25 | 24 (29 MPGe blended) | 14 mi electric | 59 | 3 h | $3,400 |
| X5 sDrive35i | Gas | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 18 | 25 | 21 | — | — | — | $3,900 |
| X5 xDrive35i | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 18 | 24 | 20 | — | — | — | $4,100 |
| X5 xDrive50i | Gas | AWD | 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 15 | 21 | 17 | — | — | — | $4,850 |
| X5 xDrive 35d | Diesel | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 23 | 29 | 25 | — | — | — | $3,850 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38169, 37793, 37795, 37951, 38490.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X5 xDrive40e | 5–6 / 10 | Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i | 6 / 10 | LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| X5 xDrive 35d | 5–6 / 10 | Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3 L |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 300 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 8 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control
Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: X5 M, sDrive35i, xDrive35d, xDrive35i). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 192.5 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 76.4 in |
| Height | 69.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 115.4 in |
| Track, front | 64.6 in |
| Track, rear | 65.0 in |
| Curb weight | 4,791–5,320 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 50/50 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 7 configurations: xDrive35D 4-door SUV, xDrive35D Third Row Seating 4-door SUV, xDrive35I 4-door SUV, xDrive35I Third Row Seating 4-door SUV, xDrive40E 4-door SUV, xDrive50I 4-door SUV …. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2017 BMW X5 is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (6)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseFuel System, Diesel
Fuel System, Diesel
Engine And Engine Cooling
Tires
Air Bags
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel System, Diesel:Delivery:Fuel Pump — High pressure fuel pump failure open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both FCA and BMW, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by FCA and BMW. During the investigation FCA filed re
Opened Mar 17, 2023 · action EA23001 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →
Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific X5
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 BMW X5, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2017 BMW X5
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this X5 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries · 1 deaths reported
42 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 17,733 X5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2017: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 4
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
The car stopped without any warning 3 time in the middle of the road while driving my wife and kids inside the car. I consider very lucky this happened on county road two time and ones in the shopping center parking lot, instead of middle of the highway.
The contact owns a 2017 Bmw X5 equipped with dunlop run flat tires, tire line: sport maxx sp, tire size: 315/35/r20, DOT number: (unknown). The contact stated that on the day the vehicle was purchased, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer due to low tire pressure on the passenger's side rear tire.
The contact owns a 2017 Bmw X5. The contact stated that while attempting to move from a stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the rear suspension responded before the front suspension. The contact called an independent mechanic and scheduled an appointment. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were made aware of the failure.
I have a 2017 Bmw X5 35d and the transmission broke down without a warning while I was in motion on the city street . I lost the engine power but I was able to avoid an accident by pulling the car on the side .
While my wife was driving to work the vehicle lost power and stalled. She had just turned off the highway, and onto a side street. She was stuck in the middle of the road and had to be towed. The vehicle would not re-start and would not engage to neutral, so the tow truck driver had to use skid blocks.
Vehicle has been in for service 5 times with electrical issues in the past year. First, the airbag and safety restraint system failure occurred on 3 different occasions and I was told it was due to an electrical issue.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by BMW itself: 16 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 18 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 90 per 100,000 built. Every X5 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 34 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 17,000 and 56,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · BMW warranty extension 1171901000The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler (with EGR Valve) and the Auxiliary Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended…
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · BMW warranty extension B010520The vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on.
- 10 years or 120,000 miles · BMW warranty extension 6412900100The electric auxiliary heater assembly limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service…
- 15 years or 150,000 miles · BMW warranty extension 6127900700The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assembly Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years…
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every BMW warranty extension (46) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Fuel/Propulsion System.
- b011125 Warranty extension2026-09-22 · Engine
- The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler (with EGR Valve) and the Auxiliary Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 25 years without mileage limit as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
- B063226 Other2026-05-13 · Structure — Body
- Hood Return
- B061426 Other2026-02-03 · Structure — Body
- Rear Bumper Return
- B010122 Service bulletin2026-01-21 · Engine
- N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR
- B652925 Service bulletin2025-12-09 · Electrical System
- After updating the vehicle software with ISTA,the Central Information Display (CID) willshow only “static”. There was no issue withCID operation before programming.
- B011025 Warranty extension2025-08-01 · Engine
- The electric auxiliary heater assembly limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date
- B010924 Warranty extension2025-03-13 · Electrical System
- The High-Voltage (HV) Battery Assemblys Cell Modules Temperature Sensors (Internal NTC repair kit-specific) limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original in-service/first delivery date
- B010520 Service bulletin2024-01-23 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- The vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on. The following fault codes may be stored in the DDE: 24CE00 Hot film air mass meter: Ratio of measured to calculated air mass too high 27F000 Charge air hose monitoring in idle: Charge air hose fallen down 290900 Air system, air to EGR air mass flow plausibility: Measured air mass compared to calculated air mass
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 BMW X5 failed the emissions check on 3.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).
failed emissions
2,245 initial inspections of 2,180 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2017 X5 | Every 2017 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 3.5% | 3.7% | 2,240 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.2% | 2.1% | 2,245 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.36% | 0.25% | 2,245 |
| Miles driven a year | 9,947 | 10,048 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 92,145 | 93,238 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Common questions about the 2017 X5
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2017 BMW X5 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2017 BMW X5, 4 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 24V608000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2017 BMW X5?
NHTSA gave the 2017 BMW X5 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (47/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 BMW X5?
Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 BMW X5, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2017 BMW X5?
Transport Canada measured it at 192.5 in long, 76.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 69.3 in tall, on a 115.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,791–5,320 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2017 BMW X5?
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 BMW X5, most often about fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, engine. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 4 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2017 BMW X5?
The EPA smog rating for the 2017 BMW X5 runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2017 BMW X5?
The manufacturer has filed 300 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 BMW X5, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-22. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2017 BMW X5 do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 BMW X5 failed the emissions check on 3.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 5 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 5 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 6 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 75 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 300 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 3 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 12 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.