YearToAvoid

2021 BMW X5 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 28 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 BMW X5, 26% of its 107 total complaints for the year. No related recall is on file, and the median mileage at failure was 11,000 miles. Owners report sudden power loss and drivetrain malfunction warnings.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
28
26% of 107
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
11,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Drivers report a 'drivetrain malfunction' warning appearing on the highway followed by sudden loss of propulsion power.
  • Some owners describe the vehicle shaking or jerking before power dropped and speed fell sharply, sometimes limiting the car to around 35-40 mph.
  • Several complaints describe unintended or delayed acceleration, including one case where the vehicle accelerated on its own and collided with a cyclist and another vehicle.
  • One owner reported the hybrid system failing to accelerate from a stop despite the car showing 'Drive,' requiring a switch to gas mode to move.
  • Another owner reported a powertrain warning paired with a battery charging system error that later left the vehicle unable to restart.

When 2021 BMW X5 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 1, 2020, latest Sep 23, 2026.

2021 BMW X5 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2020Dec 2021Aug 2022Oct 2023Sep 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2025 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2021 BMW X5

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by X5 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20108 (6%)
  2. 201165 (23%)
  3. 201262 (21%)
  4. 201337 (23%)
  5. 201412 (12%)
  6. 201514 (9%)
  7. 201613 (18%)
  8. 201710 (14%)
  9. 201810 (14%)
  10. 201918 (10%)
  11. 202017 (15%)
  12. 202128 (26%)
  13. 202224 (35%)
  14. 20237 (22%)
  15. 202416 (11%)
  16. 20257 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2021 BMW X5 have?
NHTSA lists 28 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2021 BMW X5, which is 26% of the 107 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 BMW X5 transmission or powertrain?
No related recall is listed in the data for this problem area on the 2021 BMW X5.
At what mileage do 2021 BMW X5 powertrain problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2021 BMW X5 is 11,000 miles.
Are the 2021 BMW X5 powertrain issues linked to crashes or injuries?
Across all complaints in this problem area for the 2021 BMW X5, NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 4 injuries, with no fires reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.