BMW X5 (2016) Recall: Risk of Unintended Neutral Shift Causing Crash
BMW is recalling certain 2016 X5 xDrive40e models from July 29, 2015 to September 9, 2015 due to a loose ground cable that may cause transmission to shift unexpectedly to neutral, increasing crash risk. Owners will receive free repairs.
Use caution until it’s fixed
If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
What happened, in plain English
BMW is recalling specific 2016 X5 xDrive40e models made between July and September 2015 because a loose electrical ground cable could cause the transmission to shift to neutral unexpectedly, raising crash risk. Owners should contact BMW for free repairs. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1226603-bmw-x5-2016-recall-risk-of-unintended-neutral-shift-causing.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1226603-bmw-x5-2016-recall-risk-of-unintended-neutral-shift-causing · Updated October 8, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #16V919000
Cite this page
“BMW X5 (2016) Recall: Risk of Unintended Neutral Shift Causing Crash.” GovInfoNow, updated October 8, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1226603-bmw-x5-2016-recall-risk-of-unintended-neutral-shift-causing. Based on NHTSA recall #16V919000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=16V919000).
Why it’s dangerous
The vehicle's transmission may shift unexpectedly to neutral due to a loose electrical ground cable. This under-voltage condition can cause the transmission to disengage, potentially leading to loss of control and a crash.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e models manufactured between July 29, 2015 and September 9, 2015 are affected. Drivers of these vehicles face the highest risk of unintended neutral shifts during driving.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for the 2016 X5 xDrive40e model with a production date between July 29, 2015 and September 9, 2015. The recall covers vehicles with a Digital Motor Electronic (DME) control unit that may have a loose ground cable.
- Brand
BMW- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact BMW Customer Service
Owners should call 1-800-525-7417 to schedule a free repair at a dealer.
Have Dealer Tighten Ground Cable
BMW dealers will tighten the ground cable at no cost to fix the issue.
What NHTSA says to do
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the ground cable, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 47 days.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Keep exploring
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #16V919000 (December 21, 2016)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 8, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.