Used car safety, rank #7 of 188
BMW X5 2WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 BMW X5 2WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Safest PickIIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 BMW X5 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 17, which is 65% below the class average. That places it #7 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 91.5/100, earning our Safest Pick designation.
What the BMW X5 death rate means
At 6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the BMW X5 2WD beats the midsize luxury SUVs average of 17 by 65%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 17, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 42 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a BMW X5. Its 95% confidence interval is 7β78. It is higher than the BMW X5's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the BMW X5 2WD highlighted. It ranks 4 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD | 2020-23 | 0 (0 to 25) | 95.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Porsche Macan 4WD | 2020-23 | 4 (0 to 11) | 93.0 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 11) | 92.6 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 2WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 6 (0 to 17) | 91.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC90 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 22) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 17) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X3 4WD | 2021-23 | 11 (0 to 23) | 85.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4WD | 2020-23 | 13 (0 to 25) | 81.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Cadillac XT5 4WD | 2020-23 | 15 (0 to 32) | 79.5 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new BMW X5
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current BMW X5 we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | BMW X5 | TSP+ | 94.7 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 91.5 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the BMW X5 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
4 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering power train, seats, visibility.
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Power train: automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk: Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge.
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Seats: mid/rear assembly, head restraint
Risk: A head restraint without a locking tab may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the second-row outboard seat head restraint guide sleeves, as necessary, free of charge.
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Seats: critical fasteners
Risk: A loose driver's seat backrest may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat backrest and if necessary, install an attachment bolt, free of charge.
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Visibility: windshield
Risk: An electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the windshield seal and as necessary, remove and reinstall the windshield with a new seal, free of charge.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
BMW X5 2WD: Common Questions
Is the BMW X5 2WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 6 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 BMW X5 2WD, 65% below the class average (17 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 91.5 out of 100 and rank #7 of 188 used vehicles, with a Safest Pick designation.
What is the BMW X5 2WD driver death rate?
6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 17. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a BMW X5 died at a rate of 42 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the BMW X5 2WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 17 driver deaths per million; the BMW X5 2WD sits at 6. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 4 by safety score; the top of that group is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD with a death rate of 0.