2021 BMW Comfort Access and Engine Start Issues
Owners of 2021 BMW X5 and other models may experience problems with Comfort Access not working, preventing the vehicle from being opened, closed, or started. This manufacturer communication addresses these electrical and engine system concerns.
Also applies to
- BMW 228i
- 2021
- BMW 330e
- 2021
- BMW 330i
- 2021
- BMW 530e
- 2021
- BMW 530i
- 2021
- BMW 540i
- 2021
- BMW 740i
- 2021
- BMW 840i
- 2021
- BMW M235i
- 2021
- BMW M3
- 2021
- BMW M340i
- 2021
- BMW M4
- 2021
- BMW M5
- 2021
- BMW M550i
- 2021
- BMW M760i
- 2021
- BMW M8
- 2021
- BMW M850i
- 2021
- BMW X3
- 2021
- BMW X6
- 2021
- BMW X7
- 2021
- BMW Z4
- 2021
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Owners of various 2021 BMW models, including the 2021 BMW X5, may encounter frustrating issues related to their vehicle's Comfort Access system and engine starting capabilities. This manufacturer communication, identified by NHTSA ID 10206690, highlights problems where the vehicle might not respond to Comfort Access commands or fail to start, even with the key placed against the steering column.
Symptoms Owners May Experience
This manufacturer communication details several key symptoms that indicate a potential problem with your BMW's electrical or engine systems. These include:
- "Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access": The Comfort Access feature, which allows keyless entry and locking, may become inoperative.
- "engine start is not possible": The vehicle's engine may fail to start, preventing operation.
- "the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column": Even when attempting to start the vehicle using the traditional method of placing the key near the steering column, the engine may still not engage.
These issues point to underlying concerns within the vehicle's engine, electrical system, or steering components.
Affected Components
The manufacturer communication specifically identifies the ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, and STEERING as the components involved in these malfunctions. These systems are critical for the proper functioning of Comfort Access and the vehicle's starting sequence.
What Owners Should Do
If you own a 2021 BMW X5 or any other affected 2021 BMW model and are experiencing these Comfort Access or engine starting problems, it is recommended to contact your authorized BMW dealership. They can diagnose the specific cause of the issue based on the manufacturer communication NHTSA ID 10206690 and perform any necessary repairs or updates.
Source: NHTSA ID 10206690
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the common symptoms described in the 2021 BMW X5 manufacturer_communication?
- The manufacturer communication highlights issues where the "Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access", "engine start is not possible", and "the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column".
- Which BMW models are affected by these Comfort Access and engine start issues?
- This communication applies to various 2021 BMW models, including the X5, M550i, M8, M760i, M340i, 530e, 228i, X6, X3, M235i, X7, 330i, M4, Z4, M850i, 330e, 530i, M5, M3, 540i, 840i, and 740i.
- What should I do if my 2021 BMW is experiencing these starting or Comfort Access problems?
- If your BMW exhibits these symptoms, you should contact an authorized BMW dealership. They can refer to manufacturer communication NHTSA ID 10206690 to diagnose and address the underlying engine, electrical, or steering system issues.
- Is this a recall for the 2021 BMW X5 manufacturer_communication issues?
- No, this is a manufacturer communication (TSB), not a recall. It informs dealerships about known issues and provides guidance for diagnosis and repair. Owners typically won't receive a direct notification like a recall letter.
What BMW X5 owners report
Counted from the records in our database across 27 model years.
- 3,423
- Owner complaints
- 114
- Recalls
- 1,651
- Service bulletins
- 120
- Crashes reported
- 159
- Fires reported
- 132
- Injuries reported
The 2021 model year
112 complaints, the 14th most of 27 model years on file. Owners reported 10 crashes, 3 fires and 7 injuries for this year, which also has 12 recalls on file.
Engine and Steering and Electrical System, the system this article covers, accounts for 1,292 of 3,423 complaints (38%), including 55 for 2021.
Complaints by model year
| 2001 | 160 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 195 | |
| 2008 | 235 | |
| 2009 | 157 | |
| 2011 | 331 | |
| 2012 | 295 | |
| 2013 | 162 | |
| 2015 | 152 | |
| 2019 | 194 | |
| 2021 | 112 |
Most-reported systems
- Engine — 749
- Air Bags — 663
- Electrical System — 587
- Power Train — 475
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 335
Latest recalls for the 2021 model year
- 22V267000 — Visibility (Apr 2022)
- 21V156000 — Seats (Mar 2021)
- 21V096000 — Back Over Prevention (Feb 2021)
Recent owner reports about engine and steering and electrical system
My 2021 BMW X5 xDrive40i Sport (112,000 miles) intermittently fails to start, occurring on approximately 80% of start attempts, and displays the message "Repeat Start Attempt." The issue first occurred on September 8, 2026, while the vehicle was parked at my…
Read owner complaints →The starter motor malfunctioned, which then prevented the car from starting when it was hot. It could only be started after it had completely cooled down. Additionally, the fault code indicated that there was a problem with the starter motor.
Complaints are owner reports filed with NHTSA. They are unverified, and counts depend on how many vehicles were sold, so they are not a failure rate.
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