3.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 BMW X5 transmission problems

transmission problem

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2004 BMW X5 Owner Comments

problem #4

Aug 172010

X5

  • 99,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My bmx 5 (2004) stalls occasionally at low speeds. This has occurred 4 times in the last three months. The service center has been unable to duplicate the problem or determine the cause. I'm usually exiting a parking lot or school when it occurs and estimated speed is between 5 and 10 mph. There are no sensors or warning indicators before or after the incident and a diagnostic check at the BMW service center revealed no sensors or indicators activated. There were two recalls for BMW X 5 2004 models that were related to stalling but have not been associated with my particular vehicle. I'm concerned the problem will result in a crash.

- College Station, TX, USA

problem #3

Oct 062007

X5

  • 39,000 miles
I own a 2004 BMW X5, I purchased the car used from sam swope BMW in louisville ky # 502-499-5080 the car was certified and still under warranty with 37,000 miles on it. I also purchased a extended warranty as well. My complaint is the transmission is causing the car to be unsafe, at times when starting from a stop or roll it will cause the car to lurch forward unexpectedly I have complained several times to the dealership as well as BMW. The first time it did it the dealer said the software needed to be updated I paid over $150 to have this done they said it would fix it. For awhile I thought it had taken care of it but several months later it started doing it again. After more complaints to BMW dealer they did another software update and charged me again. This time it seemed like they restarted the performance of the car. BMW claims that it is not showing any malfunctions in the computer they claim there is nothing wrong, if that is true then why do they keep saying I need to update the software and keep charging me for this, when the transmission does this it all most like some has hit you from the rear. The car has 88,000 miles on it and has continued to this, I have actually altered the way I take off from a stand still to avoiding this from happening. There are a number of complaints about this issue if you look on line at edmunds cars.

- Prospect, KY, USA

problem #2

Aug 262005

X5 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles
Dear sir or madam- please see the email below which I sent to BMW of North America regarding recurring transmission issues with our X5. This is a major safety issue and I am asking for your help to get BMW to resolve this issue. ___________________ dear sir or madam- please let this email serve as a formal complaint for the transmission of our 2004 X5 4.4. I have lost both my patience and confidence in our X5 and feel that the safety of our children (2 1/2 and 16 months) is at risk as this is the primary vehicle they are transported in. All occupants in the car at the time the transmission slips experience a head jerking which in itself is unsafe. In reviewing this issue on the internet, there are hundreds of postings regarding the 2004 X5 4.4 transmission issues and this is an issue that BMW is fully aware of and has failed to fix. Our X5 has a transmission that is "slipping" and it feels like we have been rear-ended each time it slips. The X5 has been in twice for this issue in the past three weeks at sterling BMW and it has not been fixed. Sterling has reprogrammed the dme and rebuilt it with no success. It is going in for a third time today for this same issue and I expect BMW of North America to resolve this issue immediately. According to everything I have read, the X5 needs a new transmission and that will solve the problem. If this issue is not resolved immediately, we have an attorney and we will exercise our rights under the California lemon law. I will also be notifying the NHTSA today and filing a formal complaint with them over this issue as the safety of our children is of the utmost importance. Sterling BMW has been very good to deal with and they have tried to resolve the issue, but BMW of North America needs to provide them with the tools to resolve this issue. Finally, I would like to note that we are not new to the BMW family. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, [name removed] managing director deutsche bank. Fsb

- Corona Del Mar, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 312004

(reported on)

X5

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,000 miles
Transmission shuts down while engine is still running. A warning light illuminates saying transmission has shut down.

- Beverly Hills, CA, USA

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