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.
My engine is being effected by the recall. There is smoke and a burning smell coming from my engine. The Recall was issued March 2 2002 and today is January 11, 2022. My truck is driving worse daily and I can not get it inspected because it will not read my system.
While parked in my driveway, the car by it self caught fire and melted the entire fusebox, major wire harness, entire right rear panel was burnt and melted, rear headliner, and rear light housing. When I opened the door there was a huge black cloud of smoke inside.
Headlight wires are made poorly. Susceptible to heat damage. The wire insulation cracks off, leaving bare copper wires to touch. Therefore, the low beams, etc will no longer function. The only solution is $3,000+ on new headlights.
Lost power while cruising at 60 M/hr. Other cars almost hit me when I was trying to move to the side for safety causing lots of traffic. Then went to the BMW dealer (patrict BMW) in schaumburg il for diagnostic and found out there was a problem in the fuel system electrically. The wiring harness were melted, blew fuse and relay and they said the motor also burned out. I will attached document from the BMW dealer for moe info.
My 2009 BMW X5 is exhibiting the same issues listed on the NHTSA campaign number 13V339000 relating to the 'fuel filter heater/ possible fire' issue. Although the make, model, and year are exactly as listed on the NHTSA recall 13V339000 for some reason my vehicle's VIN is not listed on the recall note. I pleaded with the BMW dealership to repair this safety issue due to the fact that the make model and year are the same to no avail. My vehicle has a warning light indicating I have the issue with the heater as well as battery drain issues related to the heater staying on not by design. Please assist me with adding my vehicle VIN to the recall before someone gets hurt. Thank you.
- Daly City, CA, USA
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2009 BMW X5 35D vehicle started to display various malfunction codes going into limp mode several times in the middle of traffic loosing power or sudden shut down of engine especially going over pumps or rough and uneven surfaces smoke was seen coming from under hood. Vehicle eventually had a no starting condition. Last display on idrive said ignition malfunction. Mechanic found main engine harness at back of cylinder head was burnt from the engine heat causing the insulation on the wires to be melted and in turn welded themselves together, used wire harness were purchase to replace defective harness but they all had the same problem after contacting the dealer about updated harness to correct problem the dealer admit that they do know about this issue but there is no recall for it. This is a fire hazard and something should be done by the manufacturer to correct it new harnesses will be burnt just like the old ones if it's not rectified
The engine idler pulley bolt broke while vehicle was in motion on highway. Vehicle iost all power steering. Alternator warning lamp illuminated along with warning message "charging malfunction". the bolt had previously been replace in 2012.
Brake lights are failing causing a major safety issue. BMW issued a service bulletin on this problem (sb-10040177-8428 / si B63 10 09) in March 2011. This vehicle has been serviced by the BMW dealership many many times, but the service bulletin was never mentioned or executed. Warning lights appear on the dash - issue is present both moving and stationary. Https://static.NHTSA.gov/ODI/tsbs/2013/sb-10040177-8428.pdf https://static.NHTSA.gov/ODI/tsbs/2013/sb-10040177-8428.pdf
My 2009 X5 with 127000 miles recently indicated a burnt out brake light. While replacing the light, I found the rear upper right brake light was burnt out, the taillight itself is melted, and the socket is severely melted and scorched. On further investigation, the opposite side (left/driver's side) was also melted! checking online, this appears to be a common problem. I am afraid this could be a fire hazard and was surprised to learn there is not an outstanding recall on the taillights for this vehicle.
My truck BMW parking for more than 6 hours, fire without a known cause, remaining with total loss, I communicated via email with the BMW, after reviewing the internet and find the research done by you, and receiving the possible diagnostic of what happened "an overheating in the pcb valve that rusted and caused the truck to fire", and knowing the bells that are reaping to pick up the vehicles in the United States and Canada, but that they know should be extended to other countries, I put in I know the facts, receiving from them, exactly the BMW group Mexico, the answer that they had no responsibility for these events, because two years ago I did not maintain or wash the engine with them; facts that have nothing to do with the defect of the vehicle. Please ask for your help and collaboration, the incident occurred in cucuta, colombia. The police of my country made an inspection of the events, which resulted in the fact that there was nothing external that had caused the fire, which was the truck alone, which caught on and in very short terms was burned as a total loss. I really understand that this country has rules that can give me a protection, but the BMW is one, and the manufacturer must respond from any point of view, by vehicles that manufacture no matter where they are. Reviewing the models and years to which they are predicted to have this defect, is the X5 series, between the years of manufacture 2007 to 2011, and the truck of my property is X5 - 2009. This is the answer that the BMW invia "dear [xxx] : thank you for contacting the BMW group. Based on your email, we internally review the history of your BMW xdrive30I, VIN [xxx], with factory warranty expired in April 2011. We found a pair of keys reading, which shows lag in the required maintenance services according to factory specifications. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Vehicle is subject to recall 12V550000 due to idler pulley bolt which can break, causing accessory drive bet to dislodge and loss of power steering, alternator, etc. This vehicle's idler pulley and bolt were replaced as part of the recall 2.5 years and 35,000 miles ago, but experienced the exact same failure, again, last month. BMW usa and the local dealer were contacted, both refused to fix the issue, stating that the repair is only valid for two years. The new idler pulley bolt that was installed sheared off at its mounting point, just as the original bolt that was subject to recall did. It is clear that the replacement bolt is subject to the same failure as the original - worse, as this failure occurred in under 3 years and 40,000 miles, it appears that the "fix" is worse and more dangerous than the originally recalled part. In my vehicle, the pulley bolt snapped while the vehicle was being driven on a city street, causing a "bang" noise and the complete loss of power steering.
Sudden failure of water pump at 72K miles without warning while driving at 35 mph. Vehicle lost power steering, became impossible to drive. Pulled over. BMW said well known issue but BMW not willing to provide any assistance. Very dangerous defect. Takata air bag recall - listed on bmws website as available but BMW service center said still not available. Want to sell the car but cannot because buyers are aware of the recall and do not wish to purchase the vehicle. BMW also refuses to purchase the vehicle as a trade in. Will owners be compensated? rear air springs failed at 72K miles. BMW said known issue but not willing to provide any assistance.
The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The steering wheel became difficult to turn and the gear selector shifted from the drive position to the neutral position. Afterwards, the engine light illuminated. The contact could not restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic, but was not able to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Driving through the neighbor hood after some rain, ended up driving through a few inches of rain water, while the opposite traffic struck the same puddle, it caused the front of intake system right under the hood to suck in water causing the BMW SUV to light up multiple sensors, loose alot of power and 4X4 traction stability to act up. The rainwater that got ingested almost causing the engine to hydrolock or sieze up. The SUV became undepedable due to all the error codes acting lighting up and causing the SUV to run at low power.
The idrive system on the X5 controls the reverse camera and park distance sensors. My vehicle currently has 36,000 miles. The reverse camera and park distance system has a major lag when engaging from park to reverse when you would want to use it. The lag can be measured in minutes, and takes away a major safety feature. BMW's response is that the system takes time to warm up, but other cars I've driven by other manufacturers have zero lag.
The fuel gauge does not register "full" when the tank is indeed full. The needle will creep towards "full", but stops short of full. The car has run out of gas with the fuel gauge registering half full. Dealer has replaced both fuel pumps and fuel sensors/sending units as well as an electronic junction box to no avail. Likelihood of becoming stranded is high, in addition to never knowing how much fuel is actually in the tank. Must guess by keeping track of miles traveled after last fill-up. In addition, rear lift gate will not function (very) intermittently with "comfort access" option. Must use key to manually open the lift gate. Dealer has not been able to reproduce this phenomenon in the shop, but it continues to occur and has occurred since the car was brand new.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chandler , AZ, USA