BMW X5 Complaints (2003)

100 consumer complaints on file.

#10377736January 17, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COLD WEATHER (NEW YORK WINTER). 2003 BMW X5, 3.0 ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. OIL SEPARATOR AND VALVE COVER GASKET FAULTY. THE CRANK CASE VALVE FREEZES, CAUSING OIL TO SPILL INTO THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES. 1. FEB 13 2008 2. JAN 28 2009 AND 3. JAN 2011. TOTAL COST FOR USED ENGINE $6,000 THIS YEAR AND $3000 IN 2008/2009 TO REPAIR. SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE NEEDED TO BE CLEANED 2008 AND DEFECTIVE DISA VALVE REPLACED 2009.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375523January 10, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1. THE WEATHER OUTSIDE WAS -10 DEGREES CELSIUS. 2. I OWN A 2003 BMW X5, 4.4 LITRE ENGINE, V8. THE CRANK CASE VALVE FROZE SHUT, CAUSING OIL TO SPILL INTO THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE - ONCE LAST WINTER (2010) AND THIS WINTER (2011). IT HAS COST ME A TOTAL OF $1,600 THIS YEAR AND $3,000 LAST YEAR TO REPAIR. 3. SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE NEEDS TO BE CLEANED, AND A NEW HEATER BLANKET WAS INSTALLED LAST YEAR, BUT FAILED TO KEEP THE VALVE FROM FREEZING SHUT AGAIN THIS YEAR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373812January 2, 2011
SUSPENSION
NO EVENT NECESSARY LEADING UP TO FAILURE AIR STRUT FAILED WHICH CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT STEERING AND HANDLING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE COMPUTER THINKS THE CAR IS IN A POSSIBLE ROLL, AND BEGINS TO COMPENSATE BY AUTOMATICALLY BRAKING. I HAVE REPLACED THREE AIR STRUTS - ALL IN THE FRONT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE COST IS APPROXIMATELY $2,000 PER. THE AIR STRUT OPTION WAS NOT ON VERY MANY BMW X5 AUTOS - BUT THEY ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN THEY FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACE THE FIRST ONE - AND WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT COULD BE "DANGEROUS". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373665January 1, 2011
SEATS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION CAUSING A HOLE TO BURN THROUGH LEATHER AND NEARLY CREATED FIRE. WHEN HEATER IS TURNED ON IT CREATES AN INTENSE AND CONCENTRATED HEAT ON SEAT BOLSTER TOO HOT TO TOUCH. REPLACEMENT FROM DEALER IS OVER $700 AND ITS BEEN REPORTED ON NUMEROUS FORUMS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355411September 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 BMW X5 4.4. WHICH SEEMS TO VIBRATE/JERK BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH. THE FIRST TIME (2009) I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TIRE WHICH I DID. THIS DID NOT HELP. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I AM LEARNING MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344973July 23, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE INCLUDING FAILURE OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM BUT OF CONCERN IS WHEN ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I WAS MAKING A U TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, COMPLETED THE U TURN AND MY ENGINE DIED. CAR CAME TO A STOP. I TURNED OFF THE KEY AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION AND ENGINE TURNED ON AGAIN. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT IN LIGHT OF RECENT ARTICLES THAT BMW HAS BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH NEWER CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328379May 1, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 BMW X5 CCV "OIL SEPARATOR VALVE" HAS ISSUES IN COLD WEATHER AND IS KNOWN TO FAIL. THE PROBLEM RELATES TO A NON PROPER DESIGN WHERE THE VALVE CAN FREEZE. THE ENGINE BLOCK CAN THEN BLOW OIL AND CAUSE FIRE. BEFORE IT BLOWS THE BLOCK THE ENGINE WILL HAVE "HARD STARTS" WHICH WILL PUSH FROZEN OIL THROUGH THE SEPARATOR. IF THE CCV FAILS IT WILL COMPLETELY BLOW YOUR ENGINE GASKETS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEIR IS A BMW X5 SERVICE BULLETIN THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. BMW WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE UNTIL IT BLOWS. IT IS A MAJOR MALFUNCTION THAT IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE TO FIX WELL OVER THE 3000 BUT VERY DANGEROUS. I THINK AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE BMW PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED CLOSELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294931December 8, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER-AIRBAG-DISABLED WARNING LAMP COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. PROBLEM FIRST NOTED IN 2007, BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND DEFECTIVE SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR, BUT REPLACEMENT QUOTED AT $800 NOTE - THIS IS A BMW MODEL X3 BUT YOUR WEB FORM DID NOT LIST X3 SO I SELECTED X5. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294708December 7, 2009
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT LATCH BROKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289363October 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW 2003 X5 STALLED 3X. ABS, ENGINE FAILED SAFE TURNED ON. IRVINE BMW REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. LAST MONDAY OCT. 19, 2009 I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 10 MILES IT STALLED AGAIN FOR THE 3RD TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285767September 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE DRAIN VALVE IN 2003 BMW X5 DISINTEGRATES DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IT IS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE AND IS A SOURCE OF LEAKS AND IF NOT REPLACED WOULD CASE THE RADIATOR TO DRAIN OUT, CAUSING OVERHEATING AND RUINING THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED ON BMW OWNER WEBSITES. HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=154553 HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=287894. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264312April 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
80K ON MY BMW X5 AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261467March 10, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AT THE TIME THE ENGINE STALLED; LIGHT, WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE EXHAUST. THE CAR AND ENGINE SEEMED TO OPERATE FINE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES PRIOR. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME UP OR SMOKE CAME FROM THE EXHAUST DURING THE 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. REGULAR ENGINE AND OIL CHANGES WERE PREVIOUSLY DONE. THE MECHANIC IS SAYING A NEW ENGINE IS REQUIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260726March 4, 2009
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN I GOT A FOUL BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. I HAD THE HEAT AND DEFOGGERS CRANKING SO I LOWERED THE FAN SPEED THINKING IT WAS COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE FORMING ON THE FLOOR OF BY THE PASSENGER SEAT. AT THAT TIME I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD AND IT WAS VERY COLD OUT. I TRIED TO CRANK IT AND NOTHING. THE SECOND ATTEMPT SOUNDED AS IF SOMEONE THREW SOMETHING INTO A FAN. I WAS TOWED AND ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE OIL SEPARATOR WENT CAUSING THE SPARK PLUGS TO FILL WITH OIL CAUSING THE MOTOR TO SHUT DOWN. BMW ADVISED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE A KIT TO UPGRADE THE WHOLE MECHANISM. I WAS READING EDMUND BLOGS AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM COSTING ANYWHERE FROM $1300 - $6000 DEPENDING ON THE DAMAGE. I HAD MISSED WORK THE DAY BEFORE DUE TO A SNOW STORM. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN CAUGHT IN BAD WEATHER OR ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH I TAKE TO WORK. THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T IT A RECALL? WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE IT IS? WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IN TRYING TO RECOVER MY EXPENSES. THE CAR HAS ALL OF 51000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259087February 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANELS LIGHT BEGAN TO DIM AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 03/09/09. *LJ AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS STAYED ON AND THE DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER FOUND COMMUNICATIONS FAULTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. UPDATED 03/12/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258028February 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, LOSING ALL POWER AND ELECTRICITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL SEPARATOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257406February 4, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I OWN A 2003 X5. I LIVE IN NY. WHENEVER THE WEATHER GOES BELOW 20 DEGREES MY DOOR LOCKS FREEZE. I AM ABLE TO PULL OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, BUT ONCE I GET IN AND TRY TO CLOSE IT THE DOOR SWINGS BACK OPEN. I HAVE PULLED THE DOOR CLOSED AND MANUALLY PUSHED DOWN THE LOCK, BUT WHEN I TRY TO EXIT THE CAR I AM LOCKED IN. THE LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN AND I AM STUCK IN THE CAR UNTIL IT WARMS UP. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I HAD TO CRAWL OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO GET OUT. THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO DOWN AND THE LOCKS WILL NOT ENGAGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. I HAVE HAD TO SIT IN THE CAR OVER 30 MINUTES IN ORDER FOR THE LOCKS TO UNFREEZE SO THAT I CAN EXIT THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. MAYBE THE LOCKS CAN HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROTECTIVE MATERIAL PUT ON THEM SO THEY DO NOT SUCCUMB TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES SO EASILY. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK SPECIFICALLY FOR THE WINTER AND FIND IT TROUBLING THAT THE WINTER IS THE WORST TIME FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES THIS WINTER SO FAR AND WE ARE ONLY IN FEBRUARY WITH MANY MORE COLD DAYS TO COME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257184February 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ON 01/15/2009, THE EXTREMELY CHILLY DAY, MY WIFE DROVE THE X5 ON ROUTE 2 EAST BOUND AROUND EXIT 58 IN ARLINGTON, MA, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM SUDDENLY EMITTED HEAVY WHITE SMOKE, BUT THE OIL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT TURNED ON AT ALL. MY WIFE PULLED OVER THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. 15 MINUTES LATER, SHE FOUND THE ENGINE WAS DISABLED WHEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BMW SERVICE CENTER ,I WAS INFORMED THE CAR NEEDS THE FOLLOWING REPLACEMENTS 'CRANK CASE VENT VALVE 'VALVE COVER GASKETS AND SPARK PLUGS 'TRANSFER CASE THE TOTAL COST IS $1360+$3125= $4485. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256885January 29, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS PAST WEEK CONNECTICUT HIT A VERY COLD SPELL. 0*F. CRANK CASE VENT VALVE FROZE. AS A RESULT, TREMENDOUS PRESSURE BUILT INSIDE THE CRANK CASE, THE OIL CAP BLEW OFF AND THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IN THE 2003 MODEL YEAR AND THAT IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM IN VERY COLD WEATHER. WE HAVE ALSO LEARNT THE 2003 MODEL HAS A DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE VALVE IS NOT INSULATED AND NEWER MODELS HAVE CHANGED THE DESIGN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PART REPLACED BY DEALER. WE WERE LUCKY OUR ENGINE DID NOT FAIL COMPLETELY. SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY BMW, AND IS A CLEAR DESIGN DEFECT. SHOULDN'T IT BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236304July 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH HE NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE RPM'S WOULD RISE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND WAS NOT IN A CRASH DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE VIN IS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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