BMW X5 Complaints (2004)

64 consumer complaints on file.

#10583008April 15, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
AS PER THE BELOW BMW SERVICE BULLETIN, I HAVE A DEFECTIVE SUNROOF CASSETTE AS IT DOESN'T HAVE ADEQUATE WATER MANAGEMENT AND CAUSES WATER TO LEAK INTO THE FRONT AND REAR COMPARTMENTS AND CAN CAUSE ELECTRICAL CONTROL MODULES TO GET WET AND BECOME DAMAGED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD CAUSED BY THE POTENTIAL FLOODING. SI B 54 06 06 SPECIAL ROOFS NOVEMBER 2006 TECHNICAL SERVICE THIS SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN SUPERSEDES S.I. B54 06 06 DATED AUGUST 2006. DESIGNATES CHANGES TO THIS REVISION SUBJECT WATER LEAK FROM PANORAMIC SUNROOF MODEL E53 (X5 SAV), E61 (5 SERIES SPORT WAGON) AND E83 (X3 SAV) EQUIPPED WITH PANORAMIC SUNROOF (S402A) SITUATION CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF A WATER LEAK FROM THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE AREA DURING HEAVY RAIN OR WHEN DRIVING/PARKING ON A STEEP SLOPE FACING DOWNHILL. CAUSE POSSIBLE CAUSES: A.OBSTRUCTED OR DAMAGED DRAINS OR DRAIN TUBES. B.VOID IN THE WINDSHIELD URETHANE BEAD. C.EXCESSIVE GAPS BETWEEN THE GLASS PANELS AND THE PERIMETER SEAL. D.INADEQUATE WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN THE SUNROOF CASSETTE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561295January 24, 2014
SEATS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER GETS VERY HOT, EVEN AT THE LOWEST SETTING. WILL BURN MY LEG IF LEFT ON. FOR THIS REASON, THE SEAT HEATER IN NO LONGER SAFE TO USE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537036August 24, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
REAR WIPER AND WIPER FLUID PUMP STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAIN STORM. I COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW AT ALL THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR BY TURNING AND LOOKING BEHIND ME. VERY UNSAFE FOR THIS SYSTEM TO BREAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519727June 13, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, THE EXTERNAL DRIVER DOOR LATCH NOT WORKING, HAVE TO CLIMB OVER FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, THIS IS RIDICULOUS, THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SEE THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW. I HAVE HAD 2 OTHER USED VEHICLES WHICH BOTH HAVE LASTED ME 10 YEARS FROM THE DATES I PURCHASED THEM (AND THEY WERE ALREADY 8 AND 10 YEARS OLD. THIS IS MY FIRST BMW AND MIGHT BE MY LAST IF BMW DOES NOT TAKE ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES SERIOUSLY AND HELP CONSUMERS. I AM SO SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED BY ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED. THE DIFFERENCE COULD BE BIG BECAUSE THEY COULD LOSE ALOT OF WOULD-BE LOYAL CONSUMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511936May 14, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS CAME BACK FROM WORK TO HAVE LUNCH. CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVE WAY. AFTER 30 MINS OF LUNCH WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE, I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE IN THE COOLING FAN. I PULLED MY WATER HOSE TO STOP THE FIRE. WAITING FOR TOWING TRUCK TO COME AND TAKE IT TO BMW SERVICE. I AM SURPRISED TO SEE HOW A NON-RUNNING CAR CAN CATCH FIRE. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH BMWS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500594February 27, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THE SENSOR MODULE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT CONTROLLED THE AIR BAGS BECAME INOPERABLE AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 05/10/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498559February 19, 2013
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE ATTENDANT FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE UNDER THE SEAT FROM THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT, BUT NOT THE ACTUAL SEAT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498136February 14, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,300. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483889November 9, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRANS FAIL SAFE PROGRAM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND RESTARTED, AS IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481550October 23, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRUNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE DIAPHRAGM BROKE CAUSING AN OIL LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE AND AS A RESULT, THE CCV VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. ALSO, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE ARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465593July 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE'S GEAR DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO DISPLAY WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE GEAR CIRCUIT RANGE FAILED AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,160.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463390June 28, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNED PINK. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A FISHY ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE HAD BURNED THE ALTERNATOR. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433716October 31, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES (BRAKE LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS) HAS FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE THREE TIMES( THE LEFT ASSEMBLY AND ONCE ON THE RIGHT). ALL FAILURES WERE DUE TO CORROSION (VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT). THE LEFT ASSEMBLY FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2006 (AT APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES) AND AGAIN IN MARCH 2011 (AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES). THE RIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED IN FEBRUARY 2009 (AT APPROXIMATELY 68,000 MILES). THESE FAILURES ARE NOT LIGHT BULBS THAT BURNT OUT BUT COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULBS. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN THE DASHBOARD MESSAGE INDICATES "CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS" OR "CHECK REAR LIGHTS" AND I DO THE LIGHTS APPEAR TO WORK FINE (ALL LIGHTS ON WHEN SWITCHED ON OR WHEN BRAKES APPLIED). MESSAGE GOES OFF AND MAY STAY OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN RETURNS AND LIGHTS UP WITH EVERY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAR CARS IN USE AND ALL OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425743September 16, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424025September 7, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENTLY INOPERABLE. CHANGED BULBS WITH SAME RESULTS. APPEARS TO BE CORRODED AND/OR BURNED CONTACTS ON THE LAMP ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407054June 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
1. DID A 3 POINT TURN AND THEN PULLED ONTO A 45 MPH ROAD WAY 2. FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP AND I SKIDDED TO A STOP, EVEN AFTER I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. 3. FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE, WAS REPLACE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM 4. FORTUNATELY THE PERSON FOLLOWING ME WAS NOT TAILGATING SO NO ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405608June 8, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WOULD CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE COULD BE A FRACTURED BRACKET AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371269December 20, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE BATTERY, 4X4, AND TRANS FAIL SAFE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ONCE THE VEHICLE STALLED THE BRAKES NO LONGER FUNCTIONED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO COAST IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART SO IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371048December 17, 2010
SEATS
2004 X5, 58,000 MILE. DRIVERS HEATED SEAT BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER AND MY LEFT LEG/BUTTOCK AREA WAS BURNED. I SWITCHED OFF THE SEAT BUTTON, AND PUT OUT THE GLOWING LEATHER SEAT FIRE. THIS BURNED ME SLIGHTLY AND COULD HAVE CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BMW DEALER AND SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY. APPROX. COST IS 750.00 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURE. I SEE THERE IS A PATTERN OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS ITEM. HELP!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370715December 15, 2010
SEATS
DRIVER SIDE SEAT OVERHEATED AND CAUSED A BURN TO SEAT. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY FIXED THE SYSTEM BUT WANTED TO CHARGE ME APPROX$1000 FOR THE SEAT COVER. WHEN I RESISTED THE CHARGE, THEY CHANGED THE SEAT COVER AT NO CHARGE. NO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS WERE FOUND. JUST CHECKED YOUR WEBSITE AN THERE SEEMS TO BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN RALEIGH NC. I SOLD THE CAR IN 2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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