BMW X5 Complaints (2002)

102 consumer complaints on file.

#10820759January 18, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ONE DAY I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO OUT, WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR THE LATCH WOULDN'T CATCH. I KEPT TRYING AND MY DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. AFTER WAITING A FEW HOURS I TRIED AGAIN THIS TIME STANDING OUTSIDE. THE DOOR DID CLOSE, BUT I COULD NOT GET IT BACK OPEN. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO GET IN FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND I DID, BUT THIS DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT CLOSE. I FINALLY DID GET IT CLOSE, BUT IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO GET IN FROM THE BACK SEAT AND CRAWL OVER TO THE FRONT SO THAT I COULD TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALER. WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THE LATCH WAS PROBABLY FROZEN. SO DOES THIS MEAN YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE A BMW IN WARM WEATHER? HE ALSO SAID IT COULD BE A BUILDUP OF DIRT. SO I GUESS BOTH MY DOORS GOT A BUILDUP OF DIRT AT THE SAME TIME. SO HE SAID WE WOULD PROBABLY JUST REPLACE THE LATCH. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WHY WON'T BMW TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET OF THEIR CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763466September 14, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735800July 22, 2015
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL FAILED DUE TO A THERMAL EVENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,003.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726659June 22, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014 MY 2002 BMW X5 FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED IN THE DOWN POSITION. UPON TAKING IT INTO MY ORIGINAL DEALER, IT WAS MANUALLY RAISED-CLOSED AND I HAD TO RETURN DAYS LATER FOR INSTALLATION OF A NEW "REGULATOR" AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS "UNUSUAL". NOW, NINE MONTHS LATER AND LESS THAN AN ADDITIONAL 5,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE (76,710) THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAVE FAILED; THE FRONT MANUALLY TWEAKED INTO THE CLOSED POSITION AND THE REAR OPENING COVERED WITH CARDBOARD EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND THEFT WHILE THE SAME ORIGINAL DEALER AWAITS PARTS DELIVERY FOUR DAYS FROM NOW BEFORE SCHEDULED REPAIR...AT I EXPECT ANOTHER COST TO ME OF ABOUT $1000!...I HAVE REVIEWED THE MANY COMPLAINTS IN THIS SECTION ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE!! TO WIT, IT WAS WELL SAID BY THIS ONE QUOTED HERE: "2002 BMW X5 WINDOW REGULATOR. CAR HAS 41K MILES AND ALREADY GOING ON 5TH WINDOW REGULATOR ISSUE. ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE EXPLANATIONS FROM THE DEALER INCLUDING LACK OR USE OR TOO MUCH USE BUT THIS ISSUE OCCURS ON ALL BMW MAKES AND MODELS. BMW STILL HAS NO SOLUTION THAT FIXES THIS ISSUE PERMANENTLY AND CHARGES $300 TO $600 FOR EACH WINDOW DEPENDING ON FRONT OR REAR. TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A BAD DESIGN. *TR" I AGREE!!...IT IS TIME FOR A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. NOW.....UPDATED 08/17/15 *BF UPDATED 08/20/15*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689794February 22, 2015
AIR BAGS
DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL 70 MPH AND WE HEARD A BIT BAMMMMMM AND SMOKED COMING OUT OF THE CRACK OF THE DOOR . IT TOOK A MINUTE TO REALIZE THAT THE AIR BAGS HAS JUST WENT OFF FOR NOT APPARENT REASON. SCARE THE [XXX] OUT OFF ME!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680661February 2, 2015
ENGINE
I REPLACED THE OIL SEPARATOR AT BMW DEALERSHIP 1/10/08 BECAUSE OIL WAS BECOMING POLLUTED WITH WATER EVEN AFTER I EXPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP PREVIOUS TIMES THE OIL LOOKED MILKY WHEN I DID A DIPSTICK CHECK. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE PART FAILED BEFORE IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND A CONDITION KNOWN AS HYDROLOCK, WHICH COULD CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE. LAST WEEK IN VERY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS,1/13,2015 MY CARS CABIN FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE ENGINE SPOILED WITH SMOKING OIL, I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS THE OIL SEPARATOR AGAIN. THE PART IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE CRANKCASE VENT VALVE I HAD IT CHANGED/REPAIRED, IT IS EXPENSIVE AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS VEHICLE DAMAGE AND ACCIDENTS. I THINK FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TWICE POINTS TO A DANGEROUS VULNERABLE PART. THIS TIME MY CAR COULD HAVE EASILY CAUGHT ON FIRE, THANKFULLY I WAS CLOSE TO THE REPAIR SHOP.INCIDENTLY THEY HAD THREE BMW'S ASIDE FROM MINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO THE TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS WERE REPAIRED WITH COLD WEATHER/INSULATED KITS. I COULD NOT EVEN OPEN MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WINDOW TO GET AIR IT WAS INOPERABLE WHEN THE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE WHICH WAS ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668801December 29, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, MY REAR HATCH SEEMS TO OPEN FOR NO REASON, MY REAR WINDOW WIPER IS WORKING WITH THE SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION, LED'S ARE GOING OUT AGAIN AND NOW THE DREADED APPARENT OIL SEPARATOR WITH TONS OF GREY SMOKE BILLOWING OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR AFTER BEING LEFT IN AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT FOR 4 DAYS WHILST IT SNOWED OUTSIDE. SEEMS I'VE HAD EVERY TYPICAL PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE CAR CATCHING FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE OWNED BMWS IN GERMANY AND THE US FOR A LONG TIME, HOWEVER, I THINK I'LL BE SWITCHING BRANDS WITH MY NEXT VEHICLE. BMW DOESN'T SEEM TO BE PROACTIVE ENOUGH FOR MY LIKING WITH SOME OF THESE WAY TOO COMMON ISSUES. THIS IS A VERY LOW MILE VEHICLE FOR IT'S AGE AND IT'S ACTING LIKE A MODEL T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583360April 17, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE FLUID WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO LOW BRAKE FLUID. UPON INSPECTION, BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED AND WAS LEAKING. GIVEN THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE QUITE PREMATURE. DESCRIPTION BY MECHANIC OF OEM REPLACEMENT LINE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DURABLE THAN LINE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578900April 10, 2014
ENGINE
OVER SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. WE CAN TURN IT ON JUST AFTER WHEN WE CAN GET THE CAR TO A SAFE SPOT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND MY WIFE HAD ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT FOR THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559164January 9, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE LOCKS FAILED TO WORK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN OCCASION WHERE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499408February 20, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND REQUIRED TREMENDOUS FORCE TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497592February 9, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
ON MANY OCCASIONS BEFORE AS WELL AS TODAY I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS LATCHES MALFUNCTIONING, USUALLY, IN COLD WEATHER. EITHER THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL OR. IF OPENED (USUALLY MANUALLY) THEY CANNOT BE CLOSED/LATCHED AT ALL, THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GOES UP. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT IS, POTENTIALLY, SAFETY RELATED AS DRIVING WITH DOOR NOT LATCHED IS UNSAFE. I'M WONDERING IF THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES AND/OR DEATHS IN ACCIDENTS INVOLVING AFFECTED BMW X5. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486154November 27, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AS MY WIFE AND I DRIVING TO HER MD APPOINTMENT ON 11/26/12. I'VE NOTICED GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR,AND CAR SUDDENLY LOSING POWER, WHEN I'VE STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT'S LIKE GAINING POWER TO GO AND SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. I WAS KIND OF CONFUSED WHAT HAPPENED . WE WERE ON THE ROAD RIGHT BEHIND THE INTERSECTION. WE HAD TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT,WHEN I'VE TRIED TO GO, THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING LIKE IT SHOULD. WE MADE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION, WHICH THERE IS DENNY'S RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. BY THE TIME I'VE PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON,WE WERE STILL IN THE CAR. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND, LIKE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND FIRE STARTED.THANKS GOD, WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR JUST IN TIME. THE FIRE WAS BURNING OUT OF CONTROL. COUPLE OF PASSERBY HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN THEIR CARS,TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, WHILE I WAS ON THE 911 CALL,BUT NO LUCK. IN JUST A LESS THAN A MINUTE THE WHOLE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT TOOK FIRE DEPT LIKE 20-30 MINUTES TO PUT THE FIRE OUT,AND MY CAR JUST MELTED FRONT OF MY EYES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484917November 16, 2012
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING AND I TRIED TO TURN LEFT AND IT WOULDN'T. I TRIED TO TURN RIGHT AND IT UNLOCKED IT, SO I WAS ABLE TO TURN LEFT AFTERWARDS. IT DID IT AGAIN, THIS TIME IT LOCKED UP BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. IT EVENTUALLY UNLOCKED AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR HOME, TEST DROVE IT AND IT SEEMS FINE AGAIN. IT COMES AND GOES. I CALLED THE BMW DEALER IN VISTA, CA TO SEE IF THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON IT AND THEY SAID THAT MY VIN DO NOT HAVE A RECALL ON STEERING. I CHECKED THE ONLINE POSTINGS AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE A LOT OF THIS CASES AND SOME OF THEM ARE DRILLING A PART OF STEERING COLUMN AND REMOVING A SPRING TO CORRECT THE PORBLEM. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY OLD BMW 525 BEFORE SO I JUNKED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469117August 3, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALONG I 90 THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY OIL SEPARATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459293May 22, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WINDOW BUST OUT FOR NO REASON, COOLANT CONTAINER LIGHT ON, BRAKE LINING, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR QUIT WITHOUT NOTICE..MOTOR HOT AND FROZE UP, LIGHTS ON DASH COMING ON AND OFF. SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THESE THINGS HAPPENED WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEELS THAT HAVE TO BE ALIGNED AND STILL TIRES HAVE TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450472March 6, 2012
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GLASS SUDDENLY OPENED AND DROPPED INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT VARIOUS SPORADIC TIMES AND THE WINDOW REGULATORS WERE REPLACED EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CONTINUAL PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448323February 17, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE OIL SEPARATOR WAS FROZEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443874January 15, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN JANUARY OF 2010 DURING A COLD WEATHER SPELL, I STARTED MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING SLOWLY. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FROM EXHAUST PIPES. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. HE DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILURE OF THE SEPARATION VALVE THAT CAUSED THE INCREASE PRESSURE UNDER THE VALVE COVER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO AVOID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND MY BILL WAS "ONLY" AROUND $350 (PLUS TOWING). I DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT BMW HAD KNOWN ABOUT THAT PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND DID NOTHING. THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED FOR CANADIAN MARKET BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. LATER MODELS OF X5 WERE EQUIPPED WITH UPDATED VALVE, IT APPEARS THAT MANY OWNERS HAD THEIR ENGINES COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE COMPANY DID NOTHING TO HELP THEM. I'M ENJOYING DRIVING MY X5 BUT BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM EARLIER AND SHOULD HAVE COMPENSATED THE OWNERS FOR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR THE PROBLEM THAT WAS WELL KNOWN ONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440015December 15, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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