BMW X5 Complaints (2001)

160 consumer complaints on file.

#10927016November 18, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INFLATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10916724October 18, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT TECHNICIANS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10873332June 8, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SUSPENSION
I HAVE TAIL BREAK LIGHT ON WEN I DRIVE ALL TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10872300June 3, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE BOTH BRAKE LIGHT BULBS AND HOLDERS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM AND BOTH WIRING HARNESSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10862371April 30, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
04/30/16 I BOUGHT THE SUV LAS MONTH AND HAVE EVERY THING ORIGINAL EVERY THING WAS FINE UNTIL TODAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE PASENGER SIDE UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT A 30 MIN AFTER PARKING IT ON THE DRIVE WAY I HEAR THE ALARM AND SAW ALOT OF SMOG COMING FROM THE TRUCK AT SOON AS I OPEN THE DOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850645March 20, 2016
ENGINE
AUXILIARY COOLING FAN BEGAN BEGAN SMOKING AND SMOLDERING AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED AT HOME. VERY NEARLY A FIRE. PART WAS ON RECALL PREVIOUSLY AND EXCHANGED BUT THEN RECALLED AGAIN AS THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WAS USED AS REPLACEMENT DURING INITAL RECALL. MY VEHICLE WASN'T PART OF INITIAL RECALL DUE TO PRODUCTION DATE, AS MINE WAS PRODUCED 8/2000, BUT WAS STATED IN THE SECOND RECALL TO BE INCLUDED IF IT HAD THE DEFECTIVE PART. WENT TO BMW AND THEY STATED THERE WASN'T AN OPEN RECALL AND COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I SHOWED THEM THE ACTUAL RECALL CAMPAIGNS DOWNLOADED FROM THE WEB AND THEY REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER STATING THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS THE ONLY FACTOR TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL WAS WARRANTED AND THERE WASN'T AN 'OPEN' RECALL. I STATED THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO RECALLS REMAINING OPEN FOR 15 YEARS AND THIS HAPPENED IN 2001 AND THEY STATED IT WAS IRRELEVANT SINCE NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS EXISTED. THE PART ON MY VEHICLE IS 64 54 6908 124 (E53) WHICH IS CLEARLY THE DEFECTIVE PART STATED AS PART OF THE RECALL, IN BMW'S AFTERSALES AND PARTS BULLETIN AS WELL. BMW SERVICE CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715611May 11, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WITHOUT WARNING, THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAN FAILED AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE RADIATOR AND ENGINE DAMAGE. THE RADIATOR WAS EXTREMELY HOT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO MADE SEVERAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT COMPLETELY STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 03V001000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 02V194000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 01V197000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,060.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633302September 15, 2014
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE AND BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHORTLY AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597253June 9, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TURNED ON WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD GO OFF AFTER A FEW START CYCLES WITH NO PASSENGERS, BUT THEN COME BACK ON THE NEXT TIME A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS ABLE TO READ THE CODES WHICH INDIRECTLY INDICATED A FAULT IN THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I REPLACED THE SENSOR MAT AND RELATED WIRING INTERFACE AND THE WARNING LIGHT AND ERRORS HAVE NOT RETURNED. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS GROUPS THAT DISCUSS THE APPARENT HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THESE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MATS AND WE HAVE NOTED THAT MORE RECENT X5 MODELS WERE RECALLED, BUT THAT EARLIER MODELS WERE NOT. I SUSPECT THAT THE EARLIER MODELS HAVE THE SAME - OR A RELATED - PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597257June 9, 2014
ENGINE
THIS VEHICLE HAS THE 4.4 LITER V8 ENGINE. DRIVING ON A COLD MORNING (ABOUT 15 F) THE CCV (CRANK CASE VENTILATION) SYSTEM APPEARS TO HAVE FROZEN IN A MANNER THAT LEAD TO THE INTAKE SUCKING ENGINE OIL DIRECTLY INTO THE INTAKE AND TRYING TO COMBUST IT. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO BILLOW SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE TRAFFIC AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN BEFORE THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. TOTAL REPAIRS (PARTS AND LABOR) COST ABOUT $1000. THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY TO X5 ENGINES AND THE LOCAL MECHANICS ALREADY SEEM TO KNOW THAT AN X5 BILLOWING SMOKE IS PROBABLY THE CCV FREEZE-UP PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC I CALLED FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED THIS OVER THE PHONE. THE OWNER GROUPS ARE FULL OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT CCV FREEZE-UP. BMW SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THERE ARE REPORTS OF OWNERS WITH NEWER MODELS BEING GIVEN DISCOUNTED REPAIRS. FOR SOME 6-CYLINDER MODEL ENGINES AN INSULATED "COLD WEATHER" VERSION OF THE AFFECTED PARTS IS AVAILABLE AND IS SUGGESTED FOR THOSE THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE AND FOR SOME V8 ENGINES AN EVEN HARDER TO FIND "HOSE HEATER" KIT IS AVAILABLE, BUT NOT WELL KNOWN EVEN TO THE DEALERS (I FOUND THE PART NUMBERS ONLINE AFTER BEING TURNED AWAY BY TWO DEALERS WHO SAID SUCH PARTS DON'T EXIST). THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND BILLOWING SMOKE SEEMS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. DRAWING SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES OF ENGINE OIL INTO THE INTAKE AND COMBUSTION PATH SEEMS TO DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM OVERALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583255April 17, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE IGNITION, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. A CHIME SOUNDED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND THE 'TRANSMISSION FAIL-SAFE PROG. WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EXHIBIT HESITATION WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. A TROUBLE CODE DETECTED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 01V196000 (POWER TRAIN), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567679March 6, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO SHUT OFF AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, BLACK SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550163October 30, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A CONSTANT ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE TACHOMETER WAS FAULTY AND DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526118July 22, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I WAS AT A INTERSECTION TO A HIGH WAY, ABOUT TO MERGE IN TO ON COMING TRAFFIC, WHEN I HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT GOING TO THE TRANSFER CASE STRIPPED, ALONG WITH THE TRANSAXLE GEAR. THE CAR STOP DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT MOVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482786October 31, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TODAY I BROUGHT MY BMW X5 TO DEALER BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. DEALER SAID THAT THE BULB HOLDER HAD FAILED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT MELTING THE BULB HOLDER. LAST SEPTEMBER, I HAD A NEW BULB HOLDER ASSEMBLY REPLACED FOR THE REAR TURN SIGNAL AFTER THE SAME WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE DEVICE FAILED BECAUSE OF EXCESS HEAT, MELTING THE BULB ASSEMBLY. THESE WOULD SEEM TO BE RELATED PROBLEMS AND SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463273June 27, 2012
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT JUMPED UP FROM THE SEAT AND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE CEILING, CAUSING HIM TO BECOME DIZZY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FOR THE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000. 8/6/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450893March 9, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE AUXILIARY FAN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE FUSE FOR THE FAN AND THE FUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN) OR 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,177.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441767December 30, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,068.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430782October 19, 2011
SEATS
FAILURE OF DRIVER SEAT HEATING MECHANISM. HOLE BURNED IN BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION AND BURN TO OCCUPANT'S (ME) LEG. THIS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A SHORT OR BREAK IN THE HEATING ELEMENT. ON-LINE RESEARCH I'VE DONE INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10430100October 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WILL REV, BUT WILL NOT MOVE WHEN GOING IN REVERSE UP A HILL WITHOUT GETTING A PUSH. THE VEHICLE WORKS IN REVERSE AT ANY OTHER TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.RL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to BMW X5