2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,820 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Oct 292011

X5 8-cyl

  • 114,000 miles
Water gets inside rear lights, causing corrosion, as a result, the lights stop working and a warning light appears on the dashboard "check brake lights", "check rear lights".

- Brewster, MA, USA

problem #4

Mar 012009

X5 6-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
The right rear brake light bulb shorts out. Instrument warning for rear brake / tail lights activates. Problem occurs multiple times due to an apparent flaw in the brake light assembly circuit and plastic that forms the split circuit for positive (+) negative (-) connection points to bulb socket leads. To repair - the metal assembly needs to be bent outward (direction away from tail light lens) to increase tension between bulb socket electrical connections and metal plate of tail light assembly. Problem seems to be caused by weakened plastic that causes the metal plate in tail light assemble to loosen creating inadequate back spring tension between the plate and socket connectors. Recall on BMW 3 series for: No. 11V-438: Lamps in rear quarter panel 2002-2005 3 series is described as the exact problem.

- Rogers, AR, USA

problem #3

Jan 132012

X5

  • 102,000 miles
The left rear tail light continues to work intermittently. The 'check brake, check rear light' warning illuminates even after bulbs have been replaced. I have replaced the bulbs numerous times, with the most recent being a few days ago. Yet, the warning message reappeared this evening. The problem is similar to those recently investigated by NHTSA on other BMW models such as the 3 series and is a common complaint in BMW forums and other forums on the internet.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #2

Feb 092003

X5 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,551 miles
I own a 2003 BMW X5 3,0. the vehicle is less then two month old. The cars main and all other headlights will completely go dark in the middle of driving. I tried panically to play with the switch but to no avail. It happens randomly and is a real serious & dangerous issue. The lightsd will then sometime later will restore and someties will function well for 24 hours or so. Some times only one headlight will come on, etc. I been on the roadfly.com- a chat room which is the mosy important BMW chat line and this very serious problem seems to be happening to other people as well. It is maybe the most serious hazardous problem one can have with a car--imagine the lights go dark in the middle of driving. The dealer cant seem to find the problem even though admits that there is one. Real scary stuff and needs immidate intervention!!!! scary!!! please take action asap before someone is killed!!!.

- Studio City, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 092003

X5 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,551 miles
I own a 2003 BMW X5 3,0. the vehicle is less then two month old. The cars main and all other headlights will completely go dark in the middle of driving. I tried panically to play with the switch but to no avail. It happens randomly and is a real serious & dangerous issue. The lightsd will then sometime later will restore and someties will function well for 24 hours or so. Some times only one headlight will come on, etc. I been on the roadfly.com- a chat room which is the mosy important BMW chat line and this very serious problem seems to be happening to other people as well. It is maybe the most serious hazardous problem one can have with a car--imagine the lights go dark in the middle of driving. The dealer cant seem to find the problem even though admits that there is one. Real scary stuff and needs immidate intervention!!!! scary!!! please take action asap before someone is killed!!!.

- Studio City, CA, USA