10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 51,093 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.
Engine failed because customer care package was never done on vehicle to save engine from killing itself. These engines in these car are problematic due to design of engine they eat oil and valve stems drys out and starts to smoke
- Thomasville, NC, USA
Faulty transfer case
- Mooresville, NC, USA
As I was driving the vehicle shut off while vehicle coming at a 40 mph to 50 mph speed limit.local police had to put out cones to make sure my vehicle wasn't going to cause an accident because my battery was drained fast mybe due to the problem
- Auburn, WA, USA
Engine malfunction light and car overheating caused by water pump, there's no recall for my VIN but it seems this is an ongoing issue with BMW X5 models... the BMW did a recall on my X5 and after they finished the recall the transfer case stopped working properly, however, the transfer case was working perfectly before the recalled. The BMW power train recall damage the transfer case
- Windermere, FL, USA
Shudder at low speed while turning. This is an issue which I observe since an year.
- Edison, NJ, USA
The vehicle shudders /learches while turning during low speeds. Transfer case issue which has not been addressed by BMW.
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, there was a loud banging noise and smoke was present coming from the engine area. After stopping the vehicle was towed to the home. Upon inspection it was discovered that the drive shaft had severed. The local dealer jacky cooper BMW located at 14201 N. broadway ext. Oklahoma city, ok. And the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the drive train was previously service under a manufactures service campaign. The failure mileage was 131,000.
- Tuttle, OK, USA
Very well maintained and documented vehicle....engine seized at 95K miles. No codes or reason given. Vehicle has had $20-30K work done at a registered BMW dealer over the last 2 years. BMW=bring money with. I will never buy another BMW and if someone tried to give me one, I would run the other way. I've owned many cars and this is the absolute, worst purchase I've ever made. Cost to replace engine, $12K. Crooks in my opinion and do your research if you do not listen to this friendly warning. Oh and one more thing...after I spent $12K to replace engine, now they say the transfer case maybe compromised. Dare you look up what that costs to fix. I will not put one more dime into this vehicle. I am disgusted with their entire operation. The only positive is the wheels did not lock up when the engine seized, otherwise, I may not be able to file this complaint. All X5's should be recalled. Do not buy BMW!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Kalamazoo, MI, USA
There was a water pump recall for my BMW X5, I took my X5 due to an engine malfunction, the dealer didn't do the water pump recall, instead, they charge me for replacing the ivm and the charge air pipe stating that was the engine malfunction, after I paid approximately $2,500 they came back and told me the engine malfunction was due to the water pump, so they charged me an additional $1,380 for the water pump. I just checked the recalls on my vehicles and noticed there's a water pump recall, however, I had to purchase the water pump and other items not needed for the engine malfunction message related to the water pump. How can I submit a reimbursement for the amount amount paid when there was a recall and I pay from my pocket the amount of $3,880 related to the water pump. Also, the dealer did a drive shaft recall, however now the transfer case is not working, creating the front universal joint to fail after the driveshaft recall was done, the front wheels is affecting the vehicle traction. Water and debris may be entering the front driveshaft's universal joint and may cause excessive wear and possibly resulting in the joint's failure.
- Windermere, FL, USA
It is making a horrible crying noice and it's vibrates. The water pump was already taken care of but still once again problems
- Lebanon, PA, USA
My 2012 BMW X5 developed transfer case problem. The transfer case shutters and the car start jumping when I make left or right turn from the stop, which is clearly a safety issue. The car has 49200 miles as of today, Sep 2019. This represents danger in driving the car and transfer case has to be replaced. Searching the internet revealed that it's a common issue with 2012 BMW X5 vehicles and in my opinion, BMW must fix faulty transfer case free of charge. As it stands today, bramin BMW in miami quoted me $5000 plus tax to replace transfer case.
- Golden Beach, FL, USA
While driving 75 mph 250 miles away from home the drive shaft on my BMW X5 broke. I think the recall number is 17V-138. I was on a major highway in the left lane. The car was bucking around, smoking and was very very difficult to steer. Before this the car was driving perfectly. It happened in an instant. I was able to get to the side of the road without injuring myself or my passengers. I had my car towed to a local garage who said it was catastrophic. I looked up on your website and saw the drive shaft was a recall. I was never informed of this by BMW. I had my home garage go get it. They sent it to a BMW dealer who had it over 2 months. They replaced the engine. It was returned to my garage. I drove it about 10 miles before the transmission warning light came on and the car lost the inability to accelerate. I was on the thruway so this was very scary. BMW is saying this has nothing to do w the drive shaft breaking and killing the engine as parts were flying around inside. 5 days before the original incident I had the car checked over by my garage as I was going on a trip. I was told my car should have the transmission fluid and filter changed next time in but it wasn't urgent. I am now looking at a $5000 repair. Obviously this is from the catastrophe. BMW should pay for this repair, reimburse me for all the towing charges and reimburse my garage for letting me have a loaner for over 2 months. Please help. I have pictures and will try to upload them.
- Geneva, NY, USA
Had to replace water pump at 58,000 miles. Car is spewing exhaust, and acceleration and steering are not functioning properly, likely due to ujoint and/or worn control arm, which I noticed were recalled for other models, but listed as a recall for my car/VIN. Need to reseal crankcase jointing surfaces. Car has 8 recalls listed on kbb, but BMW only has record of 5 recalls. I do not have records of repairs that were done on car before purchase in Nov. Of 2014. Car currently has 69,000 miles and is driving horribly
- Rancho Santa Fe, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact heard a clicking noise under the vehicle. The vehicle started to lose power, the transmission warning indicator illuminated, and an unknown fluid emerged from the transmission area. The vehicle was towed to an unknown independent mechanic who determined that the drive axle fractured and damaged the transfer case, which needed replacement. The vehicle was towed to BMW of manhattan (555 w 57th St, New York, NY 10019), but was not diagnosed unless it was paid for by the contact. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V138000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
- Bronx, NY, USA
On August 7, 2018, I was traveling on interstate 95 in Maryland (North of baltimore) in route to New York state. During the highway drive, my BMW drastically reduced speed to 10 miles per hour and the check engine light came on and stayed on. I had to move my car to a safe place to avoid being hit by the other vehicles on the highway. I could not continue to drive my car. And, I was worried about my safety and was at risk due to the BMW car issue. I called aaa and my car was towed to passport BMW in suitland, Maryland for repair. On August 8th, passport evaluated my car and diagnosed the problem. I was informed by passport BMW that my car engine problem was due to a faulty fuel ignition system which had to be replaced. I approved this over $570 repair to my car. However, when I picked up the car, the engine light was still on. Again, I was concerned since my car was repaired by BMW yet the problem had not been fixed since the engine light was still on. I contacted the service advisor to inform him of the problem. He apologized and requested that I bring the car back in to passport BMW on the next day. The next day, I brought the car in to passport BMW, I was informed that the catalytic converter, an estimated $3388 repair, needed to be replaced. My car has been in for BMW service maintenance and recall repairs several time. My car was in for maintenance several times and was not accurately diagnosed or repaired. There is no indication that the repair diagnosed on August 8th fixed the problem that caused my car to stop running on the highway on August 7th. I paid for that repair in August and it did not fix the check engine problem and want to be reimbursed for this expense. I am concerned about the numerous repairs to my BMW despite the fact that my car has been serviced by the passport BMW service department.
- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA
Transmission problem, gear selector sometimes won't set in park, sometimes transmission will go into safe mode randomly
- Rowlett, TX, USA
Transmission randomly goes into park when back up or moving forward in idle. Car has also come out of park randomly, with car rolling slightly. Separately, had gasket has leak at 69000 miles.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
I was driving my BMW X5 and out of nowhere an "engine malfunction warning light" came up accompanied by an engine overheating, I immediately pulled over and called a tow-truck who took my X5 to the nears BMW dealer. The technician stated it was the ivm and the charge air pipe that needed to be replaced, after spending $1,500 on the 2 items, I drove out of the dealer and less than a mile down the road, the same "engine malfunction and vehicle overheating light" came back up. Called the dealer and another tow-truck pick up my X5, then I requested to speak with the shop manager who informed me the problem with the X5 was never pertaining to the ivm or charge air pipe, as they miss overlooked the diagnosis which stated the dme was not working. They change the dme and another $2,000 was charged, after it was repair and I drove away, the same engine malfunction light and vehicle overheating light came up, called the deaelr and they told me that after changing the dme, the new diagnosis stated the watter pump needed to be replaced and this was the part that was creating the engine malfunction and overheated vehicle warning to come up. I ended up changing the water pump and other vehicle parts, that did not needed to be changed and now a recall for the water pump came out. On the meantime, I spent almost $4,000 on repairs when everything could have been done if they would have conducted the water pump recall. Who can reimburse me the amount of money paid? I sent the original dme to see if it was damage, and they came back stating it was not damage at all, therefore the problem was the water pump and not the dme, or ivm or charge air pipe. Please help!!!
- Windermere, FL, USA
The agent of BMW of tenafly said there is serious safety issue need to fix, the problem they call it: Faulty transfer case and emf unit faults for emf and transfer case connected battery charger. The system may stop working suddenly and cause the vehicle transfer power to wheels and roll over.
- Englwood Cliffs, NJ, USA
- Seattle, WA, USA