4.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,967 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 BMW X5:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Mar 192014

X5 8-cyl

  • miles
My car has a recall repair about the brake vacuum pump leak. The dealer found the leak from the brake vacuum pump before did the recall repair, but only replaced the brake booster vacuum hose and leave the brake vacuum pump leak unrepaired and quoted me $2800 for repairing the brake vacuum pump leak. I called BMW usa customer relations and was told that I should continue to talk to the dealer and said it's the dealer decision. This seems not right for me since the root cause was not fixed for the recall. Please advice what I should do. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #2

Jan 132012

X5 6-cyl

  • 69,000 miles
The electronic parking brake signals a malfunction and the dealer quoted $1,600 to fix. There is clearly a design flaw in this new feature - an electronic brake - on the BMW X5 2008. Two weeks after purchasing the vehicle, the electronic parking brake locked up and would not release; the vehicle had to be towed to the dealer for re-programming. Now, the electronic parking brake is not working and BMW wants to charge to fix the brake. I have never had a parking brake fail and I have been driving since 1976; clearly BMW has a flaw in the design of their electronic parking brake. I recommend that the nhtsb investigate the issues related to the BMW electronic parking brake and take the necessary actions to protect the consumer.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #1

May 182009

X5 6-cyl

  • 14,900 miles
I purchased a 2008 X5 new in Oct 07. In Sept 08 I started to have major problems with the brake system. Squealing-low pedal,3 major brake system repairs,1 minor repair and it needs to be towed in again because the problem remains. The service manager of the selling dealer advised bmwusa to replace the vehicle due to the dangerous and numerous problems with this car. Bmwusa marketing refused-what mechanical expertise do they possess-none and they continue to put my safety in danger and ignore the problem. Just an example in Oct 2008 the brake pads were 10mm-in April 09 they were 2mm and BMW told me I was safe to drive 1700 miles from fl to NY. A Florida dealer had to replace every rotor-pad and sensor, and less than 2 weeks later the rear brakes and sensors needed replacement again but so much for bmwusa knowing anything or caring. These people are useless and dangerous--do not buy an X5 from this company, because even after their own svc manager states to replace the vehicle they say there is nothing wrong and don't give a [xxx] about your safety. Stay away from BMW. Damage resulting = this car cost almost 60K, the kids finished college so it was time to buy a car I always wanted--im out all this money, cant drive the car with this problem and BMW cares less--since when should a marketing guy make decisions about mechanical problems, and then over the advice of a trained service manager. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Forest Hills, NY, USA