10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 50,582 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.
Foot wells or FRM module failed when installing a new battery. Now my windows and turning signals does not work after service when it was working before I took it to BMW of Bloomfield.
- Newark, NJ, USA
I was driving to work one morning On the highway, when I suddenly heard a loud sharp noise from the engine bay that followed with the engine and battery lights turning blinking on my display with sudden loss of steering. I panicked but quickly put my vehicle into neutral with my hazard lights on and slowly hit my brakes till I came to a complete stop on the highway. I got my vehicle towed back and upon further inspection saw that the idler pulley bolt snapped completely off. I researched and saw that this bolt has been recalled twice already with the same issue. If this was during a heavy traffic situation it could have been far worse.
- Bixby, OK, USA
My vehicle was parked on the streets during a very hard raining day. After that even I went to move my car 2 day later. The car was cranking but never went on. I troubleshoot the car and I realized that the cabin filter were full of water. Below the cabin filter my 2011 BMW X5 has a integrated supply module that supply electricity to the spark plug for my surprise that modules burn because of the water.
- Bronx, NY, USA
The following took place in June 2020. I still own the vehicle. I've garage kept my SUV, however recently I moved to city for work and been parking my X5 outside. It had been raining pretty hard in the last few days and I was driving w/ my 4-year-old in back when suddenly the dashboard warning lights and various messages on the entertainment screen started flashing. The warnings took me off guard and some of the messages that my engine may stall in the middle of traffic made me panic, especially with my kid in the back. I pulled over and started taking pictures messages. I researched and found the water from the sunroof leaks into the left side of the trunk where the electronics and audio equipment are located. (now I know it leaked on both side'as leith BMW technician found water on the right side too with electric wires submerged). I found about half a gallon of water accumulated. I took water out using a water bottle I cut in the middle and tried to dry off affected electronics. When I restarted the vehicle, the chimes are gone and so is the sound. The radio stations and navigation works, but there is absolutely no sound coming out. Also, the trunk lift gate does not automatically open anymore making it very hard to operate and the engine light won't go away. I contacted BMW and explained the situation and they told me to take my vehicle to BMW authorized dealer and pay out of pocket for it. That cost around $400. I kept receipt. All their communication was verbal as to not leave email trail. The only solid rejection letter I received is when they replied to my BBB complaint. So far I have contacted BMW directly who rejected my claims, BBB of New Jersey (where BMW is located) who contacted BMW directly and BMW sent a rejection letter, consumer reports, cpsp.gov who directed me to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thank you for your help.
- Clayton, NC, USA
Upon driving the airbag light came on and said it was not recognized seat belt indicator came on also send a photo
- Atlanta, GA, USA
The passenger seat weight occupancy sensor intermittently works. I am concerned if it is not working properly, the airbag may not deploy properly. Also, the seat belt warning light chimes even though the seat is not occupied.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
Upon starting my car at a friend's house, I heard a brief electrical buzzing noise that then stopped. It sounded like the radiator fan, but the fan wasn't moving. I drove my car approximately 15 miles home and parked it. About 2.5 hours later, from inside my home, I heard the sound of what seemed to be a small explosion. I looked outside and my car's engine compartment was engulfed in flames. It had parked, unused with the motor off for more than two hours on a cool day with temperatures in the 40S with no warning indicators lights or messages. I later learned BMW had issued a recall for electrical fires, however, I never receiveda recall notice. Press reports note that more than 90 such fires have been reported to your Agency, and I can still find no documentation on your website of this problem.
- Cody, WY, USA
The contact owned a 2011 BMW X5. After parking the vehicle overnight, the contact discovered flames and smoke inside the cabin of the vehicle the following morning. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed destroyed. The cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer (jmk BMW in springfield, New Jersey) were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
- Summerset, NJ, USA
Wires inside the comfort access door handles have apparently shorted out and are causing the driver side rear door handle to be very hot to the touch (measured at 134 deg F). Pembroke pines BMW and BMW na were notified in November. They advised that I would have pay $700 to have it replaced since it was out of warranty. Later they offered a 20% discount. An internet search revealed it is a common problem. I am concerned that the short may eventually cause the wires or other materials in the door to catch on fire. I measured and photographed the door handle and adjacent area. The door was 84.8 degrees F while the door handle was 134 degrees F.
- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
Water pump I was driving down the highway when I got the signal to drive slow or moderate because the engine it's getting hot I pulled over turn off the car got outside to smoke a cigarette and I could smell something burning more like wire burning
- Denver, CO, USA
Fire occurred in the driver side door (top speaker) shortly after starting the engine and driving down the road. The vehicle had a strong odor and smoke was pouring out. I immediately pulled over and located the source of the smoke and saw a flame. I took a photo of the flame to document it. I shut off the radio and the flame and smoke dissipated.
- Windsor, CO, USA
My 2011 BMW X5 3.0 sav was exhibiting rough starts on ignition and it stalled after a while and wouldn't start back up again. We had it towed to the dealership the first time and the vanos system was replaced( recall extended warranty). The next time it stalled and wouldn't start back up we were advised it was the starter so we had that replaced( $1163.36) along with the battery( $ 260) and then the driver side window wouldn't go down and the dash board lighting went out and the alarm wouldn't engage, the dealer advised us that it was a footwell module problem covered under extended warranty until 125,000 miles. All in all the car is rigged with problems. I have decided to look up all the NHTSA recalls and have them done before anything else breaksdown. NHTSA has the vehicle down for both front driver and passenger air bags and also the in-tank fuel pump in addition to all the ones I mentioned above.
- Greenfield, CA, USA
My vehicles purchased last year from BMW local dealer {jackie cooper imports] is equipped with 8- or 12-cylinder, turbocharged engines.the circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump overheated. This lead to a smoldering of the pump and an engine compartment. BMW was supposed to notify owners, replace the auxiliary water pump, thermostat, and coolant reservoir free of charge. The two safety recalls related to this problem apparently did not include my vehicle. Ref NHTSA compaign recall #11V521000 and NHTSA compaign recall # 12V161000. I have logged a complaint about this with the dealership, and their recall resolution department in vain. I am being charged for parts and labor which I belief should be free a snoted by the two recalls.
- Oklahoma, OK, USA
My wife and a toddler were driving home getting off the bridge and about to get on the on ramp to highway in nyc (bqe). All the sudden the car overheated and went into limp mode. Luckily there were no car behind her otherwise would be rear ended. She was able to pull to the right from the left lane and got onto local street to wait for it to cool down. This car had many close calls for serious or fatal accident. This car only has a little ok 40K miles. This is too early for a water pump to fail. This car is out of warranty and the cost of fix will be over $1000. The worst is my wife uses this car for work and drive the kid to school. Can bmwna be contacted and put this failure into recall. Thanks
- Rego Park, NY, USA
BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD, I was on major deegan highway exiting at 230 St when the my BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD sudden stopped and my heart when too my feet. The panel read "engine malfunction " I was in a daze not knowing what happen to the BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD and why did it stop all of sudden !!! I started again at a very slow pace less than 10 mph and trying to get out of the way of traffic on the exit on 230 street, I made it too the veterans affairs hospital at 8:30 or 9:00 am in the morning. I called aaa to tow to a shop than I was found out this BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD had a recall so I got it tow too portchester BMW where the vehicle is at now and don't when I will get back. If this is the problem with this BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD this BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD should never be on any us road at all its an accident ready to happen very dangerous, very dangerous for a BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD to have a sudden stop " engine malfunction " some one is going too die in this BMW X5 35I 2011 its too dangerous to drive and risk my life a us marine veteran. Take this BMW X5 35I 2011 off the roads of the United States before some want gets killed !!!!!!!
- Yonkers, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that the steering wheel would sporadically become difficult to turn. Additionally, there was an electrical failure within the instrument panel. The failure was recurring. The check engine warning light was also illuminated whenever the contact reversed from his driveway. The contact also stated that the vehicle could not be shifted from park to reverse or drive. The vehicle was towed twice to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the idle pulley bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred twice. The authorized dealer replaced the idler pulley belt a third time and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the tpm error light illuminated as the vehicle surged. In addition, smoke was seen coming from under the hood area. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the rear driver's side tire sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000. The VIN was not available.
- Escondido, CA, USA
Started the car and the engine light came on with "engine malfunction - reduced power" and drove a few hundred yards and then the car completely died. The 2011 BMW X5 35I premium just died - no power whatsoever. Because there was no power, the car could not be put into neutral to be put on a flatbed. The X5 had to be put on a crane and lifted onto a flatbed tow truck. Bought this vehicle in the U.S. and is U.S. spec (car was in the U.S. for 2 years) - shipped the car to germany and this is where the incident happened (car been in germany just a few months). BMW of munich said that there is a bolt that can break off - which it did - munich requested the local dealer to take the engine apart to see if that was the fault and they confirmed it was. BMW is replacing our engine because of this fault. However, the recall as of now is only for the X5 diesels. The recall should be expanded. Had we been on the autobahn where there aren't many speed limit areas, this could have resulted in a fatal crash if someone going 100+mph rammed behind us from our car dying of catastrophic failure. At 16,000 miles the vehicle should not need a new engine.
- Falls Church, VA, USA
- Tecate, CA, USA