10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,267 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 #9

Aug 012022

X5

  • miles
I have been trying to have my car repaired last year. I have expressed to BMW USA that none of their certified dealers want to touch a diesel and/or work on one that another dealership had done poor work on. They have asked me to continue reaching out to this dealership even though I have mentioned I do not feel comfortable about it as I have slipped thru the cracks multiple times with them which they wont admit to. They are understaffed and have employees that are broken from being overworked, are constantly rude, careless, forgetting things and will never admit to error even when you show them mistakes that have even been documented in writing that are a liability. Their mechanics do rushed inspections and the last 2 times I have brought my car in to be scanned they completely disregard all concerns brought up prior. NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE ON A CAR WORKED BY CENTURY WEST BMW and/or A DIESEL. BMW USA is aware of this and its in their favor as its allowed this matter to drag on past my warranty period in their favor. BMW USA is aware there are odometer stamps that confirm codes appeared within coverage yet neglect to acknowledge it from me and only will from a dealer that is a mess, cannot find all my records which I have expressed I have copies of diagnostic scans yet they wont take my word or documents. These delays have resulted not only in exhausting and upsetting me but also further wear and damages to my car with every day this drags on which I pray everyday my car does not break down. This is my only car, I am not in the position to buy a new car or pay for a 5k+ repair and/or anymore emission repairs due to faulty diesel parts, repairs or emission technology which has resulted in many lawsuits against BMW. Its saddening to have to go thru this considering I have been loyal to the brand for many years, this is my second time purchasing a BMW and hoping these experiences wont make it my last. I need help at this time instead of being brushed off.

- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 162023

X5 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles
There is an open recall on BMW X5D and other BMW diesel models due to a fire hazard, the recall warns of an EGR code warning on the vehicle. My 2013 BMW X5D 3.5 has that warning code, however BMW claims that there isn-??t a recall on it. My VIN is [XXX], and for the last 5 or 6 years I was told by the guy who was my rep at the dealership there was a possible recall, but BMW was having issues keeping up with demand for the parts. Now I have this warning, the dealership is denying the warranty. Yet I-??m still at risk. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- San Anselmo, CA, USA

problem #7

May 092022

X5

  • miles
When the engine cooling system fails (which is common) the vehicle shuts down wherever it is....the occupants of the vehicle are in high traffic areas and are subject to being injured and/or killed as a result of the vehicle being undrivable at the time. It is VITAL that BMW be held responsible for the cooling system(s) optimal operation regardless of the age or mileage of the vehicle due to the safety of occupants when there is a major or catastrophic failure. If this agency does it's due diligence, it will find a mulitude of such failures

- Lapel, IN, USA

problem #6

Aug 162022

X5

  • miles
Vehicle died while driving, luckily it happened when pulling in to a store versus on the busy highway that we had just been traveling on, would not restart. BMW Roanoke determined it to be a failed diesel injection pump. If this had occurred on the highway it could have been a very dangerous situation. I had found that previous and later models of this vehicle have been recalled for this issue, but not the 2013 model. Which seems odd since the 2013 uses the same or a very similar diesel injection pump. The repair cost is more the vehicle value.

- Sweet Springs, WV, USA

problem #5

Mar 162019

X5

  • 78,000 miles
My 2013 BMW X5 35D was in motion on a city street, when it stalled, lost all power and ultimately would not restart. I was able to get it to the side, but not off the road and it was towed to the BMW dealership where they discovered that there had been a still unidentified sourced, fuel leak into the electrical harness and finally pooling into the dde component, frying the dde component to failure. There was enough fuel in the dde component that it was drained into a drip pan and fuel covered the wiring connection points as well as had discolored the wiring. I was informed that had this been a gas engine and not diesel, it would have probably caught on fire as fuel was able to access and travel across the electrical wiring in the car. BMW has refused to help in anyway to investigating the reasoning for this happening and or any repairs that would be involved as they "do not have a financial responsibility because the car is no longer under warranty" I feel that this is an opportunity for them to discover the reasoning without the destruction of evidence that a fire would have caused and they are choosing not to do so as to claim ignorance to the safety issues that this happening represents.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #4

Jun 042017

X5

  • 50,000 miles
Vehicle parked and turned off at my home. Many hours later vehicle was discovered by a one of my children on fire. Resulting fire destroyed the auto and ignited a major fire to my residence.

- Old Greenwich, CT, USA

problem #3

Jul 232018

X5

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 BMW X5. The contact stated that the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was informed that the fuel tank sensor needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 72,000. The VIN was not available.

- Flemington, NJ, USA

problem #2

Mar 142015

X5 6-cyl

  • 26,900 miles
No accident, just a safety issue with acceleration delay. Total lack of acceleration at a stop to go. There is an inherent lag until the transmission kicks in and goes, about a half second delay. This is obviously not good when trying to get into busy traffic whether at a light or merging. I have talked to BMW tampa and ran a diagnostic without success for a fix. They even admit there is an issue with this but BMW germany guys they say won't change their thinking or fix the issue. In a nutshell it's as if the fuel doesn't get to the injectors until a.05 delay. This is not safe, point blank.

- Dothan, AL, USA

problem #1

Oct 182012

X5 8-cyl

  • 500 miles
Vehicle developed significantly reduced fuel mileage after the first 500 miles. In town range dropped by 40% to 7.8 mpg over the same route, independent of gasoline source or grade. Exhaust gases are very hot and exhibit a pronounced sulfuric, gunpowder like smell. Electrical fans constantly on during city driving attempting to cool the engine. Excessive carbon build up on exhaust components. Engine exhibiting rich running condition. A persistent mechanical engine whine developed emanating from the oil pump, possibly the alternator area of the engine compartment, peaking at 1700-1900 RPM under load. At 1,200 miles, the 8 speed automatic transmission developed erratic shift behavior between 1st-3rd gears. At fairly constant speed, the transmission is shifting between 1st and second gear, alternating up shifting and downshifting without establishing proper gear. Coming to a stop, vehicle surges revolutions by up to 500 RPM on the 3-2 downshift and up to 800 RPM on the 2-1 downshift, causing a sudden and abrupt halt, engine braking effect. Behavior is most pronounced in standard D transmission mode, minimized in ds mode and completely absent in manual mode with automatic downshift. At 2,200 miles, gunpowder like exhaust gas smell more pronounced and evident while average fuel mileage dropped to 6.4 mpg over the same course. Transmission experienced two incidents of failing to up shift into second gear followed by a mechanical clunk and sharp jolt after finally getting in gear. Vehicle does not exhibit any stored or active fault codes within the on-board diagnostics.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA