2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav Owner Complaints

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MILES / PER HOUR. SUDDENLY THE CAR SHOWED "ENGINE MALFUCTION - POWER REDUCED" AND SHE COULDN'T KEEP THE SPEED AND CAR STARTING LOSING SPEED AND DROPPED TO 10 MILES / HOUR, SHE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID THE DANGER OF BEING HIT BY OTHER CARS ON THE BUSY EXPRESSWAY. AFTER SHE PULLLED OVER AND CALLED ME, I DROVE TO THE PLACE WHERE SHE PARKED THE CAR AND USED A CODE READER TO FOUND SOME ERROR CODE "47C4", BUT AFTER RESTARTED CAR, CAR SEEMED OK. I DROPPED THE CAR AT BMW MOUNTAIN VIEW DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE "LOW PRESSURE EGR" WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $1800. WE FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGER TO HAPPEN TO ANY CAR BECAUSE SUCH AN FAILURE IT'S NOT SAFE TO US AND ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED!

NHTSA ID

11219793

Incident

Jun 7, 2019

Mileage

76,400 mi

THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHT IS ON. DEALER REPORTS THERE IS A FAULT STORED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT BMW HAS HAD RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11208893

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

107,300 mi

THE ISSUE STARTED WITH EXHAUST FUME IN THE CABIN FOR 2-3 DAYS. FOLLOWED BY AIR LEAKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE BAY ON LOW RPM. VEHICLE WENT IN AND OUT OF LIMP MODE (GETTING "ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED / REDUCED POWER" MESSAGE) WHILE DRIVING WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. DEALER FOUND OUT THAT THE EGR COOLER WAS CRACKED.

NHTSA ID

11193664

Incident

Mar 29, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRIGGERED . TWO ISSUES: - THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR IN THE DIESEL-EXHAUST-FLUID PASSIVE TANK. THE SENSOR IS BUILT INTO THE TANK, SO THE ENTIRE TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THIS PART. - THE EGR COOLER, WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO DIESEL ENGINE POWERED BMWS HAS A CRACK. THIS COOLER IS NEEDED TO COOL THE TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR MOVING THROUGH THE EGR VALVE. THIS PART IS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, SO NOT COVERED. THERE IS NO WARRANTY EXTENSION EITHER ON THIS PART.

NHTSA ID

11193515

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

89,500 mi

LEAKING EGR COOLER. DEALER STATED THAT IF ISSUE IS NOT REPAIRED A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD EXISTS. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR VIN SPECIFIC VEHICLES BUT OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE ARE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11171426

Incident

Jan 21, 2019

SUNROOF DRAIN LINE TWISTING CAUSES WATER TO BACK-UP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL FAULTS AS CONFIRMED BY FORMER BMW FRANCHISEE MECHANIC AND AS NOTED WIDELY THROUGHOUT BWM OWNER FORUMS. THIS KNOWN ISSUE FOR MODEL HAS NO REPAIR OPTION OTHER THAN CUTTING INTO A PILLAR TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE (SELF KINKING) LINE. VEHICLE STATIONARY IN THE RAIN AT TIME OF HARMFUL WATER INTRUSION. FAULT CODES OCCURRED AT IGNITION. FLOORBOARDS FILLED WITH WATER. MILDEW OCCURRED IN CARPETS. EXTENSION TO WARRANTY WARRANTED (LIKE DEFECTIVE NOX SENSORS).

NHTSA ID

11165142

Incident

Dec 30, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

2016, MARCH 03 - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED FAULTY: INTAKE TEMP SENSOR FAULT # 004BC6 AND FUEL PRESUPLY LINE: FAULTS #004BDA AND 004BDC. SCR TANK FAULT 0046F9 WAS NOT REPAIRED BY BMW.

NHTSA ID

11162416

Incident

Mar 3, 2016

Mileage

123,826 mi

2017 JULY - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED FAULTY EGR COOLER AND EGR VALVE SECOND TIME.

NHTSA ID

11162415

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

Mileage

146,000 mi

2017 DEC - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED EGR PRE-COOLER, AND INTAKE TURBO LINE.

NHTSA ID

11162413

Incident

Dec 12, 2017

Mileage

162,000 mi

2018 MARCH - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED INTAKE TURBO LINE, SECOND TIME.

NHTSA ID

11162412

Incident

Mar 16, 2018

2018 DEC 14 - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER FOUND FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OIL TURBO LINE.

NHTSA ID

11162411

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

Mileage

186,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A LOCAL ROAD AT 40 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THERE WAS A LOUD, VERY SHORT LIVED NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. MY SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AND I LIMPED HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING, BATTERY CHARGING, ETC.... UPON INSPECTION BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC (NOT A BMW SERVICE CENTER), THE REASON FOR THE SERPENTINE BELT SYSTEM FAILING WAS THE ALTERNATOR IDLER PULLEY BOLT HAD FAILED IN THE BLOCK. HE HAD TO TAKE OUT THE CONDENSER, RADIATOR, ETC. IN ORDER TO DRILL THE BOLT OUT. THE BOLT SHEARED INSIDE THE ENGINE BLOCK AND HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT. THIS IS THE BOLT FOR WHICH THERE WAS A PAST RECALL AND MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING A REPLACEMENT BOLT FROM BMW FOR 2 DAYS NOW. I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM BMW ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS DEFECT AND HOW THE PAST RECALL HAD NOT EFFECTIVELY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS SEARCHING BMW FORA TO SEE WHY BMW WAS ASKING MY MECHANIC FOR DETAILS ABOUT THE BOLT WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT AND STILL HAS NOT OFFERED TO SHIP THE BOLT TO MY MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

11151426

Incident

Nov 11, 2018

Mileage

1 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V336000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (CENTURY BMW, 2934 LAURENCE ROAD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BELT IDLER PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (CENTURY BMW, 2934 LAURENCE ROAD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607) AND WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11124348

Incident

Sep 3, 2018

DTC P20EE: FAULT FOR FUEL FILTER HEATER (REPLACE HEATER). SIMILAR RECALL TO 2009 DIESEL X5 FAULTY FUEL FILTER HEATER, WHICH COULD REMAIN ON AFTER ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF LEADING TO A POTENTIAL FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11123965

Incident

Aug 4, 2018

Mileage

116,000 mi

1. "IDLER PULLEY BOLT FAILED" - WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE PULLEY BOLT FAILED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I LOST POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE MESSAGE "CHARGING MALFUNCTION" APPEARED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND PULLED OUT THE BROKEN BELTS. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE GARAGE AND IT COST ME ROUGHLY $900 TO FIX + THE TOWING FEE. 2. CAR HAD RATTLE SOUNDS. I HAD TO HAVE THE "STABILIZER BAR/CONTROL ARM/SHOCK N STRUT ASSEMBLY" REPLACED AT 75,141 MILES.......

NHTSA ID

11114599

Incident

Jun 9, 2018

Mileage

75,313 mi

IDLER PULLEY BOLT BROKE FOR SECOND TIME IN 5 MONTHS. IN FEBRUARY, FIRST OCCURRENCE, CAR WAS STATIONARY. CAR WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL BY LOCAL MECHANIC. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON JUNE 29, CAR WAS IN MOTION ENTERING A TRAFFIC ROTARY. BOLT AUDIBLY SNAPPED JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING ROTARY. ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST. CAR WAS SAFELY NAVIGATED THROUGH ROTARY AND 1/4 MILE DOWN ROAD TO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. CAR REPAIRED AT DEALER WITH KNOWLEDGE THE REPLACEMENT BOLT WAS THE SAME FAULTY BOLT. NEW RECALL CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT, BUT NO FIX AVAILABLE. THE BOLT THAT BROKE IN FEBRUARY 2018 WAS THE REPLACEMENT BOLT INSTALLED DURING THE ORIGINAL RECALL IN 2012. IT WAS REPLACED BEFORE IT FAILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V550000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 18V336000

NHTSA ID

11111406

Incident

Jun 29, 2018

Mileage

134,133 mi

TAKATA RECALL: RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ERROR MESSAGE SAYS FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING THE THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. HAPPENED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE RECALL ON AIRBAGS AND DRIVE SHAFT WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS EVEN THIUGHNIT WAS ADVISED THAT PASSAENGER MIGHT BE AFFECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT FOR THIS PARTICULAR VIN PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT AFFECTED. IF NOT THEN WHY AM I NOT GETTING THIS ERROR MESSAGE?? I FEEL HIGHLY UNSAFE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN AS PASSENGER IN THE CAR NOW. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THAT REPAIRS DO NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL PURVIEW AND THEREFORE WILL REQUIRE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ACTUALLY MAY BE THE ISSUE AND THEN I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE CAUSE TO FURTHER RECTIFY WHAT EVER MAY THE CAUSE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH OR ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR THAT AFFECT ANY THING OF THIS SORT WITH CAR SO THIS IS HIGHLY DOSAPPOJNTING!!!

NHTSA ID

11100058

Incident

May 21, 2018

Mileage

89,500 mi

PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V550000 A REPLACEMENT OF THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT RECALL WAS CONDUCTED DUE TO GRAVE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. I CONSULTED BOTH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS REPAIR, AND OF COURSE I AM TOLD THE ONLY RECALL OUTSTANDING FOR MY VEHICLE IS RELATED TO AIRBAGS AND THIS FIX WAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED. ATTACHED TO THIS SAFETY REPORT IS A DIAGRAM OF THE CRANKCASE PULLEY DESIGN. ITEM '2' IN THE ATTACHED DIAGRAM WAS THE PART REPLACED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.DESPITE THIS 'FIX' I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND ELECTRIC POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH, AS WELL AS THE ENGINE OPERATING AT OR ABOVE NORMAL RANGE. THIS OF COURSE IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PRIMARY CRANKCASE PULLEY AFFECTS ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS INSTANTLY IF THIS ROTATING MASS COMES TO A HALT. INITIAL THOUGHTS AND INSPECTION ONE WOULD ASSUME A LOOSE, SLIPPING SERPENTINE BELT OR TENSIONER PULLEY BEING THE FAULT FOR THE INSTANT MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURES, HOWEVER FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE 'VIBRATION' DAMPER PULLEY. THE TORQUE FROM THIS DIESEL ENGINE SHREDS THIS RUBBER PULLEY, COMPLETELY RIPPING IT OFF ITS METAL SLEEVE, DESPITE THE REINFORCEMENT OF THE HARDENED STEEL 'BOLT' REPLACEMENT. IN ALL MY DAYS OF OWNING A VEHICLE, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH 'MAINTENANCE' REPAIR WORK OF REPLACING THE PRIMARY CRANKCASE PULLEY AS IT IS SEEN BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A 'WEAR AND TEAR' ITEM. IN MY EXPERIENCE, REPLACING THE CRANKCASE PULLEY WAS DELIBERATE TO GAIN AN EDGE AT THE DRAG STRIP, NOT FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

11083309

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT REDUCED POWER TO ENGINE IN THE CITY WHILE AT LIGHT. ALSO YOU CAN HEAR A FLAPPING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER REPORTS AFTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT THE EXHAUST COOLER IS CRACKED. PREVIOUSLY THE CAR WAS SERVICED FOR METERING VALVE LEAK WHICH WAS UNDER SCR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND FRONT DRIVE SHAFT RECALL WITH BUSHING REPLACEMENT WITH WAS COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11065352

Incident

Jan 20, 2018

Mileage

100,200 mi

THE VEHICLE EMISSION SYSTEM IS CLOGGING UP DUE TO THE DIESEL EMISSIONS SET UP IN THE BMW DIESEL ENGINES. WHERE MOST CAR MANUFACTURERS EMISSION WARRENTIES ARE 80-85KMI BMW IS 70KMI. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BMW IS NOT DOING ANYTHING UNLESS YOUR WILLING TO PAY $$$$$$. THE #1 PROBLEM IS THE EGR COOLER.,CAUSING SOME PEOPLE TO INSTALL AFTERMARKET [ILLEGAL] KITS TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS.THE VEHICLE RUNS ALMOST NORMAL BUT IT SUFFERS IN FUEL ECONOMY.

NHTSA ID

11055397

Incident

Apr 10, 2017

Mileage

71,500 mi

RECALL HAS BEEN IN AFFECT SINCE MAY 2016 AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY 25, 2016 | RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-364. I'VE BEEN TO TWO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS AND ADDED MY NAME TO A LIST BUT NOTHING.

NHTSA ID

11044273

Incident

May 1, 2016

I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL LETTERS ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL IN THE PAST YEAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO JACKIE COOPER OF EDMOND OK SAID THEY HAD THE PART I TOOK MY X5D IN FOR 3 DAYS BUT WHEN I PICKED IT UP THEY HAD NOT REPLACED EITHER AIRBAG. I RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ONLY HAVE THE DRIVERS SIDE BAG PARTS!

NHTSA ID

11044075

Incident

Nov 7, 2017

ENGINE DRIVE BELT IDLER PULLEY BOLT SNAPPED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. LOST POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP, AND ALTERNATOR DUE TO DRIVE BELT BEING DISCONNECTED. THIS BOLT WAS REPLACED AS PART OF RECALL CAMPAIGN #12V550. HOWEVER, THE RECALLED PART HAS NOW FAILED, AND THERE ARE MANY ONLINE REPORTS OF FAILURES OF THE NEW RECALLED PART. PART WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AT 13,000 MILES, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OCCURRED AT 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11042259

Incident

Oct 28, 2017

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EGR COOLER FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE EXHAUST ODOR TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. BMW OF STERLING (21710 AUTO WORLD CIR, STERLING, VA 20166, (571) 434-1944) WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11034223

Incident

Aug 30, 2017

Mileage

77,000 mi

I RECEIVED AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER WARNING ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I LOSS POWER AN CANNOT GO OVER 20 MPH. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED .I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS AN EGR AND VACUUM LINE PROBLEM. DOING A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE WEB THOUSANDS OF OTHER X5 DIESEL OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA TOLD THEM OF THE ISSUE, AFTER A WEEK THEY GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID THE PARTS WERE NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH THEY GET MANY COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

11032034

Incident

Sep 21, 2017

Mileage

103,000 mi