Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 BMW X5 Sav submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE COOLANT LINES NEEDED COMPLETELY REPLACED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO START BARRELING SMOKE AFTER ABOUT 400-500 FT. LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE. GOT REPAIRED AT BMW OF WESTLAKE IN OHIO. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO HAVE PREVENTED IT.
ENGINE CLICKS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATION
I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A VANOS ISSUE THE CAMSHAFT BOLTS LOOSEN AND BREAK AND IT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. MY BOLTS LOOSENED AND I CAUGHT IT IN TIME BUT IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER I COULD'VE HAD A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. MY CODE ORIGINALLY CAME UP AS CAMSHAFT STICKING. WHEN THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED I WAS TRAVELING ON A MAIN CITY ROAD AND MY CAR WENT INTO REDUCED POWER MODE.
DURING HARD ACCELERATION OF THE CAR WHILE GETTING ON THE FREE WAY RAMP, THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS DEGRADED AND I HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BELLEVUE NEXT WEEK AFTER INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF A DME INTERNAL FAULT BY A SIGNATURE INDEPENDENT KIRKLAND. BMW OF BELLEVUE REPLACED AIR MASS FILTER AND OIL FILLER CAP. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ISSUE HAPPENING AGAIN DURING REGULAR DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A VACUUM HOSE LEAK. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR SHORT, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA OPENED A PUMA CASE, BUT DID NOT RECOMMEND REPLACING THE DME YET. RIGHT AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR I HIT THE ISSUE AGAIN WHERE THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY RAMP. BMW OF BELLEVUE WORKED WITH BMW OF NA TO REPLACE THE DME WHICH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. BEFORE HANDING THE CAR BACK THE SERVICE ADVISOR DID A TEST AND WAS ABLE TO STILL REPRODUCE THE CAR GOING INTO LIMP MODE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, DIAGNOSIS IS STILL NOT KNOWN. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS TODAY SINCE THE ISSUE FIRST HAPPENED AND THE CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF USE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AND THERE IS STILL NO CONCLUSION ON THE ROOT CAUSE.
X5 XDRIVE 35I SAV; WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL STREET AND HIGHWAY CONDITIONS, VEHICLE SPEED AND ENGINE RPM HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE AND DECREASE IT'S SPEED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY AS YOU MAY LOSE POWER, OR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE WHILE TRYING TO EXECUTE A DRIVING MANEUVER, CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO BMW DEALERSHIP (ZT MOTORS) FOR DIAGNOSTICS. SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP INDICATED A LOW FUEL PRESSURE AT THE INLET. THIS WOULD TELL ME THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS NOT DELIVERING THE CORRECT FUEL FLOW/PRESSURE TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 16V746000 ET AL. DIAGNOSTICS ALSO INDICATED THE VALVETRONIC MOTOR SHOWS IT SHORT CIRCUITING. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF VALVETRONIC MOTOR, CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS ARE UNNECESSARY MAINTENANCE ITEMS, ONLY THE VALVETRONIC MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND FUEL SYSTEM REPROGRAMMED. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V176000 ET AL. RECOMMEND RECALL REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS, VALVETRONIC MOTOR, VANOS CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS AS WELL AS REPROGRAMMING OF FUEL OPERATING SYSTEM. ALSO REPLACE CAM SHAFT MOUNTING BOLTS.
DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON VACATION AND THE ENGINE WOULD STUDDER AND STALL ON THE HIGHWAY AND AN ERROR PROMPTED ON THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD THAT DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" REDUCED POWER. OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD CUT OFF WHILE ON THE ROAD AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT IT HAS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL IT SHOWED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS SOME PROBLEMATIC MODELS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON BOTH LOCAL ROADS AND THE HIGHWAY. IN ONE OCCASION, I NEEDED TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET IT TO A SAFE LOCATION.
ON SATURDAY MAY 6TH 2017. I WAS DRIVING WHEN I HEARD THIS NOISE TO MY UNTRAINED EAR IT SEEMED AS IF THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY FRONT TIRES? I PULLED OVER GOT OUT TO CHECK MY FRONT TIRES/WHEEL'S AND THERE WAS NOTHING, I GET BACK INTO MY VEHICLE AND START DRIVING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE SAME NOISE COULD BE HEARD AGAIN SO ONCE AGAIN I PULLED OVER GOT OUT AND CHECKED MY TIRES/WHEELS AND UNDERCARRIAGE. AS I AM LOOKING THERE IS NOTHING HANGING OR LOOSE, I GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO HEAD TOWARDS MY HOUSE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME SO I CALL MY FIANCE AND ASKED HE TO COME OUTSIDE (I WANTED HER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JUST A LITTLE SO THAT I COULD SEE IF MY WHEELS WERE DOING ANYTHING STRANGE, THIS WOULD HELP ME TO BETTER EXPLAIN WHAT I THROUGH WAS HAPPING TO MY VEHICLES WHEELS/TIRES) AS SOON AS I HANG THE PHONE UP I SLOWED DOWN TO GO OVER A SPEED HUMP AT THE TIME I DID NOT NOTICE BUT I HAD LOST POWER IN THE VEHICLE AS I TRIED TO USE MY BREAKS THE VEHICLE DID NOTHING AND I DO MEAN NOTHING SO NOW I AM ROLLING STRAIGHT AND GO THROUGH TWO STOP SIGNS HOPING AND PRAYING THAT ONE HITS ME, DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING NO POWER. A MESSAGE SHOWS UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING 'TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION' THE MALFUNCTION MAYBE RESOLVED BY RESTARTING. CONTRACT NEAREST BMW CENTER IF NECESSARY. USE EMERG. RELEASE TO DISENGAGE PARK DETENTION PRIOR TO TOWING OR PUSHING VEHICLE. NOW MINE YOU THIS MESSAGE ONLY SHOWED AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. AS I AM GOING THROUGH THE SECOND STOP SIGN THERE IS A SLIGHTL/SMALL HILL THAT I WENT UP AND THE VEHICLE LOST ENOUGH SPEED THAT I WAS ABLE TO SMASH THE BRAKES REAL HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. A CAR ALL MOST HIT ME IN THE REST BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION, AND NOW I AM SITTING ON THIS SLIGHT HILL HOLDING MY FOOT ON THE BREAK. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE DRIVESHAFT RECALL.
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 .
THIS COMPLAINT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE RECALL LISTED BELOW. EVEN THOUGH THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED IN APRIL, NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. THE VERY THING THE RECALL WAS TRYING TO PREVENT, HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: APR 10, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 I WAS STRANDED FRIDAY, 09/19/14, ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND DOG BY MY NEW TO ME X5. YES, IT WAS THE VANOS RECALL BOLTS THAT FAILED. THE CAR ONLY MADE IT A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AFTER THE CEL AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR SHOOK, SPUTTERED, AND DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WE WERE LEFT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THE CAR WOULD NOT START, WE COULD NOT GET IT INTO NEUTRAL. IT ENDED UP TAKING US MORE THAN 5 HOURS TO GET A TOW TRUCK THAT HAD THE EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD HELP US. NO TOW TRUCK OPERATOR KNOWS HOW OR IS WILLING TO CRAWL UNDER AND REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION COVER AND UNLOCK THE GEARS. THE LACK OF ABILITY TO GO THIS ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL IS REALLY UNBELIEVABLE. I CANNOT IMAGINE A MUCH MORE UNSAFE SCENARIO. I CHECKED ON THE VANOS BOLTS RECALL TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH AND WAS TOLD NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THIS RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND NOT LEFT UNTIL THE CAR FAILS AND PLACES IT'S OWNERS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I'M WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM BMW OF NASHVILLE ABOUT HOW EXTENSIVE THE DAMAGE IS TO INTERNALS, BUT THEY ALREADY CALLED AND SAID IT IS SHEARED / BROKEN VANOS BOLTS. SPECIFICALLY THE RECALL ISSUE. P.S. THIS HAPPENED ON FRIDAY. I TRIED TO GET A LOANER CAR, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND TODAY AND AM TOLD NONE ARE AVAILABLE. WE NEVER RAN INTO THAT SITUATION WITH OUR LAST 2 VEHICLES, WHICH WERE BOTH INFINITI'S. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT I AM STRANDED AND CAN'T EVEN GET TO WORK DUE TO A RECALL FOR A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 47K MILES. *TR
ON DECEMBER 26, 2012, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND LANE ON A FOUR LANE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY 11 KENOELEHUA HIGHWAY AT ITS MERGING JUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAY 130 KEAAU BYPASS ROAD, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THE ROAD SHOULDER. ON JANUARY 4, 2013, AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM REPLACEMENT OF THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PURSUANT TO THE DECEMBER 26, 2012 MALFUNCTION, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 19 QUEEN KAAHUMANU HIGHWAY AFTER RECOVERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE BMW OF HAWAII REPAIR SHOP, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING A DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THE ROAD SHOULDER. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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