RoadVitals

2001 BMW X5 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
38
Latest Dec 5, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
24%
of 160 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

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 2001 BMW X5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 5, 2024

I bought this vehicle and turns out the license plate reads as a Tahoe and now the electricial system u plugged speedometer don't work and everything is going out I need help I'm low on money but need help or resources email me [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11629001
Incident
Dec 5, 2024
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 4, 2018

IN 2001 I HAD A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED THEN IN 2007 ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN, THEN IN 2011 THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN, THEN IN 2018 THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN GOES OUT AGAIN OVERHEAT AND BLOWS THE HEAD GASKET WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM LAS VEGAS IN GILROY CALIFORNIA ???

NHTSA ID
11145180
Incident
Oct 29, 2018
Mileage
536 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Sep 18, 2017
Fire reported

2001 BMW X5 4.4I CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID
11024122
Incident
Aug 18, 2017
Mileage
270,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 14, 2017

PARKED X5 AT A ACE HARDWARE STORE, A PERSON CAME RUNNING IN SAYING A CAR WAS ON FIRE! IT WAS MY X5 IN GLEN ELLEN IL TOTAL LOSS ALLSTATE INSURANCE CLAIM #0158238170KR.

NHTSA ID
10985631
Incident
Jan 13, 2010
Mileage
196,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2016

AUXILIARY COOLING FAN BEGAN BEGAN SMOKING AND SMOLDERING AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED AT HOME. VERY NEARLY A FIRE. PART WAS ON RECALL PREVIOUSLY AND EXCHANGED BUT THEN RECALLED AGAIN AS THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART WAS USED AS REPLACEMENT DURING INITAL RECALL. MY VEHICLE WASN'T PART OF INITIAL RECALL DUE TO PRODUCTION DATE, AS MINE WAS PRODUCED 8/2000, BUT WAS STATED IN THE SECOND RECALL TO BE INCLUDED IF IT HAD THE DEFECTIVE PART. WENT TO BMW AND THEY STATED THERE WASN'T AN OPEN RECALL AND COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I SHOWED THEM THE ACTUAL RECALL CAMPAIGNS DOWNLOADED FROM THE WEB AND THEY REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER STATING THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS THE ONLY FACTOR TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL WAS WARRANTED AND THERE WASN'T AN 'OPEN' RECALL. I STATED THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO RECALLS REMAINING OPEN FOR 15 YEARS AND THIS HAPPENED IN 2001 AND THEY STATED IT WAS IRRELEVANT SINCE NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS EXISTED. THE PART ON MY VEHICLE IS 64 54 6908 124 (E53) WHICH IS CLEARLY THE DEFECTIVE PART STATED AS PART OF THE RECALL, IN BMW'S AFTERSALES AND PARTS BULLETIN AS WELL. BMW SERVICE CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
10850645
Incident
Mar 19, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed May 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WITHOUT WARNING, THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAN FAILED AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE RADIATOR AND ENGINE DAMAGE. THE RADIATOR WAS EXTREMELY HOT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO MADE SEVERAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT COMPLETELY STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 03V001000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 02V194000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 01V197000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,060.

NHTSA ID
10715611
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Mileage
181,060 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 9, 2014

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE 4.4 LITER V8 ENGINE. DRIVING ON A COLD MORNING (ABOUT 15 F) THE CCV (CRANK CASE VENTILATION) SYSTEM APPEARS TO HAVE FROZEN IN A MANNER THAT LEAD TO THE INTAKE SUCKING ENGINE OIL DIRECTLY INTO THE INTAKE AND TRYING TO COMBUST IT. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO BILLOW SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE TRAFFIC AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN BEFORE THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. TOTAL REPAIRS (PARTS AND LABOR) COST ABOUT $1000. THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY TO X5 ENGINES AND THE LOCAL MECHANICS ALREADY SEEM TO KNOW THAT AN X5 BILLOWING SMOKE IS PROBABLY THE CCV FREEZE-UP PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC I CALLED FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED THIS OVER THE PHONE. THE OWNER GROUPS ARE FULL OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT CCV FREEZE-UP. BMW SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THERE ARE REPORTS OF OWNERS WITH NEWER MODELS BEING GIVEN DISCOUNTED REPAIRS. FOR SOME 6-CYLINDER MODEL ENGINES AN INSULATED "COLD WEATHER" VERSION OF THE AFFECTED PARTS IS AVAILABLE AND IS SUGGESTED FOR THOSE THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE AND FOR SOME V8 ENGINES AN EVEN HARDER TO FIND "HOSE HEATER" KIT IS AVAILABLE, BUT NOT WELL KNOWN EVEN TO THE DEALERS (I FOUND THE PART NUMBERS ONLINE AFTER BEING TURNED AWAY BY TWO DEALERS WHO SAID SUCH PARTS DON'T EXIST). THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND BILLOWING SMOKE SEEMS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. DRAWING SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES OF ENGINE OIL INTO THE INTAKE AND COMBUSTION PATH SEEMS TO DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM OVERALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597257
Incident
Jan 15, 2014
Mileage
137,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 9, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE AUXILIARY FAN WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE FUSE FOR THE FAN AND THE FUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN) OR 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,177.

NHTSA ID
10450893
Incident
Mar 8, 2012
Mileage
108,177 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD BEGIN TO ILLUMINATE AND IT WOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED MANY TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ID
10418423
Incident
Jan 8, 2011
Mileage
145,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 14, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE OIL SEPARATOR FRACTURED AND CAUSED OIL TO SPRAY OVER ALL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE OIL SEPARATOR, VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE VALVE COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A CRANK CASE VENTILATION BLANKET IN ORDER TO KEEP IT WARM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.

NHTSA ID
10370645
Incident
Sep 1, 2009
Mileage
86,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN ACTIVATION. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BEGAN TO CIRCULATE WARM AIR. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE COOLING FAN. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V138000 AND 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE SAFETY RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10299886
Incident
Jul 15, 2007
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2009

ON COLD DAY, '01 BMW X5 3.0, STARTED, BRIEFLY WARMED AND DRIVEN 8 MILES B/F ENGINE QUITS AND WILL NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOR OVERHEATING INVOLVED. MECHANIC INDICATES ENGINE COMPLETELY SEIZED DUE TO OIL SEPARATOR FREEZING FROM RESIDUAL CONDENSATION IN AIR AS WELL AS CRANKCASE RESULTING IN OIL FORCED INTO CYLINDERS, CHOKING MOTOR, AND CRACKING CONNECTING RODS. ENGINE HAS NOW FAILED REQUIRING A NEW OR USED MOTOR - ESTIMATED AT $7,500 REPLACEMENT (NOT TO MENTION SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERING RESALE VALUE SINCE NEW MOTOR WILL NOT MATCH VIN). VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED BEYOND MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED INTERVALS (EG: OIL CHANGE EVERY 3K MILES WITH BMW SPEC'D OIL AND FILTERS). THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW, PARTICULARLY THE X5 - OIL SEPARATOR IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS WAS REDESIGNED TO ADDRESS ISSUE. NO WARNING FROM DEALERSHIP WHO MAINTAINED CAR UNTIL 2 YEARS AGO. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THAT HAS NOW CAUSED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND COULD VERY WELL CAUSE CATASTROPHIC INJURY OR DEATH OF VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IF ENGINE FAILS ON HIGHWAY, RATHER THAN ON A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD DRIVING @ 5 MPH.. BMW SHOULD HAVE MADE A RECALL ON THIS PART BEFORE THIS ISSUE STARTED OCCURRING WITH REGULAR FREQUENCY TO ANYONE LIVING IN A COLD CLIMATE. OLD PARTS AND MOTOR ARE STILL AVAILABLE - AT LEAST FOR THE CURRENT TIME. WILL NEED TO BE DISPOSED AS A CORE CHARGE IN NEAR FUTURE ONCE NEW ENGINE CAN BE LOCATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256365
Incident
Jan 20, 2009
Mileage
109,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN SIX DEGREE WEATHER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE SPEED DECREASED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OIL VALVE SEPARATOR ISSUE. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE ENGINE FROZE AND SHOT OUT ALL OF THE OIL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE FAILURE COVERED BY HER AFTERMARKET WARRANTY, BUT THEY REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE; THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE OIL VALVE SEPARATOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THROUGH RESEARCH, SHE LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AND, AFTER THE REPAIR IS PERFORMED, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. SHE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 94,500.

NHTSA ID
10255824
Incident
Jan 8, 2009
Mileage
94,500 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2009

BMW - VENT VALVE THE VEHICLE IS OBVIOUSLY ENGINEERED WRONG AND THE COMPANY SHOULD BE LIABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $1,000 TO REPLACE AND CLEANUP A FROZEN VENT VALVE DUE TO CONDENSATION FROM MOISTURE. THE EXTREME WEATHER WHERE I LIVE CAUSE THE CONDENSATION TO FREEZE CAUSING OIL TO BACKUP AND BLOW THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255314
Incident
Jan 12, 2009
Mileage
10,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 10, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH SMOKE. SHE DROVE TO A GAS STATION AND OBSERVED ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS BEGINNING TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT CONTROL MELTED, WHICH CAUSED THE COPPER HOUSING UNIT TO MELT AND REST OVER THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT KEPT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND HAS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NHTSA ID
10251406
Incident
Dec 4, 2008
Mileage
58,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE, AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 01V206000 AND 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM:FAN). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.

NHTSA ID
10231685
Incident
Jun 8, 2008
Mileage
87,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 23, 2008

I HAVE A 2001 BMW X-5. ON A COLD DAY IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR I LEFT WORK AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN MY YELLOW CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I COULD SMELL OIL AND NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SMOKING OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. I WENT TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE TO CHECK THE OIL. WHEN I PULLED OUT THE DIP STICK, OIL SHOT OUT OF THE HOLE AND SPRAYED ALL OVER THE INTERIOR OF MY HOOD, ON MY FACE AND ALL OVER MY CLOTHING. THE OIL CRANKCASE HAD BECOME PRESSURIZED AND WAS FORCING THE OIL OUT THE ENGINE, THROUGH THE RINGS AND VALVE COVERS. AFTER WIPING OFF MY FACE, HANDS AND CLOTHING THE BEST I COULD, I ADDED THREE QUARTS OF OIL TO RETURN THE LEVEL TO ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS. REPAIRS NEEDED TO GET NEW GASKETS AND OIL SEPARATOR, PCV VALVE, DIP STICK GUIDE TUBE AND HOSES. THESE REPAIRS COST $1690. LATER I UNDERSTOOD THAT BMW WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAD ISSUED A SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN # SI B 11 08 03 TO ITS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I ALSO HEARD THAT MORE THAN 100 SIMILAR EVENTS OCCURRED IN MINNEAPOLIS DURING THE FIRST COLD SPELL OF THIS SEASON. BMW SHOULD HAVE INFORMED OWNERS OF BMW OF THE NEED TO REPLACE PCV VALVES IF REQUIRED TO BOTH PREVENT POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO CARS AND DRIVERS WHO LIKE MYSELF RESPONDED TO THE SITUATION AND ENDED UP BEING SPRAYED BY WARM ENGINE OIL. A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD EXISTED WITH OIL BEING FORCED FROM MY CRANKCASE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222050
Incident
Jan 2, 2008
Mileage
106,000 mi
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Jan 3, 2008

MY 2001 BMW X5 HAS SERIOS ISSUES WITH ITS DESIGN THAT BMW CORP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX. 1ST THERE IS A FAULTY DESIGN ON THE PVC CAUSING THE VALVE TO FREEZE AND DRAIN THE OIL INTO THE ENGINE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE IN MY CAR. AND COST ME ABOUT $1200 TO FIX. 2ND THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE FRONT DOORS WHEREBY THE EITHER FREEZE SHUT OR REFUSE TO LOCK IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 17F. THIS IS A HAZARD WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP US ( CONSUMERS) SINCE BMW APPARENTLY HAS NO INTEREST IN ADRESSING THESE ISSUES.*CN

NHTSA ID
10213628
Incident
Jan 2, 2008
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2007

BMW X5 3.0L 2001 1) CAR LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY REQUIRING AN EMERGENCY STOP. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. 2) A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC COOLING SYSTEM CAUSED THE COOLANT TO EJECT. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE. THERE WERE NO AUDIBLE OR VISIBLE WARNINGS. APPARENTLY THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A COOLANT SENSOR AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE CAN MALFUNCTION IF THE COOLANT HAS ALL LEAKED OUT. 3) ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT 63,000 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY). CAR HAS HAD ALL BMW RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200828
Incident
Aug 21, 2007
Mileage
63,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 28, 2005

THE COOLING FAN BEGAN TURNING ON AND BLOW AT MAXIMUM POWER BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS NOT UNTIL WE TALKED WITH A ANOTHER PERSON WHO ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, THAT WE FOUND IT THERE WAS A RECALL BY BMW. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (IN BUENA PARK,CA) AND WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE WE WAITED TO LONG TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN! REMEMBER - NEITHER SAVAGE BMW NOR BMW NORTH AMERICA NOTIFIED US ABOUT THE DEFECT! SO WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE US. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138029
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Apr 1, 2005

I PURCHASED MY 2001 BMW X5, NEW IN SEPT OF 2000. I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT PRETTY QUICKLY. THE MOST PLAUGING PROBLEM WAS THE GAS GAUGE. IT TOOK BMW 5 TIMES TO FINALLY FIX IT. 2/26/01 14461 MILAGE, 3/9/01 14512 MILAGE, 5/16/01 18566 MILES, 8/29/01 24493 MILES, AND FINALLY 2/26/02 37268 MILES. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR, WATER PUMP, LOWER CONTRO ARM (TWICE), AND VARIOUS OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS. I TRIED TO ENACT THE LEMON LAW, BUT SINCE THE 3RD TIME ON THE FUEL GAUGE WAS AT 18500 MILES, I WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T APPLY. NOW AFTER 4 AND A HALF YEARS, I HAVE 114,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I WAS JUST TOLD THAT THE MOTOR IS SHOT AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $11,500. I CAN'T SINK THAT KIND OF MONEY INTO A CAR WITH THAT MANY MILES BUT I CAN'T SELL IT WITH A BAD MOTOR AND I CAN'T MAKE PAYMENTS ON TWO CARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND BMW HAS REFUESED HELP ME. THE ONLY OFFER THEY MADE WAS TO GIVE ME $5000.00 OFF ON A NEW CAR WHEN I HIRED A LAWYER TO TRY TO ENACT THE LEMON LAW, BUT WITH THE MILAGE I HAD ON THE CAR ALREADY I STILL WOULD HAVE OWED THEM MONEY ON THE TRADE-IN. THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE INCIDENT. IT'S JUST BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE PAID BMW OVER $3600.00 FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. NOW IT'S GOING TO COST ME OVER $11,000 MORE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN. I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS AND HAVE ALWAYS PAMPERED THE CAR. I ONLY USED THE BEST GAS, NEVER MISSED ANY SCHEDULED SERVICES. I CAN'T BELIEVE BMW IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS BETTER THAN THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10116227
Incident
Mar 4, 2005
Mileage
113,744 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2005

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STALLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHILE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP, HOWEVER THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10109711
Incident
Jan 24, 2005
EngineVisibility
Filed Dec 19, 2004

BMW X-5 COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE WITH ONLY 26,800 MILES. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND TUBES TO THE RADIATOR BURNED OUT. ALSO 3 POWER WINDOW REGULATORS MALFUNCTIONED. AT THIS MOMENT FIXED BUT UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE COST AND ENGINEERING OF THE CAR. ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED AND SUPPOSEDLY NEW. DID NOT SEE NEW OR OLD PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10104079
Incident
Dec 2, 2004
Mileage
26,780 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 21, 2004

NORMAL DRIVING, RADIATOR RESERVOIR CRACKED DURING NORMAL DRIVING, LEAKING VERY HOT RADIATOR FLUID, CAUSING SMOKING, STOPPED VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100290
Incident
Nov 19, 2004
Mileage
38,600 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 2004

FUEL TANK LEAKING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. NEEDED FUEL TANK AND LINES REPLACED. OVER $4,000 IN REPAIRS FOR A 2001? ASKED ABOUT RECALL ON FUEL TANKS TSB 165200.. SAID DOES NOT PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE. WHATEVER?*AK

NHTSA ID
10093311
Incident
Jul 17, 2004
Mileage
57,000 mi

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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