2005 BMW X5 Electrical Problems

My father was sitting in his parked car in his driveway and his car caught on fire. A neighbor witnessed it she said it was engulfed in flames within seconds and my father died from smoke inhalation due to the fire. Aberdeen WA police department and fire department examined the vehicle and investigated the cause and determined it started in the vehicle engine. Also the coroner did an autopsy to determine his cause of death. From what I understand there has been numerous similar fires with this model yet it hasn’t been included in any recall. It is unknown to me whether there were any indicator lights on. He had only owned the vehicle for less than a week I believe. I am having the vehicle returned to me now that the police and fire department are finished examining it. As far as I know they are the only ones to have contact with it since the fire.

NHTSA ID

11499056

Incident

Nov 24, 2022

THE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LOOSING THE INSULATION, AND THERE ALL THE BARE WIRES ARE EXPOSED. THIS IS A HIGH FIRE HAZARD, WHAT MAY CAUSE DEATH OF THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS IN THE TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST IN MY VEHICLE, THERE ARE MANY FORUMS OVER THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11311737

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

BOTH TAILLIGHT HOUSING CIRCUIT BOARDS SHORTS OUT. BURNS BETWEEN HOUSING AND ADAPTER . THUS CAUSES A BREAK IN THE CIRCUIT AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TAILLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND IS ILLEGAL TO GO WITH NO TAILLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11048199

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH EVERY SINGLE WINDOW. THEY DO NOT ROLL UP. I REPEATEDLY PAY TO HAVE THESE FIXED AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE. THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFECT IN THESE WINDOWS. I HAVE HAD AN ARRAY OF VEHICLES, NONE OF WHICH HAD HALF AS MANY ISSUES AS THIS BMW.

NHTSA ID

10991621

Incident

May 27, 2009

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN THEN ACCELERATED ONTO A ROUND-A-BOUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR WAS STILL ON. I TRIED SIGNALING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BUT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS GOING ON & OFF NOT LETTING ME SIGNAL ANYTHING. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK & TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON IT WOULD JUST CLICK AND ALL LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. I WAITED FOR 20 MIN THEN TRIED TO START IT AGAIN & IT DID START BUT THEN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DYING OUT AND EVENTUALLY WOULD SHUT OFF, THERE WAS MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10936454

Incident

Dec 16, 2016

Mileage

155,000 mi

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, IN MOTION, GOT PULLED OVER BY POLICE

NHTSA ID

10851481

Incident

Mar 24, 2016

Mileage

138,000 mi

WHILE I WAS REPLACING MY ANGEL EYES I NOTICED THAT THE WIRE INSULATION WAS GONE. I COULD SEE BROWN AND WHITE WIRES ALL IN THE LIGHT HOUSING. NOW ITS JUST BARE COPPER WIRE.

NHTSA ID

10837110

Incident

Feb 18, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY BREAKS WENT OUT THE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF THE WIOERS DONT WORK THE OUTSIDE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF AT NIGHT I HAVE A OUTRAGEOUS CIOLANT LEAK AND MIRE I HAVE DROVE THE CAR IN ABOUT 5 MONTHS OR LONGER AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS NOW THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ME AND THE KIDS GERS SOAKED BECAUSE I H A VE WALK THEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERYDAY IT SUCKS SO IM MAKING PAYMENTS FOR SOMETHING I CAN USE IVE HAD COILS REPLACED EVERYTHING IT VIBRATES REALLY BAD WHEN I COME TO A STOP LIGHT IBHAVE HAD NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING JUST PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID

10545231

Incident

Aug 30, 2012

I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2013. ON JULY 25, I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR AND BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE VENTS. NO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE VCAR AND WENT FOR HELP. SPARKS AND FLAMES STARTED, THE DRIVERS CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND THE ALARM WENT OFF. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER ANDNO ONE WAS HURT. I SAW ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF THIS TYPE. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. ALL THE ELECTRONICS ARE BURNED OUT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN SPONTANEOUSLY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10532037

Incident

Jul 25, 2013

Mileage

131,940 mi

LAST SATURDAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OUR (2005 X5) AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN SMOKING, ESPECIALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE PULLED OVER AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAB WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES (NO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD). WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE FLAMES ERUPTED. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED, ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY $12,000.00 IN PERSONAL CONTENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469655

Incident

Aug 4, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

BOUGHT THE MY CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE TOP CONSOLE, I TOOK IT BACK THE DEALER AND THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. ITS BEEN LEAKING OFF AND ON. A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED ABOUT AN INCH OF WATER DEPOSIT IN THE TRUNK AREA, SOME FUSE WERE WET AND OTHER ELECTRONICS FROM THE WATER DRIPPING GOOD THING IT DID NOT CAUSE A FIRE. I TOOK IT TO BMW AND THEY SAID EITHER I NEED A NEW SUNROOF CASSETTE($5000) OR NEW WATER DRAINS(($1300) WHICH THEY CLAIMED WAS MISSING ON ONE SIDE, NOT SURE IF THE CAR CAME OUT OF PRODUCTION WITH ONE MISSING WATER DRAIN. WHO WOULD SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON SOME REPAIRS THAT`S NOT EVEN GUARANTEE TO FIX THE LEAK? I`M JUST CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451738

Incident

Nov 26, 2011

RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ON REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS CAUSING MY BRAKE LIGHT TO INTERMITTENT STOP WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424015

Incident

Aug 17, 2011

Mileage

89,075 mi

BMW X-5 2005 HEATED SEATS TURN INSTANTLY BURNING HOT TO THE TOUCH. RESULTING CHARRED BLACK SEAT UNDERNEATH LEATHER EXTERIOR. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE OR AND INDIVIDUAL BE BURNED. BMW CHARGED $200.00 TO VERIFY THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT UNWILLING TO RECALL. THE SEAT UNDERNEATH THE LEATHER IS BURNED BLACK AND LUCKY IS DID NOT START FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384214

Incident

Jan 6, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT TWO WEEKS WHILE DRIVING AND USING THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER MY WIFE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE HEAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING SHE EXPERIENCED A VERY PAINFUL BURNING SENSATION ON HER LEFT LEG AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. SHE SHUTOFF THE SEAT HEATER AND APPLIED A SCARF UNDER HER LEG TO STOP THE BURNING SENSATION. UPON NOTIFYING THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THAT HE WAS CURRENTLY DEALING WITH ANOTHER INCIDENT SO HE COULD GIVE HER A QUOTE RIGHT AWAY. WHILE AT WORK THE NEXT DAY SHE WAS TALKING WITH A CUSTOMER AND HE SAID HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE IT COST TO MUCH TO REPLACE THE SEAT. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE ADVISED THAT HE HAD ALSO SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THAT IT WAS FROM WEAR AND TEAR. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT OUR INSURANCE COVERED THIS EXCEPT FOR $50 AS THE VEHICLE IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. IT HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHO IS A SMALL FEMALE ABOUT 130 LBS. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO WEAR AND TEAR AND IS SERVICED REGULARLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN DIGITAL PHOTOS WHICH I CAN PROVIDE THAT WILL SHOW THERE IS NO WEAR OR TEAR ON THE SEAT IN THE BURNED/MELTED AREA. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND IS BEING BRUSHED OFF AS "WEAR AND TEAR". THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY WIFE BEING INJURED BY BURNING OR BEING DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND ENDING UP IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10374208

Incident

Dec 22, 2010

Mileage

45,280 mi

1: WE BOUGHT THIS BMW 2005 X5 IN JUNE 2008 AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 08 FOR ROUTINE FULL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. UPON COMPLETION OF REPAIRS/DIAGNOSTICS, WHICH TOOK ALMOST A WEEK, DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THERE WERE NO ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER RECEIVING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE "CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH" FROM THE DEALER, THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE MORNING RIGHT BEFORE WORK RESULTING IN LOGISTICAL, FINANCIAL, AND SAFETY ISSUES. THE CAR HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND WAS BROUGHT UP MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE DEALER WITHOUT RESOLUTION. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED, AGAIN RESULTING IN LOGISTICAL, FINANCIAL, AND SAFETY ISSUES AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. OVER THE NEXT WEEK, WE NOTICED ABOUT 16 OTHER ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES AND BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. AFTER RECEIVING THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AS THE CAR DIED AGAIN. WITHIN ANOTHER MONTH, THE CAR DIED YET AGAIN! AGAIN, IT WAS THE BATTERY. AGAIN, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2: THE FAILURE IS, AMONGST MULTIPLE OTHER ISSUES, A CHRONIC BATTERY DRAIN. 3: LAST REPAIR, ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, THE TCU UNIT WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE BATTERY. SO FAR, WE ARE ON OUR 5TH BATTERY IN 4 MONTHS IN A NEWER BMW X5! OUR FUEL GAUGE STILL DOES NOT READ FULL WHEN FULL AND IS INACCURATE. DEALER STATES THAT "THIS IS THE WAY ALL BMWS ARE MADE". *TR

NHTSA ID

10250411

Incident

Nov 11, 2008