2006 BMW X5 Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, there was an electrical burning odor inside the vehicle. The ABS, brakes, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was driven to the residence. On another occasion, the contact had to redirect the steering wheel into a different lane while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who changed the oil and replaced the alternator; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic and was diagnosed with multiple electrical failures. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer and a diagnostic test was pending. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.

NHTSA ID

11648331

Incident

Mar 30, 2023

Mileage

193,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WENT ON LIMP MODE I'M PRETTY SURE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOOKS LIKE THE AIR BAG WANTS TO POP OUT.

NHTSA ID

11289550

Incident

Dec 16, 2019

Mileage

11 mi

MY VEHICLES BATTERY KEEP DRAINING WHEN NOT DROVE FOR TWO DAYS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL WONT FIRE AFTER 2 DAYS. I SAW THE RECALL ABOUT MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLES POSITIVE CRANK CASE VENTILATION VALVE HEATER AND THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE CAUSING MY BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. HOWEVER, I FIND THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALLED LIST. IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO THIS.

NHTSA ID

11219764

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

MY HEATED SEAT CATCHED ON FIRE. DRIVER SIDE SEAT LEFT SIDE REAR. I GOT BURNED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A PARKING LOT. I REALIZED THAT MY PANTS HAVE A WHOLE AS WELL AS OF THE SEAT

NHTSA ID

10969653

Incident

Mar 24, 2017

Mileage

106,000 mi

2006 X5 VIN [XXX] WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND HWY! 1. BRAKE BOOSTER / VACUUM LINE FAILURE SAME AS RECALLED 2007-2010 ISSUE. WHY IS MY 2006 X5 BMW NOT COVERED WHEN THERE IS CLEARLY A SYSTEMIC FAILURE OF THIS SAME SYSTEM? I SEEK IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND DEMAND UPON YOU A RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC BMW NOW TODAY. [XXX] CALL ME! 2. ALTERNATOR FAILURE X5 ACTED POSSESSED WITH ALL LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF BEFORE SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN ON A FREEWAY WHILE AT MAX LEGAL SPEED. ALTERNATOR IS PLACED LOW ON THE LEFT SIDE WHERE OIL LEAKS INTO IT CAUSING A FAILURE MODE. THE SAME OIL LEAKS CAUSE OTHER RUBBER COMPONENTS TO SWELL UP CRACK AND FAIL SUCH AS BOOTS AND RUBBER BUSHINGS ON ARMS. WHERE IS THE RECALL?? 2006 WHERE IS IT?? 3. BRAKE LIGHT SYSTEM FAILURE BACK R/H AND CHANGING LIGHT BULBS DIDN'T BRING IT TO WORKING CONDITION. BMW USED A SCREW DRIVER TO MAKE IT WORK AGAIN AFTER THE AIRBAG AND ALTERNATOR REPAIR THEY DID..I PAID FOR THE ALTERNATOR BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ITEM! NOW MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK BACK R/H SIDE. 5. 1 HEAD LIGHT OUT 6. ENGINE LEAKS OIL ON THE SIDE ONTO MY X5 RUBBER COMPONENTS AND I ALREADY HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW BOOT AND ARM! OTHER RUBBER ITEMS ARE ALL BAD AND GETTING WORSE! WHERE IS THE RECALL? WHY ARE THESE SAFETY ITEMS NOT BEING RECALLED BY YOUR GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10928444

Incident

Nov 28, 2016

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN HIGH SPEED LANE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER CREATING DANGER OF REAR END COLLISION. IN MOVING TO BREAK DOWN LANE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT WOULD NOT PROPEL THE VEHICLE OVER 5 MPH. THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED TWO WEEKS PREVIOUSLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW DEALER FOR SERVICE. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS ELECTRONICALLY DIAGNOSED AND NO FAULTS WERE FOUND OR REPAIRS MADE.THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALER AND NO ELECTRONIC FAULTS WERE FOUND. THIS TIME A MECHANICAL DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED AND FUEL PRESSURE WAS FOUND TO BE 12 PSI RATHER THAT THE 55 PSI SPECIFIED. SUBSEQUENTLY THE CONTACTS IN THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WERE FOUND TO BE BURNED, THE FUEL FILTER AND PRESSURE REGULATOR WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN METAL SHARDS, THE FUEL PUMP SHOWED NO EXTERNAL SIGNS OF DAMAGE. ALL ITEMS WERE REPLACED AT WHICH TIME FUEL PRESSURE RETURNED TO 55 PSI AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN NORMALLY. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT THE FUEL PUMP CAN FAIL INTERNALLY WHICH CANNOT BE DETECTED BY ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSIS AND RETURNING A CAR TO THE ROAD WITHOUT PERFORMING THE MECHANICAL DIAGNOSES SPECIFIED IN THE FACTORY SERVICE LITERATURE IS A DANGEROUS AND NEGLIGENT PRACTICE BY THIS PARTICULAR BMW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND MAY INDICATE AN INHERENT FLAW IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. PARTS REPLACED: 61 36 8 373 700 RELAY 16 12 6 754 016 FUEL FILTER PRESSURE REGULATOR 16 11 6 768 357 FUEL PUMP

NHTSA ID

10916165

Incident

Sep 8, 2016

Mileage

106,000 mi

MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ( CUSHION) CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS. I FIRST SMELLED A BURNING / PLASTIC SMELL. THEN I FELT MY GLUTES AND HAMSTRING GETTING WARM. I LOOKED DOWN ( I WAS DRIVING) AND SAW AN ORANGE EMBER ON THE SEAT. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD, HOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND SAW THAT THE SEAT WAS ACTUALLY BURNING. LUCKILY I HAD A BOTTLE OF WATER IN THE CAR AND PUT OUT THE FLAME AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT. I CALLED THE DEALER- GOT A QUOTE TO REPAIR. BMW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I HAVE A SMALL BURN ON MY LEG, AND A GOOD SIZE HOLE IN THE SEAT. I LIKE MY HEATED SEATS LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST DURING WINTER MONTHS. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT BMW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10837485

Incident

Feb 20, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER. LIGHT WENT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN DID NOT MEET THE RECALL FOR REPLACING THE FAILED MAT SENSOR ALTHOUGH OTHER 2006 BMW X5S WERE RECALLED FOR THAT SAME FAILURE. THE WARNING LIGHT IS PRESENTLY ON. I HAVE READ OF MANY EXAMPLES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE AGING MAT BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACKS BREAKING THE CIRCUIT. BMW NEEDS TO SEND ME A LETTER AND REPLACE MY PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR FOR FREE BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER IS INJURED.

NHTSA ID

10758522

Incident

Dec 13, 2013

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10641149

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH LEATHER SEATS ON RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT AT RIB CAGE. SLIGHTLY BURNED DRIVER. HAD A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. LEFT ABOUT A 6 INCH BURN LINE IN THE SEAT. VERY UNATTRACTIVE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10564755

Incident

Feb 18, 2014

Mileage

87,131 mi

STARTED X5 UP AND TURNED ON DRIVER 'S SEAT WARMER. LET CAR WARM UP FOR 5 MINUTES AND COMMENCED TO DRIVE AWAY. ONE MINUTE DOWN THE ROAD I SMELL SMOKE LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I FEEL MY LEFT HIP GETTING HOT AT THE SAME TIME. I STOP CAR AND LOOK DOWN AND SEE A DULL RED GLOW FROM THE SEAT. IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF HEATER AND GET OUT OF CAR. THE DRIVER SEAT WARMER HAD SHORTED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. HOW HOT WAS IT! MY PANTS HAD BEEN BURNT AND HAD A SMALL RED MARK ON MY SKIN. THINK GOODNESS I WAS NOT SEVERELY BURNED DUE TO THE AREA OF MY PANTS THAT WAS BURNT WAS ALSO THE LEFT BACK POCKET AREA SO THE INTERIOR POCKET FABRIC HELP PROTECT ME. WOW! WILL BMW FIX THIS????? *TR

NHTSA ID

10562057

Incident

Jan 29, 2014

Mileage

123,469 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT TURNED ON AND THEREAFTER BECAME DANGEROUSLY HOT AND BURNED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S COAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557605

Incident

Dec 24, 2013

Mileage

82,000 mi

PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILS, CAUSING AIR BAG TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND AIRBAG LIGHT TO APPEAR ON DASH. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WANTS NEARLY 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX, THOUGH THEY SAY IT HAD "ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED IN 2008" WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD; DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY HEAR THIS COMPLAINT ALL OF THE TIME. RECALL CAMPAIGN 08V384000 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE FOR SOME BMW MODELS/SEATS, BUT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ALL MODELS AND YEARS THAT HAVE THE PROBLEM. FOR THE X5 MODEL, FOR EXAMPLE, THE "COMFORT SEAT" IS COVERED, BUT THE STANDARD SEAT, WHICH HAS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM (NOT RELATED TO THE COMFORT SYSTEM) IS NOT. PLEASE WIDEN THE COVERAGE OF THE CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND YEARS AFFECTED BY THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555944

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

99,000 mi

AFTER EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE FOR WHICH BMW ISSUED THIS RECALL NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001 I LEARNED THAT BECAUSE MY 2006 X5 WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER NOVEMBER 30, 2005, BMW IS NOT COVERING UNDER WARRANTY THE VERY SAME DEFECT THAT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 30, 2005 ARE UNDER WARRANTY FOR (EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE RESTRICTIONS). THE EXPLANATION IS "THAT IS THE RECALL POLICY. WE MANAGE THIS VIA VIN NUMBERS". *TR

NHTSA ID

10549432

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

Mileage

49,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT SHORTED WHILE DRIVING. IT CAUSED A SMALL FIRE AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT WHEN HEATED SEAT WAS TURNED ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504270

Incident

Jan 27, 2013

Mileage

93,000 mi

MY VEHICLES REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE LOCK GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR STOPPED WORKING ON THE 12TH OF DECEMBER 2012 AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED WORKING TODAY 18 DECEMBER 2012. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED WORKING THIS MORNING WHEN I DROPPED MY DAUGHTER OFF FOR SCHOOL. SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AFTER MULTIPLE UNLOCKING ATTEMPTS OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I HAD TO HAVE HER CLIMB INTO THE FRONT SEAT IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THAT IS TERRIFYING TO THINK THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, FIRE, OR ACCIDENT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHER BMW MODELS. I AM ASSUMING AND CONCERNED THAT MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL DO THE SAME. MYSELF AND FAMILY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER CONSUMERS THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES. ITS JUST NOT SAFE. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE OLDER WITH MORE MILEAGE AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH DOORS NOT OPENING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND I AM WAITING ON A REPLY ON HOW THEY PLAN TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489189

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

122,500 mi

JUST PURCHASED THE CERTIFIED PRE OWNED BMW X5. 2006 MODEL AND HAD IT 1 DAY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. RETURNED CAR TO BMW OF DALLAS TO HAVE REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 40000 MILES LATER AT 68000 MILES SAME LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483919

Incident

Dec 15, 2009

Mileage

30,010 mi

THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON MY BMW IS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHT TO NOT WORK, WHICH IS DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TURNS UP THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN X5'S, AND I THINK BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE ASSEMBLIES, NOT THE CUSTOMER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR A MATERIAL DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCTS.

NHTSA ID

10411084

Incident

May 1, 2011

Mileage

88,000 mi

HEATED SEATS WERE GETTING HOTTER THE PAST COUPLE OF USES...UNTIL TODAY WHEN I WARMED UP THE CAR (APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES). I WAS PUTTING MY DAUGHTER IN HER SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH THICK WHITE SMOKE. I REMOVED MY DAUGHTER AND PROCEED TO ASCERTAIN WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. THERE WAS A SWIRLING FUNNEL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. I OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND OBSERVED THE DRIVER SEAT LEATHER BURNING (FIZZLING AMBER FIRE). I LOOKED OVER TO THE SEAT WARMER LIGHT AND IT WAS ON. I TURNED IT OFF AND HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BY BATTING MY HANDS AGAINST THE FIRE WHILE HOLDING MY DAUGHTER IN THE OTHER. THE FIRE LEFT MY HANDS CHARRED AND THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR SMELLING LIKE SMOKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382976

Incident

Feb 16, 2011

Mileage

65,300 mi

DANGER! FIRE HAZARD ON 2006 BMW X5. HEATED SEATS GET EXTREMELY HOT ON DRIVER SIDE LEFT SIDE UNDER THE DRIVERS BUTTOCKS AND THIGH. SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC AND FUMES IN CABIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10376306

Incident

Jan 11, 2011

Mileage

64,000 mi