Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2006 BMW X5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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
TAKATA RECALL WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM EXHAUST PIPES WHEN DRIVING AND FILLS THE STREETS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN TRAFFIC AND AT IDLE. OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME CAN'T SEE DUE TO THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST.
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
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 (NA) BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V479000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH A DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEM HAD A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
CCV (CRANK CASE VENTILATION) SYSTEM FROZE LEADING TO VCG (VALVE COVER GASKET) FAILURE. BMW ISSUED A SIB FOR THIS IN 2009 SO THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REVISED THE PARTS FOR COLD WEATHER CLIMATES. UNFORTUNATELY I AM WAY OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS IS OUT OF POCKET AT $1000++. THIS WAS/IS A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE I HAD THE COLD WEATHER CCV AND IT STILL FAILED. THEY BLAME IT ON NOT GETTING THE VEHICLE UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE DUE TO SHORT TRIPS! RIDICULOUS ON WHAT WAS A $54K CAR WHEN NEW. *TR
I ALREADY FILED COMPLAINTS FOR A FAILED BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER PUMP, WATER PUMP LEAKING COOLANT, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING OIL. I FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE VALVE GASKET COVER ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS OIL WAS SPEWING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. AT THIS POINT, THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED IN ITS ENTIRETY. *TR
COMPLETE BMW DIAGNOSTIC DONE IN OCTOBER 2013, REPAIRS DONE EXCEPT BRAKES. WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AT NORTHSIDE DR. & 8TH STREET(APPROX.) MY X5 SHUT OFF & WOULD NOT CRANK UNTIL 10 MINUTES LATER. FIRE TRUCK WAS ON AN EMERGENCY & MY X5 BLOCKED IT'S MOTION. IMMEDIATELY TOOK X5 TO AUTO REPAIR, RENTED A CAR & NO PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. 06/02/14, ON MY WAY TO BIBLE STUDY, STOPPED AT LIGHT, STUTTERED UPON GAS PETAL PUSH TO DRIVE. DROVE UP HILL & X5 SHUT OFF THEN DASH LIGHT READ STOP! OIL PRESSURE, COASTED TO NEAREST LOT. OIL ADDED THEN DROVE FOR 5 MORE MINUTES, STOPPED FOR OFFICER TO DIRECT SCHOOL ZONE TRAFFIC, SHUT OFF AGAIN. ENGINE TURNS ON BUT WON'T COMPLETELY START. POLICE PUSHED ME INTO NEAREST PARKING LOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. IN ADDITION, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE CYLINDERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, BURNING OIL COULD BE SMELLED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS COVERED IN MOTOR OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK CASE RELEASE VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER HAVING OUR BMW SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT OUR LOCAL DEALER, THE "CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER, AND UPON THEM LOOKING AT IT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKCASE VENT VALVE (OIL SEPARATOR), NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1,300. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS LIGHT COME ON NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND ALWAYS CALL THE DEALER WHEN IT DOES. EVERY TIME WE CALL, THEY EITHER TELL ME TO TOP THE OIL OFF MYSELF, OR WE BRING IT TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO TOP OFF. NOT ONCE DID SOMEONE MENTION THAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE A PROBLEM, AND THEY CONTINUED TO LET US DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED IN DOING SO. A VERY QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, AND BMW'S IN GENERAL, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND THE PART SHOULD BE COVERED. I NOW HAVE TO GET THIS DONE IMMEDIATELY, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS BURNING SO MUCH OIL DAILY, AROUND A QUART PER 1,000 MILES. I AM REACHING OUT TO HELP GET A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IF THERE IS ANY OTHER INFORMATION I CAN PROVIDE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A VERY COLD DAY (0 DEGREES) IN CHICAGO, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE TRUCK TOTALLY STOPPED RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANCKCASE BREATHER BOX/OIL SEPARATOR STOPPED WORKING CAUSING OIL TO SPEW EVERYWHERE WITHIN MY EXHAUST. THIS ALSO RUINED MY SPARK PLUGS. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT IN THE X5, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL RELATED TO THIS. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AS SOON AS THE MANUFACTURER OR EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES AND IT IS RELATED TO COLD WEATHER. *TR
OIL SEPARATOR PROBLEM WITH 2006 BMW X5, CAUSED ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I'M TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO FIX IT. $1500 REPAIR AND STILL NO ASSURANCE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON THEREFORE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY CHANGES ON THE CAR EXCEPT THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WHERE IT CONSUMED MORE THAN USUAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE OIL VAPOR SEPARATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR DID NOT DIE ON ME. THEY ARE CHARGING 1400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AS I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, THIS PART HAS BEEN FAILING FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT DRIVE THEIR CAR FAR ENOUGH. THE CONDENSATION COAGULATES IN THE OIL PASSAGES. ONE OF THOSE PASSAGES IS THE TUBE FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR WHICH GOES BACK INTO THE OIL PAN. OVER TIME, THE REPEATED DRIVING ON SHORT TRIPS CAUSES THE COAGULATED OIL AND CONDENSATION TO BUILD UP INSIDE THE PASSAGE WHICH RUNS FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR TO THE OIL PAN. WHEN ENOUGH CONDENSATION GATHERS IN THE OIL SEPARATOR AFTER THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF IN TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING - HYDROLOCK MAY BE CAUSED BY OIL INGESTION. DUE TO THIS, THE SUV CAN JUST STOP ANYWHERE, I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES THAT MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID NOT HAVE TO COMPROMISE MY SAFETY. I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID, THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT. *LN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ALSO, THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE AT A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2006 BMW X5.*AK UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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