RoadVitals

2008 BMW X5 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
10
Latest Aug 10, 2022
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.
5%
of 215 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.
1
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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 BMW X5 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.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 10, 2022

PCV MY safety of my self and my 5 yr 17 yr I use my BMW X5 to take my kids or doctors and school and I work too and something need to be happen about this bc My family are AT RISK OF GETTING CAUGHT ON FIRE when iam starting up the car black smoke or white smoke comes out and when iam driving and people who are behind in they car get smoke out my lots of smoke that comes from my car in back and yes ita a RECALL on my car Manufactuer NO warning just smoke and driving very and had it look at then i was told

NHTSA ID
11478604
Incident
Aug 10, 2022
AirbagsDriver assistanceInterior & seats
Filed Jun 16, 2020

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SEAT BELT PROBLEMS FOR YEARS. THERE'S A RECALL ON THE BMW X5 BUT I'M NOT SURE WHY MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THERE ARE 3 OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME SEAT BELT ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329161
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 13, 2017

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DASHBOARD GIVE ERROR THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. CAR LOSES POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIGN AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. SUBSEQUENTLY, ENGINE WILL NOT START OR CRANK AS IF BATTERY POWER IS LIST. ENGINE CAN BE RESTARTED WITH A JUMPER OR IF THE CAR IS LEFT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTE TO AN HOUR, THE ENGINE WILL START WITHOUT A JUMPER.

NHTSA ID
10960390
Incident
Mar 13, 2017
Mileage
10 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 20, 2016

ENGINE, ACCELERATION SHUTDOWN (ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY - 2/26/16); MONITOR DISPLAY FALSE MESSAGE OF "WARNING: ENGINE HOT; OVERHEATING." ENGINE NOT HOT OR OVERHEATED; COOL TO TOUCH. COOLANT LEVEL FULL. CAR DISABLED. CAR GAVE 45 SECONDS AT FULL ACCELERATION BEFORE SOUNDING HIGH PITCHED FAN NOISE, THEN DISPLAYING "WARNING MESSAGE" ON CENTER MONITOR, THEN LOSING PEDAL ACCELERATION POWER ON EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSTATE 87 SOUTH HIGHWAY AT NIGHT, WITH INTERMITTENT EMERGENCY SHOULDER ACCESS. DANGEROUS TO MAINTAIN MANEUVERABILITY TO SAFETY WITH HIGH VELOCITY TRUCKS AND CARS BARRELING ALONGSIDE VEHICLE. SUSPECTED PART DEFECT IS "ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE" SENSOR, CAUSING CAR TO INSTANTLY DISABLE WHEN IT ISN'T HOT. CAR IS SELDOM DRIVEN AND UNDER 40,000 MILES. PROBLEM IS SUSPECT AND REPORTED ON A VARIETY OF BMW SERIES, INCLUDING EVERY MODEL YEAR X5 AT: HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/COOLING-SYSTEM-COMPONENT-FAILURE-AFTER-60000-MILES-139 AND HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=561024.

NHTSA ID
10850618
Incident
Feb 26, 2016
Mileage
40,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 11, 2015

THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS NOVEMBER 15 2015. THE SHUT DOWN HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SITTING 24 HOURS, THE VEHICLE REBOOTS AND WILL START - IT IS THEN GOOD FOR 7 DAYS UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS HAVE DIAGNOSED, BUT CANNOT IDENTIFY/DUPLICATE PROBLEM. BATTERY REPLACED, BUT DID NOT REMEDY ISSUE. FIRST OCCURRENCE, VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP - VARIOUS MESSAGES ON NAV SCREEN (WARNINGS: TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION, WARNED IF VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, WILL NOT START AGAIN); ON DASH ALL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. TURNED VEHICLE OFF, DID NOT START AGAIN, AS NOTED ON NAV SCREEN. NEXT DAY, STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. TOWED TO SHOP, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE. DROVE ONE WEEK, THEN PARK BRAKE CAME ON. NEXT DAY, SAME ALERTS-THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING. DID NOT RESTART AFTER TURNING OFF. WAS ABLE TO START AFTER 24 HOURS, BUT COULD ONLY DRIVE A FEW FEET BEFORE TOTALLY SHUTTING DOWN IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE MAKE A U TURN. TOWED TO SHOP THAT NIGHT. NEXT MORNING, SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE, AS VEHICLE RAN SMOOTHLY. FOLLOWING WEEK, RETURNED TO SHOP FOR FURTHER TESTING. BATTERY REPLACED AND REGISTERED. WHEN PICKING UP VEHICLE, NOTICED NAV SCREEN WAS BLACK, WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. 4 DAYS LATER, IT CAME ON, BUT WENT OUT AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE NEXT DAY, ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON INTERSTATE. WHILE WAITING FOR TOW, WIPERS CAME ON, DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK. COULD NOT ROLL DOWN WINDOW OR OPEN DOOR TO TALK TO SAFETY PATROL. PATROL JUMP STARTED VEHICLE. IT WAS LATER TOWED TO DEALER (WHERE PURCHASED). NAV SCREEN IS STILL BLACK, DVD AND CD DO NOT WORK (CD CHANGER SPITS OUT CDS). SHIFTS VERY HARD BETWEEN GEARS. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, AS IT CUTS OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO CHOICE, AS I RECENTLY PURCHASED IT IN AUGUST 2015; AND I HAVE TOO MUCH NEGATIVE EQUITY TO TRADE IT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10809694
Incident
Nov 15, 2015
Mileage
82,881 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 18, 2015
Crash reported

IN OCTOBER OF 2015 WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN VERY SLOWLY INTO A ONE LANE DRIVE THRU, MY BMW X5 ACCELERATED CLIMBED UP A 2 FOOT WALL THAT WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RODE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL UPON THE WALL. I TRIED TO BREAK AND PULL THE HAND BRAKE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT THE CAR HOPPED OFF THE WALL ON TO THE GROUND AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR. THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED SO FAST AND HARD MY SISTER AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW IT CLIMBED THE TILE WALL WITH ONE WHEEL AND CAME DOWN TO THE GROUND. NOW I HAD JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP 5 DAYS EARLIER WHEN THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND REPLACED THE 2 FRONT TIRES AND DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT A $2500.00 JOB. IT WAS VERY SCARY LUCKILY THERE WAS NO PEOPLE OR ANOTHER CAR CLOSE BY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN THE NEXT MORNING. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED I FELT THAT THE CAR HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ACCELERATOR IT MADE THE CAR GO SO FAST AND HARD. IT WASN'T JUST A CRASH INTO THE WALL IT CLIMBED THE WALL. OF COURSE BMW SAID THE ENGINEER SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR DRIVE SHAFT? WHAT GETS TO ME IS THAT I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I FEEL LIKE THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE WAS SO STRONG AND POWERFUL THERE WAS NO WAY THAT IT COULD HOP ON THE WALL LIKE THAT AND NOT JUST CRASH STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL. OH SIDE NOTE THE VERY NEXT MORNING 10-12-2015 MY SISTER HEARD ON ABC MORNING NEWS THAT A BMW SUV JUST RAN INTO A GLASS WINDOW AT A STORE THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN!

NHTSA ID
10794764
Incident
Oct 11, 2015
Mileage
45,602 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 17, 2014

ON A RECENT RIDE HOME FROM VACATION (SUMMER 2014), MY FAMILY AND I HAD TO ENDURE OUR 2008 BMW X5 STALLED OUT AND SLOWED TO ABOUT 30 MPH ON INTERSTATE 95. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM OR ANY UPCOMING MAINTENANCE NEEDED. THE INFORMATION SCREEN STATED CRUISE CONTROL/ENGINE MALFUNCTION. WE WERE EXTREMELY SURPRISED, OVERLY ALARMED AND FRIGHTENED AS THIS WAS A DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE EVENT. WE WERE NOT USING AND HAVE NEVER USED THE CRUISE CONTROL. MY FAMILY WAS SCARED OF THIS UNSAFE ORDEAL BUT THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS INJURED. AFTER RESEARCHING THESE CONDITIONS, WE FOUND THIS SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCUR TO MANY OTHER X5 BMW OWNERS AND DATE BACK AS FAR AS 2001. THIS THROTTLE BODY DEFECT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE BODILY HARM OR DEATH. IF THIS CAR DECREASES IN POWER, ESPECIALLY ON AN INTERSTATE, SERIOUS AND DEADLY ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR. QUITE INTERESTING IS THAT THIS SAME DIAGNOSIS WAS IDENTIFIED WITH PREVIOUS OWNERS WHO'VE ONLY OWNED THEIR VEHICLES LESS THAN A YEAR. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND BMW HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED, RECALLED AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. MY 2008 BMW X5 HAS ABOUT 52,000 AND RECEIVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON TIME AND AS REQUIRED. MORE IMPORTANT, THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT WE CHECKED THE VEHICLE SYSTEM CHECK AND ALL SYSTEMS WERE "OK." AND TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO NORTHWEST BMW IN OWINGS MILLS WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A THROTTLE BODY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10625882
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
52,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed May 27, 2014

RIGHT REAR SUNROOF DRAIN DID NOT DRAIN PROPERLY CAUSING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION INCLUDING FAILURE OF ALL SAFETY AND DASH GAUGES - (INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE) ON INTERSTATE AT FREEWAY SPEED. REPAIRS EXCEED $1,500.00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594187
Incident
Apr 19, 2014
Mileage
77,800 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 16, 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DISPLAY THE MESSAGE THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS TOO HOT AND ADVISE ME TO PULL OVER. WITHIN 2 SECONDS, THE CAR SLOW ITSELF DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC DESPITE MY FOOT WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE BMW AND IT TURN OUT THE WATER PUMP HAD STOP PUMPING WATER TO THE ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. BMW CHARGED ME $1200 TO FIX IT BIT I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE SINCE A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEAL NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT BMW DID ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS MINE BUT ONLY ON THE LESS POPULAR, BIGGER ENGINE VERSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543928
Incident
Sep 13, 2013
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jul 25, 2010

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60MPH AND SUDDENLY LOST ENGINE POWER. MY SUV STARTED SLOWING AND FELT LIKE CAR WAS LOCKING UP IE. STEERING WHEEL WAS HARDER TO MOVE. PUSHING ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT BRING ANY SPEED BACK TO SLOWING SUV. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER FROM MIDDLE LANE AND CALLED BMW ASSIST FOR HELP. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP AT MY LOCATION IN WISCONSIN AT 8PM BUT DID CALL POLICE TO KEEP TRAFFIC AWAY FROM US (MYSELF AND 5 YOUNG CHILDREN) UNTIL A FRIEND CAME TO PICK US UP. THE CAR HAD TO REMAIN OVERNIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY UNTIL A FLATBED TRUCK WAS AVAILABLE TO TAKE IT AWAY THE FOLLOWING MORNING. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND NEEDED 2 MEN TO MOVE IT WHICH IS WHY IT COULDN'T BE TAKEN AWAY THAT EVENING. ONCE TAKEN TO THE BMW DEALER, INTERNATIONAL AUTOS IN MILWAUKEE, WI, THEY TOLD ME THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND THEY REPLACED IT. THE 2008 BMW X5 3.0SI HAD A LITTLE OVER 33,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10345141
Incident
Jun 17, 2009
Mileage
33,350 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .