2009 BMW X5 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the engine seized. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was a certified BMW mechanic, where it was diagnosed with VANOS bolts failure. The contact was informed that the VANOS bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. In addition, the contact stated that the dealer confirmed the failure and declined to perform a diagnostic test due to the age of the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11668182

Incident

Jun 16, 2025

Mileage

175,000 mi

The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated that after pulling into a parking space there was white smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle and the engine started overheating. The contact added coolant immediately. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure had occurred twice. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump, thermostat, and heater hoses had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the coolant had leaked out and the engine started overheating. The contact added more coolant to the coolant reservoir; however, the failure recurred 20 miles later. After parking the vehicle, the contact became aware that oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle had not been returned to the mechanic. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure however, the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11645921

Incident

Jun 3, 2024

Mileage

230,000 mi

Front Passenger occupant seat sensor failure warning code oc3

NHTSA ID

11634799

Incident

Jan 10, 2024

Crank no start scanner saying it is in 3rd gear not park.

NHTSA ID

11602460

Incident

Jul 29, 2022

The contact’s son owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to veer the vehicle off the road. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump module failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was then informed by the mechanic of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V746000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number 16V746000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that the VIN was included NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) but not the recall related to the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11525866

Incident

Jun 6, 2023

Mileage

140,000 mi

My vehicles serpentine belt broke twice and my A.C. belt broke once due to the tensioner pulley bolt loosening over time. I lost power steering and power of the over all vehicle. I was driving at 60 miles per hour, there has been a recall on this part for this exact same model but BMW is saying it is vin specific. This is very unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11521855

Incident

May 1, 2023

The vehicle backfires and stalls on the road due to BMWs defective pcv crankcase valve. The valve put pressure inside engine which it couldn't handle causing a blown gasket and oil leak, the leak fell on the serpentine belt and AC belt and they slipped off. Causing the power steering to lock up on me while driving. The engine has a whistling noise coming from it. I'm parking and towing to bmw. I can diagnose it without there scanner. This is crazy and very dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11521841

Incident

May 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, smoke was suddenly coming through the air vents and vehicle started losing motive power before stalling. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the passenger’s side main wiring harness was charred and melted and needed to be replaced. The wiring harness was replaced but the failure immediately reoccurred. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11520204

Incident

Mar 15, 2023

Mileage

140,000 mi

More than one time I have been traveling at regular speed and the vehicle will suddenly power off and shift into Park. While I’m driving, the battery still has power but the engine shuts off. I am suddenly stopped in the middle of the highway, turning in an intersection, going up a incline. I then try to start the vehicle and it will not turn over. The car remains stuck in park. Eventually the battery wears down and will not even engage the starter. But the lights and flashers will still be on. I have taken the car in multiple times to the bmw dealership telling them of the situation and they tell me it is not showing any problem. The vehicle does not give any warning and there are no engine or warning lights that appear. This happens at any time of day. There are constant complaints of these issues happening with multiple models of bmw.

NHTSA ID

11514903

Incident

Mar 21, 2023

My engine is being effected by the recall. There is smoke and a burning smell coming from my engine. The Recall was issued March 2 2002 and today is January 11, 2022. My truck is driving worse daily and I can not get it inspected because it will not read my system.

NHTSA ID

11501386

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11496807

Incident

Dec 9, 2022

While parked in my driveway, the car by it self caught fire and melted the entire fusebox, major wire harness, entire right rear panel was burnt and melted, rear headliner, and rear light housing. When I opened the door there was a huge black cloud of smoke inside.

NHTSA ID

11478076

Incident

Aug 6, 2022

I just went to Union Park Bmw about my car, they stated that my car fuel pump was recalled in 2017 so it was fixed, in 2021 l was stranded twice in 100 degree weather on the side road when the fuel pump went out, so this is the third time this vehicle has had new fuel pumps, now this month on Tuesday 7 /19 when it was hot as hades it stopped again same way it did prior , had it towed and they stated it was wiring that leads to the engine from the fuel pump. They made sure as part of there man made 358.00$ diagnosis that it was not related to the fuel pum.

NHTSA ID

11476191

Incident

Jul 19, 2022

During extreme hot days car has just stopped without warning three times. Fuel pump has been replaced twice , now they are saying wiring from the fuel pump to the computer system the wiring bad? No warning ever!

NHTSA ID

11476089

Incident

Jul 19, 2022

Headlight wires are made poorly. Susceptible to heat damage. The wire insulation cracks off, leaving bare copper wires to touch. Therefore, the low beams, etc will no longer function. The only solution is $3,000+ on new headlights.

NHTSA ID

11468745

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

I was returning home from work and the engine started to sputter/vibrate. I was right next to a gas station and as I was pulling into the gas station, the engine died and would not restart. I had the car towed and then I proceeded to troubleshoot the problem. I did a fuel pressure test and found that there was no fuel pressure. I tested the fuel pump relay and found it to be operational. I accessed the primary fuel pump to check power and found the fuel pump wiring to be missing an inch of insulation on both wires and the insulation is brittle for another inch or two. There were two splices on the fuel pump wiring where recall #16V746000 was performed and a new connector was spliced in. Those two splices were melted together. Recall #16V746000 was a problem with the fuel pump connector melting due to loose wiring. I have concern that there is still an issue with the fuel system wiring overheating or the repair process is not adequate to solve the issue.

NHTSA ID

11455603

Incident

Feb 22, 2022

EGR Cooler leaking soot/exhaust into engine compartment.

NHTSA ID

11442541

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 BMW X5. The contact stated that while approaching a stop, the vehicle would continue to accelerate upon the depression of the brake pedal. The contact also stated that the parking brake failure warning message would appear on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they replaced both front and rear brake pads; however, the failure persisted soon after repair. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a second appointment. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11435342

Incident

May 1, 2021

Mileage

70,000 mi

CAR STUCK IN PARK AND IS IN FAIL SAFE MODE ALSO WHEN TRYING TO CHARGE BATTERY WHILE IT'S DEAD IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE CAR IS CLICKING

NHTSA ID

11383710

Incident

Oct 20, 2020

Mileage

135,000 mi

CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, EXITED HIGHWAY TO CITY STREET, THEN THE ALERT FOR LOW COOLANT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY FOUND A PLACE TO PARK TO KEEP ENGINE FROM BEING COMPROMISED. ALLOWED TO COOL, OPENED RESERVOIR AND COOLANT WAS LOW. ADDED ONE GALLON OF APPROVED COOLANT. DROVE FOR 5 MILES. CAR SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. STARTED CAR, ALERT CAME BACK ON. CHECKED BENEATH VEHICLE, ALL OF THE COOLANT LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND.

NHTSA ID

11338965

Incident

Jul 12, 2020

Mileage

119,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V364000 (AIR BAGS) AND REPAIRED AT HILTON HEAD BMW DEALERSHIP (1230 FORDING ISLAND RD, BLUFFTON, SC 29910, (843) 815-1501) HOWEVER, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11328101

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

108,000 mi

2009 BMW X5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE DIESEL ENGINE VEHICLE. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11323731

Incident

Apr 14, 2020

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OCCASIONS THAT I HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT IT TURNS OFF SUDDENLY. I AM SO AFRAID THAT THIS MIGHT JUST HAPPEN WORST THING IS THAT THERE ARE NO LIGHT INDICATORS THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG.

NHTSA ID

11320844

Incident

Apr 2, 2020

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL THAT DEALER WON'T HONOR FOR HIS 2009 BMW X5. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED 5 MINUTES AFTER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED LEAVING THE CONSUMER STRANDED.*JS

NHTSA ID

11316351

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

I OWN A 2009 BMW X5 DIESEL. BMW HAS RECOGNIZED AN ISSUE WITH A SENSOR IN THE SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION (SCR) ACTIVE TANK. THE TANK STORES DIESEL FLUID. DIESEL FLUID IS ADDED INTO DIESEL TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF EMISSIONS THAT IS RELEASED FROM THE VEHICLE. BMW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PART BUT IT IS UNKNOWN HOW THEY DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF THIS EXTENSION. MY VEHICLE IS OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BY 4 MONTHS BUT UNDER THE MILEAGE LIMIT BY 40,000 MILES. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL CALL AND NOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH LIMITED TIME TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. I ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THIS WITH SEAN S. AT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS BY INFORMING HIM THAT THIS IS MY COMMUTER VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVERY DAY. I ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT IF NOT RESOLVED THIS WILL LEAD TO A LARGE AMOUNT OF POLLUTION RELEASED TO THE ENVIRONMENT. SEAN S. ACTING AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF BMW NORTH AMERICA STATED THEY ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND ONLY WILL ASSIST ME IF I'M A LOYAL CUSTOMER. THEY VIEWED ME AS NOT A SMART BUSINESS MOVE TO FIX THE ISSUE AND INDICATED THEY ARE NOT CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND OK FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR THAT IS PUTTING OUT 10X THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTION AS GAS. RESEARCHING THE INTERNET THERE ARE MANY BMW X5 OWNERS DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE WITH THIS DEFECTIVE SENSOR AND MANY USING HACKS TO TRICK THE ECU AND MANY USING ALTERNATIVE NON OEM PARTS AND FORCING A FITMENT. ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO THE LIMITED TIME BMW IS OFFERING TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THE EXTREME COST OF THE REPAIR AT A BMW SERVICE CENTER.

NHTSA ID

11287653

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi