2009 BMW X5 Engine Problems

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

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

NHTSA ID

11602460

Incident

Jul 29, 2022

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

EGR Cooler leaking soot/exhaust into engine compartment.

NHTSA ID

11442541

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

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

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

NHTSA ID

11323731

Incident

Apr 14, 2020

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH AND THE HIGH TEMPERATURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED WATER AND OIL AND CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF MONTEREY (831-920-0743, LOCATED AT 1 GEARY PLZ, SEASIDE, CA 93955) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,886. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT OWNERS COST OF $1318. *TR

NHTSA ID

11232366

Incident

Jun 22, 2019

Mileage

43,886 mi

THE ORIGINAL WATER PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE (3) TIMES IN FOUR (4) YEARS. EACH TIME THE WATER PUMP FAILED COOLANT STARTED LEAKING OUT OF THE PUMP AND THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION FOR EACH OF THE THREE (3) INCIDENCES. THE ORIGINAL PUMP WAS REPLACED IN 2015 AND THE THIRD PUMP REPLACED IN JUNE, 2019.

NHTSA ID

11219967

Incident

Jun 10, 2019

Mileage

84,405 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE IT WILL HAVE A WHITE SMOKE THAT COMES OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ALSO LOOSING ANTI FREEZE FREQUENTLY

NHTSA ID

11191429

Incident

Jan 22, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V336000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. FERMAN BMW (31400 US HWY 19 N, PALM HARBOR, FL 34684, (727) 400-3542) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11174310

Incident

Jul 31, 2018

ENGINE FAILURE WITH LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND PISTON ROD BREAKING OFF THE CRANK CASE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11166227

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

143,000 mi

I AM SMELLING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR HEALTH EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. THE MORE THE CABIN HEAT IS APPLIED, THE MORE EXHAUST SMELL IS NOTICEABLE. I FOUND MANY FORUMS ONLINE RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE ON 2009 AND UP DIESEL POWERED BMW X5 XDRIVE35D. PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT FAULTY EGR COOLERS, LEAKING TURBOS ETC. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11155281

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

109,500 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2009 BMW X5 VEHICLE IN JUNE 2018, WITH APPROXIMATELY 61,630 MILES AND A LIMITED WARRANTY WITH 'POWER TRAIN COVERAGE', WHICH INCLUDED 'ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, AND REAR WHEEL DRIVE'. IN MID-OCTOBER 2018, MY VEHICLE BEGAN SHOWING THE 'LOW COOLANT LEVEL' LIGHT AND 'LOW OIL LEVEL' LIGHT. I CALLED THE FLOW BMW DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 10/19/18. FLOW BMW DIAGNOSED A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR. AFTER CONTACTING THE WARRANTY COMPANY (ASSURE) THE WARRANTY COMPANY INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF A NEW RADIATOR ($1,300.00) BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE LIMITED WARRANTY UNDER 'POWER TRAIN COVERAGE'. THE RADIATOR IS ONE OF THE ENGINE'S UNSUNG HEROES. IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ESSENTIAL HEAT EXCHANGE FUNCTIONS IN YOUR CAR'S COOLING SYSTEM. THE NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE AVERAGE CAR ENGINE IS AROUND 190-210 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. WITH A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR, THE INCREASED HEAT STARTS TO WEAR ON OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS, AND THE RESULTING STRESS CAN SHORTEN ENGINE LIFE DRAMATICALLY. THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO KEEPING THE ENGINE RUNNING. THIS IS A DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE RADIATOR ISSUE AND INEVITABLE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD IF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SEIZES ARE STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT OTHER BMW CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RADIATORS IN BMWS FROM THE YEARS 2007-2013 (DOCUMENTS ATTACHED). AGAIN, THE RADIATOR IS A VITAL PART OF ENSURING THAT THE ENGINE RUNS APPROPRIATELY, AND IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CONSISTENT LEAKING WITH BMW VEHICLES WITH VERY FEW MILES DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR, THEN THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION FOR MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

11143076

Incident

Oct 19, 2018

Mileage

67,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF FAIRFAX (8427 LEE HWY, FAIRFAX, VA 22031) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11103081

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO RECALL 12V550000 DUE TO IDLER PULLEY BOLT WHICH CAN BREAK, CAUSING ACCESSORY DRIVE BET TO DISLODGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, ETC. THIS VEHICLE'S IDLER PULLEY AND BOLT WERE REPLACED AS PART OF THE RECALL 2.5 YEARS AND 35,000 MILES AGO, BUT EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME FAILURE, AGAIN, LAST MONTH. BMW USA AND THE LOCAL DEALER WERE CONTACTED, BOTH REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE, STATING THAT THE REPAIR IS ONLY VALID FOR TWO YEARS. THE NEW IDLER PULLEY BOLT THAT WAS INSTALLED SHEARED OFF AT ITS MOUNTING POINT, JUST AS THE ORIGINAL BOLT THAT WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL DID. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME FAILURE AS THE ORIGINAL - WORSE, AS THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN UNDER 3 YEARS AND 40,000 MILES, IT APPEARS THAT THE "FIX" IS WORSE AND MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE ORIGINALLY RECALLED PART. IN MY VEHICLE, THE PULLEY BOLT SNAPPED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET, CAUSING A "BANG" NOISE AND THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID

11066063

Incident

Dec 6, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA, 4171 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291 (770) 969-0755). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11057176

Incident

Jun 9, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAUDERDALE BMW OF PEMBROKE PINES DEALER, LOCATED ON 14800 SHERIDAN PINES, FL 33028, PHONE: (954) 620-5050, WHERE IT WAS REJECTED TO BE SERVICED DUE TO THE REMEDY PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11056784

Incident

Mar 8, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED MORE THAN EIGHT MONTHS AGO FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V020000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (HAROLD ZEIGLER BMW, 4201 STADIUM DR SUITE A, KALAMAZOO, MI 49008, (866) 430-1812) STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PROVIDE THE REMEDY AND REPAIR PARTS FOR BOTH RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE OR ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS NOT MADE AWARE UNTIL MONTHS LATER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN MID OCTOBER 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO DETERMINE WHEN THE REMEDY AND PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER TO COMPLETE THE THREE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11052831

Incident

Apr 10, 2017

CRITICAL FAILURE/ CRACK OF THE COOLANT RESERVE TANK. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF LEAK. TANK SPLIT OPEN AND LOST ALL COOLANT WHEN PARKED. SEARCHED ONLINE AND SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM. POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE DAMAGE SIGNIFICANT. NON DEALER COST TO REPLACE $400 AND READ OTHER HAVE HAD DEALER REPLACEMENT COST $800.

NHTSA ID

11020551

Incident

Aug 29, 2017

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11018905

Incident

Aug 22, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5. THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS), 16V071000 (AIR BAGS), AND 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE TWO AIR BAG RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO PICK UP SPEED AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGHLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CONDITION AND SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MAY BE REQUIRED. THE CONTACT FELT AS IF THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR THE CURRENT CONDITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10967944

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

ON OCT 1/2008 THERE WAS A BOLETTIN SAYING THAT WATERPUMP AND THERMOSTAT WERE DEFECTED. BUT BWM IS JUST REPLACING THE ONES UNDER DIESEL FUEL. THERE IS MORE GASOLINE FUEL X5'S CARS THAN DIESEL. WHY THEY DONT JUST FIX THE ONES WITH THIS ISSUE? THERE IS ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT ON THE WEB.

NHTSA ID

10958918

Incident

Mar 6, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi