2012 BMW X5 Steering Problems

Two nights ago I was at Domino’s Pizza. I put my car in reverse and the car died and the steering wheel locked up like the power steering was giving out I was able to start the car again, but still with no power steering assist and drove the car home about a mile away, but every time I slowed down or came to a stop sign or a stoplight, the car would die, and the battery light would flash on the dash and it would say charging malfunction once I got home we took a look at the engine and noticed that none of the belts were working at all and then I started to google what could possibly be the problem and a couple of different recalls came up recall number 12V550000 and that is engine and engine cooling engine diesel what the name of it is and the recall date is 1127 2012 and then the next one is 2012 BMW X5 diesel SUVs from the model year 2012 923 BMW X fives have been recalled because they have defective engine belt, tensioners and cracks that develop along the welds if the belt tensioner fails there could be a sudden loss of power steering assist that is sounds like exactly what happened to my car and then there’s another one recall number B121918 which is from September 2019 and it is called idler pulley bolt and come to find out that actually was a recall on my vehicle, but the previous owner is the one that had it repaired so I’m not sure if BMW is willing to repair it again but there’s not a lot of miles on this cards a 2012 I bought it with 95,000 miles on it and it currently only has 131,000 miles on it. I’m just hoping for some kind of resolution here this is the fifth Bmw that I bought in my lifetime and I for the most part I’ve had pretty good ultimate driving experience and good customer service and some good financing but I can’t see why just recall wouldn’t cover my vehicle. It’s currently in the shop. They’re doing a diagnostic on it and I will be getting that back later on today and I can report that back to you folks, hopefully it could be recalled. M

NHTSA ID

11735154

Incident

Apr 28, 2026

It suddenly became very, very difficult and almost impossible to steer.

NHTSA ID

11614658

Incident

Sep 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a loud thumping sound underneath the vehicle. The contact then stated that the vehicle hesitated then decelerated at low speeds while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated that his wife was able to navigate the vehicle safely to the residence. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front driveshaft failed and as a result the power steering hoses had ruptured and the front driveshaft and the power steering hoses needed to be replaced. The power steering hoses were replaced however, the front driveshaft had not yet been replaced. The contact referenced the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V138000 (Power Train). The manufacture was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 210,000.

NHTSA ID

11542756

Incident

Jun 5, 2023

Mileage

210,000 mi

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Repair shop repaired the pulley because i couldn't steer the vehicle correctly. It would jerk me on the road. Vehicle is available for inspection but is already repaired by local shop. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I could drive but couldn't steer intermittently. Scary!! i couldn't make a full turns and there was a rough spot in the steering sometimes. Eventually it locked up an couldn't leave parking spot. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. But i already got it repaired. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not that i know of. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. I only smelled burning rubber or electrical components. Smoke from engine bay and screeching sounds. Worst part is it was intermittent which gives the driver a false sense of security to drive but almost crashed because down the road couldn't steer.

NHTSA ID

11504279

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT BROKE FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CAR HAS APPROX 60 K MILES, AND THE LAST REPLACEMENT WAS DONE IN MAY 2018, APPROX 15 K MILES AGO. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND IT LOST THE STEERING (STEERING HYDRAULICS STOPPED WORKING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER), BATTERY INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE ENGINE COOLING FAN SET ON HIGH SPEED. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, APPROX HALF THE MILE FROM THE HOUSE. WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY PULLED IT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAITING FOR THEM TO COME AND PICK IT UP, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. THIS INCIDENT, WITH THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT IS THE THIRD TIME AFTER THEIR INITIAL RECALL. BMW DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY FOR THIS.

NHTSA ID

11360844

Incident

Sep 23, 2020

Mileage

60,000 mi

HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP AT 58,000 MILES. CAR IS SPEWING EXHAUST, AND ACCELERATION AND STEERING ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, LIKELY DUE TO UJOINT AND/OR WORN CONTROL ARM, WHICH I NOTICED WERE RECALLED FOR OTHER MODELS, BUT LISTED AS A RECALL FOR MY CAR/VIN. NEED TO RESEAL CRANKCASE JOINTING SURFACES. CAR HAS 8 RECALLS LISTED ON KBB, BUT BMW ONLY HAS RECORD OF 5 RECALLS. I DO NOT HAVE RECORDS OF REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE ON CAR BEFORE PURCHASE IN NOV. OF 2014. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 69,000 MILES AND IS DRIVING HORRIBLY

NHTSA ID

11231411

Incident

Jun 7, 2019

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE BELTS WERE LOOSE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IDLER PULLEY WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

11183104

Incident

Feb 27, 2019

Mileage

111,000 mi

RECALL# 12V550000 BMW (800)5257417;REFUSE TO FIX PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11063010

Incident

Jan 13, 2018

Mileage

5 mi

WHILE OUT OF TOWN, VEHICLE IN MOTION ON ROAD, HEAR A CLUNK IN THE ENGINE BAY AND MANY WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. GO TO PULL OVER AND STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. MANAGE TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY. THE REDUCED MOBILITY OF VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. CALL TOW TRUCK. GARAGE STATES LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS DUE TO LOSS OF SERPENTINE BELT DUE TO BROKEN IDLER PULLEY BOLT, EVEN THOUGH A RECALL FOR THIS PART EXISTS AND HAS BEEN PERFORMED. RECALL 12V5500000 ENGINE IDLER PULLEY MAY BREAK, WAS PERFORMED IN 2013. THIS SAME RECALL SHOULD APPLY BUT BMW SERVICE STATES THEY WILL NOT SERVICE AGAIN AS IT HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER, TAKES OVER A WEEK FOR BOLT TO ARRIVE. MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR FAILING A SECOND TIME IN AS LITTLE AS 5 MONTHS TO AS MANY AS 3.5 YEARS AFTER INITIAL RECALL SERVICE. BMW REFUSES REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIR, $1153.00. A NEW RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.

NHTSA ID

11054909

Incident

Dec 7, 2017

Mileage

79,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BOLT FRACTURED AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED WITH FORCE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF WEST HOUSTON (20822 KATY FREEWAY, KATY, TX 77449, PHONE (855) 627-3055) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ENGINE PULLEY BOLT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V550000 (STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE STEERING WHEEL ENGINE PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

11054759

Incident

Dec 9, 2017

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FAULKNER BMW LOCATED AT: 1530 MANHEIM PIKE, LANCASTER, PA 17601, (717) 569-4269, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V550000 (STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11041551

Incident

Oct 24, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

AFTER RECEIVING 3 RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL REGARDING AIR BAGS EARLY 2017 AND MOST RECENT AUGUST 2017 RECALL REGARDING FRONT DRIVESHAFT'S UNIVERSAL JOINTS, I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MY BMW DEALER IN HOLLYWOOD ABOUT THE DEFECTED PARTS BEING REPLACED. THERE ARE TIMES THEY DO NOT EVEN PICK UP THE PHONE OR THEY JUST SAY THE PARTS ARE NOT READY WITHOUT ANY FOLLOW UP REGARDING ESTIMATED TIME FRAME OR CALL BACK. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THESE RECALL NOTICES IF THE DEALERS ARE NOT EFFICIENT ENOUGH TO REPLACE THE PARTS?

NHTSA ID

11019130

Incident

Aug 21, 2017

ON JULY 31ST 2017, THE BOLT SECURING IDLER PULLEY AND ALTERNATOR SHEARED. BATTERY CHARGE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER STEERING. LOOKING AT MY SERVICE RECORD, I SEE THAT THIS SAME BOLT WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL IN JANUARY 2013 WHEN CAR WAS AT 12332 MILES. THE CAR IS NOW AT 63456. ALSO NOTED ON BMW OWNERS WEB SITE THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS E70 SERIES DESIGN HAVE HAD THE SAME REPEAT PROBLEM. BMW DEALER IN CT PERFORMED THE LATEST REPAIR AND OFFERED NO EXPLANATION, EXCEPT THAT THEIR WORK IS GUARANTEED FOR 2 YEARS. ORIGINAL RECALL PERFORMED BY DEALER IN RALEIGH NC WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW HAS ADVISED ME TO POST THIS REPORT AND CALL BMWNA. I AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM, BUT FIRST DISCUSSION WAS NOT GOOD. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THIS AS A CONTINUING PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY ASSURANCES THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I NOTE THAT THE PART NUMBER OF THE NEW BOLT JUST INSTALLED IS THE SAME AS THE OLD BOLT INSTALLED IN 2013. WE WERE VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND WITHOUT SOME CLEAR ASSURANCES THAT BMW UNDERSTAND HOW TO FIX THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR. AT THE TIME OF THE BOLT FAILURE WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20MPH THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE TOWN OF STRATFORD CT AND JUST MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD INTO A TRAIN STATION PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID

11013643

Incident

Jul 31, 2017

Mileage

63,456 mi

MAKING A SHARP TURN RESULT IN VIBRATION

NHTSA ID

11001231

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

63,000 mi

IN 2012 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS CAR AND THE WORK WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALER. ON 12/16/2016 THE STEERING FAILED WILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ON THE SAME PART AS BEFORE. MY INVESTIGATION SHOWED THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE STEERING FAILURE IN THAT TIME PERIOD CONCERNING THE SAME MODEL, ENGINE AND EVERYTHING BUT A 2011 MODEL. I PAID OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE REPAIRS COMPLETED BECAUSE I NEED TRANSPORTATION, HOWEVER BMW IS CLAIMING THAT ONCE THE WORK IS COMPLETED AND AFTER TIME OF WARRANTY THEY ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND BMW WILL BILL CUSTOMERS FOR THE WORK EVEN IF THEY ARE REPLACING THE EQUIPMENT WITH FAULTY PARTS. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WASN'T DRIVING FAST AND THE WEATHER WAS NICE OR I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH NO STEERING.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10937632

Incident

Dec 16, 2016

Mileage

78,311 mi

SHUDDER OR VIBRATION FELT ON STEERING WITH FRONT WHEELS TURNED TO RIGHT OR LEFT. VIBRATION FELT WHEN MOVING FORWARD FROM A STOP POSITION OR BACKING UP WITH FRONT WHEELS TURN TO EITHER SIDE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES BUT IT IS GETTING WORST EVEN WITH THE NEW TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918130

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE LIGHT, AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET AND POWER STEERING PUMP HAD LEAKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATED; HOWEVER, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND OIL PAN GASKET WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10896363

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

10749763

Incident

Aug 18, 2015

Mileage

61,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT WHEELS WILL AUTOMATICALLY FOLLOW A RUT IN THE ROAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE UNEXPECTEDLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. MY WIFE HAD RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN HER HANDS AND CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE THE DEALER GAVE US A DIFFERENT MODEL WITHOUT THE AGGRESSIVE SUSPENSION - THE VEHICLE DRIVE BEAUTIFULLY. WHEN WE ARRIVED BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP THE DEALER HAD THIS MODEL ON THE FLOOR AND OFFERED US A "DEAL" TO PURCHASE IT. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT MAKE US AWARE OF THE PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE HANDLING. NOW AT 7000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAYS WE MAY HAVE HIT A CURB. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND ANOTHER OWNER WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO HIS LETTER HE WAS ON THE WAY HOME AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND IT "TOOK OFF ALL OVER THE ROAD." HE DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ADVISE THEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS. HE FINALLY, WITH APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES TRADED THE VEHICLE IN. WE ASKED THE DEALER IF THEY WOULD TRADE IT FOR THE MODEL WE TEST DROVE. THEY SAID BECAUSE IT WAS REGISTERED THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE US $45K. WE HAD JUST PAID $62K FOR IT. MY DAUGHTER RECENTLY BORROWED THE CAR, AND DECIDED IT WAS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THE STEERING/SUSPENSION ON THE X5 SPORT ACTIVITY. PLEASE LOOK INTO TO IT. WE FEAR THAT WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WE WILL EVENTUALLY COLLIDE WITH A PASSING VEHICLE DUE THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE SIMPLY REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR CITING IT IS SIMPLY TOO DANGEROUS - SHE IS RIGHT! ON THE WEBSITE "TIRE RACK" THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF X5 OWNERS WHO ARE FUMING ABOUT TIRE WEAR ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE. MOST SEEM TO ACHIEVE NO MORE THAN 10K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548362

Incident

Dec 19, 2012

Mileage

150 mi

THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY SUFFERS FROM ENGINE FAILURE WHEN EXECUTING A SHARP TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO FAR ON THREE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT INSTANCES DURING ITS FIRST 1,000 MILES OF SERVICE, UNDER THE OPERATION OF TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS, WITH SEVERAL PASSENGER WITNESSES ON ONE OCCASION. WHEN THESE FAILURES HAPPEN, THE VEHICLE ENGINE STALLS OR OTHERWISE SHUTS ITSELF OFF, WHICH LEADS TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN MID-TURN AND LOSS OF BRAKING. THE ONLY WAY TO RECOVER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS TO LET IT COAST TO A STOP, THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THEN PUSH THE IGNITION BUTTON TO RE-START THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448948

Incident

Jan 4, 2012