LATCH JAM ON DRIVER DOOR OF BMW X5 YEAR 2004. THE DOOR WILL NOT ALWAYS SHUT WHEN IT IS VERY COLD. IT WILL TAKE 30 TO 45 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP TO SHUT. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT CLAIM THIS IS FAULTY FOR A RECALL. THEY HAVE RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE ON OLDER MODEL X5'S. SINCE ALOT OF THE X5'S ARE NOT OUTSIDE AS MUCH AS MINE (I.E. OVERNIGHT) YOU WILL NOT HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS. THE COMPLAINTS WILL BE WITH THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE COLD WEATHER REGIONS OF AMERICAN AND ARE OUTSIDE FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIMES AND VERY FREQUENTLY OUTSIDE.. THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX. *TR
2004 BMW X5 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
BMW WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS FOR NO APPARENT REASON IN ALL CAR MODELS. CAR HAS LESS THAN 36K MILES AND ALREADY FIXING THE THIRD WINDOW. BMW SERVICE PERSON EXPLANATION IS DUE TO THE LACK OF USE THAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. YET, DRIVER'S SIDE, WHICH IS THE ONE WITH MOST USE, RECENTLY FAILED. THIS IS A REPEATED PROBLEM IN ALMOST ALL BMW CARS WITH AUTOMATIC WINDOWS AND BMW IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS ISSUE IS POSTED EVERYWHERE IN THE INTERNET AND BMW CHARGES ANYWHERE BETWEEN $300 AND $600 PER WINDOW/FIX (MINE WAS QUOTED AT AROUND $550). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE CLOSED THE TRUNK, HIS FINGER GOT CAUGHT DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HE OPENED THE HATCH AND IT CAME DOWN FORCEFULLY ONTO HIS FINGER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE ONE YEAR AGO AND DAMAGED THE CONTACT'S FINGER. HE STATED THAT THE LID NEEDS TO BE OPENED COMPLETELY AND HALFWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HIGH DRIVER RESISTOR IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 6/18/09 *CN THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS THE SEAT BELTS JAMMING IN THE DOORS, THE COILS WERE REPLACED, THEMLEFT HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT THE FIRST MONTH OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE HATCH DOOR DID NOT FULLY CLOSE AT TIMES AND DID NOT LOCK. THE HATCH HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES. THE HATCH WINDOW RATTLED, THE DEFROST DID NOT ALWAYS WORK, THE HEATING SYSTEM ONLY BLOWED AIR. THE BRAKES NKEPT GOING OUT. UPDATED 06/22/09. *JB
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 BMW X5 A PERSON RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIT ME IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD MY SUV WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS "BLOWN OUT". THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE BUT AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I HAVE SUSTAINED A CERVICAL AND A THORACIC SPINE INJURY (HERNIATED DISCS) AND CONTINUE TO BE UNDER MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS. IN DECEMBER I HAD TO STOP WORKING AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. MAYBE IF THE AIRBAG WORKED PROPERLY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERLY INJURED. *TR
ON MAY 21, 2008, I REPORTED A PROBLEM REGARDING MY BMW X5 HAVING A DOOR FAILURE PROBLEM REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. ON MAY 29, 2008 I WAS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT MY FAULT. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. MY SON AND I WERE INJURED. I HAD TO BE EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY PERSONAL COULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR TO REMOVE ME FROM THE VEHICLE. THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH THE BACK SEAT. I HAD COMPLAINED TO YOU AND BMW REGARDING THE SAFETY HAZARD OF THIS VEHICLE. BMW WAS SLOW TO REPLY. THE ORIGINAL REPLY WAS THAT I DIDN'T PROVIDE A CLEAR EXPLANATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. SO, I COMPLAINED AGAIN. THERE RESPONSE WAS UNTIMELY AND THIS ENTIRE SAFETY ISSUE HAS RESULTED IN A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. I HAD ADVISED YOU AND BMW THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. NO ONE RESPONDED IN A TIMELY MANNER. HOW MANY MORE FAMILIES WILL HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA BEFORE YOU RECALL THIS VEHICLE? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR
OUR 2004, BMW X-5 DOOR JAMMED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW, BUT THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEMS CONCERNING DOORS JAMMING. HOWEVER, I CONDUCTED AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS POSTINGS DISCUSSING THE DOOR JAMMING. I ADVISED BMW THAT I FEEL LIKE MY FAMILIES SAFETY IS AT RISK DUE TO THE DOOR FAILURE. I ASKED THEM TO PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY RISK AND COULD PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY, DUE TO MY HUSBAND BEING ACTIVATED WITH THE MILITARY. BMW DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR. NONE OF THE PASSENGER DOORS CAN BE OPENED WITH A MANUAL KEY OR A MANUAL RELEASE. NONE OF THE DEVICES ON THE VEHICLE WILL OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR. NOTHING WORKS. WE CAN'T REMOVE THE PANEL, BECAUSE WE CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK AND I FEAR THAT MY FAMILY AND NUMEROUS OTHER FAMILIES LIVES ARE AT RISK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I AM REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE BMW DOOR FAILURE. THE PROBLEM STARTED, WITH A DELAY IN THE DOOR UNLOCKING UPON PRESSING THE BUTTONS TO OPEN THE DOOR. THEN, IT JUST STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. I TRIED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP, BUT IT WOULD BE WEEKS BEFORE I COULD GET ASSISTANCE. AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS EXPENSE WILL COME OUT OF MY POCKET, B/C IT'S NOT LISTED AS A RECALL OR SAFETY HAZARD. HOW CAN A DOOR FAILURE NOT BE A SAFETY HAZARD? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. SHE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT BURNED CONNECTORS CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS LATER THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. AS OF JANUARY 29, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2004 BMW X5 (51400 FAILURE MILEAGE) AT 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO TURN VIOLENTLY FROM RIGHT TO LEFT CONSTANTLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. ONCE THE CONTACT SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE APPROPRIATELY, UNTIL HE HIT A BUMP OR HE HAD TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
2004 BMW X5 STEERING VIBRATES AND PULLS SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAME APART,CENTER CONSOLE OPENS ON ITS OWN. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** WHEN THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN THE OTHER, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE PULLING TO RIGHT AND THE HORRENDOUS VIBRATION. THE SEAT FRAME WAS LOUD BECAUSE IT MOVED BACK AND FOURTH AND DID NOT FULLY LAY FLAT. THE SUNROOF LEAKED. THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF AT REGULAR INTERVALS, THE LEFT REAR WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR NEVER OPENED, THE HORN STARTING BLARING ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. THE AUDIO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK. THE KEY SOMETIMES DID NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK THE DOORS. *JB
DEAR SIR OR MADAM- PLEASE SEE THE EMAIL BELOW WHICH I SENT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REGARDING RECURRING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH OUR X5. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO GET BMW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. ___________________ DEAR SIR OR MADAM- PLEASE LET THIS EMAIL SERVE AS A FORMAL COMPLAINT FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 2004 X5 4.4. I HAVE LOST BOTH MY PATIENCE AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR X5 AND FEEL THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN (2 1/2 AND 16 MONTHS) IS AT RISK AS THIS IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE THEY ARE TRANSPORTED IN. ALL OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS EXPERIENCE A HEAD JERKING WHICH IN ITSELF IS UNSAFE. IN REVIEWING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS REGARDING THE 2004 X5 4.4 TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT BMW IS FULLY AWARE OF AND HAS FAILED TO FIX. OUR X5 HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS "SLIPPING" AND IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED EACH TIME IT SLIPS. THE X5 HAS BEEN IN TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS AT STERLING BMW AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. STERLING HAS REPROGRAMMED THE DME AND REBUILT IT WITH NO SUCCESS. IT IS GOING IN FOR A THIRD TIME TODAY FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND I EXPECT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. ACCORDING TO EVERYTHING I HAVE READ, THE X5 NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY, WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND WE WILL EXERCISE OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW. I WILL ALSO BE NOTI
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V344000 CONCERNING ENGINE CONTROL MODULE/ENGINE STALLING. AFTER HAVING THE NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT INSTALLED THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH HE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL HOSE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB THERE WERE RANDOM PROBLEMS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATED FROM STOP. THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WOULD FAIL 3-5 TIMES PER WEEK. THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE SOLVED. *SC
TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN WHILE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES SAYING TRANSMISSION HAS SHUT DOWN. *AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2004 BMW X5 → · Every X5 year → · How the figures are calculated →