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 2010 record →
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL WAS LEAKING UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING COVER CASES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
PASSENGER DOOR GOT LOCKED - UNABLE TO OPEN. DELER HAD TO TAKE DOOR OUT TO FIX. THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FROM BMW DEALER. GOT ENGINE LIGHT FOR DIESEL FUEL TANK SENSOR. BMW TOLD ME TO TAKE TWO MONTH TO GET PART FROM GERMANY. WAITING FOR PART AND HIGH REPAIR BILL. AGAIN GOT ENGINE LIGHT FOR OTHER REASON. I AM COM EARN ABOUT SAFEST OF MY 2010 BMW X5 DIESEL MODEL AND LIKE HELP FROM NHTSA. THANKS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
OK, SO I OWN MY 2010 BMW X5 35D AND PRETTY MUCH SINCE THE OWNERSHIP I FOUND THAT BACK UP CAMERA I HAVE IS WORKING PRETTY STRANGE: WITH WORM WEATHER OUTSIDE IT SHOWS FUZZY, STATIC, JUMPING PICTURE. THE WARMER IS OUTSIDE THE MORE FUZZIER IT IS. SO, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT CABLE COMING FROM CAMERA TO HEAD UNIT IS GETTING BAD FROM RUBBING FROM CHASSIS! I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND TONS OF COMPLAINS LIKE THAT - IN 2-3 YEARS OLD CAR AND UP ALL OVER THE PLACE - BAD CABLE. IT TURNED OUT THAT LOCATION FOR IT IS VERY BAD AND IT ALWAYS RUB ON PART OF CHASSIS. DEFINITELY BAD DESIGN ISSUE. FURTHER MORE, TO FIX IT I WAS QUOTED $1200, NO MORE NO LESS, SOMETHING THAT IS BADLY DESIGNED SHOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE! THIS IS DEFINITELY SAFETY CONCERN AS MAIN IDEA FOR THAT CAMERA - SAFETY, BUT HAVING IT FAULTY AFTER FEW YEARS DOESN'T FOLLOW IT MAIN GOAL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND RECALL FOR THE CABLE SHOULD BE GOOD SOLUTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST, NECK, AND ARM INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH HIT AN ON COMING VEHICLE IN THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ENTIRE FRONT OF TRUCK IS DESTROYED VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN.
AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE HAS NO OPERATING DASH LIGHTS, GAUGE INDICATIONS, TURN SIGNALS, OR BRIGHT LIGHTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTINUOUSLY SWIPES, BUT HAS NO ABILITY TO SPRAY WASHER FLUID OR CHANGE THE SPEED OF THE SWIPE. THESE CONDITIONS RENDER IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, AND PREVENTS THE OPERATOR FROM MONITORING THE VEHICLE, IDENTIFYING ONES SPEED, OR SIGNALING A TURN. MOREOVER, THE CONTINUOUS WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTION IMPAIRS ONE'S ABILITY TO SEE AND IS ALSO DISTRACTING; MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LOSS POWER AND PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOSS AS WELL. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THE CAR RESTARTED ONCE, THEN LOSS POWER WHEN ONE TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. DURING THIS WHOLE TIME NO WARNING OR SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STATUS SAID ALL SYSTEMS WERE OK, WHEN OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE NOT SINCE THE CAR JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER IDLER PULLEY BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V550000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING , STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. ...UPDATED 01/07/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE ARE OTHER POSTS WHERE PRIOR YEAR VEHICLES LIKE MY 2010 BMW X5 HAD RECALLS TO HAVE THE LOWER IDLER PULLEY REPLACED DUE TO POTENTIAL FAILURE. UPDATED 9/28/2015*JS
CONTINUAL PROBLEM - CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEED. THERE IS A PAUSE BETWEEN STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS TO SEVERAL DEALERS - SOME ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THAT ENGINE. THEY SEEMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM IN LATER MODELS BUT DID NOT EVEN TRY IN THE EARLIER ONES. IT CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ACCELERATION IS NEEDED. *TR
MAJOR EXHAUST SMELL BUILD UP IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BACKING UP, STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN FOR A CORNER/TURN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
MY CAR STALLS ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE IN THE MORNING, OR AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT. IT RUNS ON REDUCED POWER JERKING FOR A FEW MILES WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERING ON AND OFF AT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO USE ONLY SHELL GASOLINE, NEVER LET THE TANK BE LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK, BUT THAT DID NOT IMPROVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
IGNITION FAILED TO RESTART ENGINE DUE TO BATTERY DRAIN. IN ONE INSTANCE, BATTERY DISCHARGED DESPITE CAR HAVING BEEN DRIVEN FOR >1HR AND THEN STOPPED FOR LESS THAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE FAILURE TO RESTART. TWO OTHER OCCASIONS WERE FAILURE TO START ON THE MORNING AFTER VEHICLE LAST DRIVEN. AVERAGE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPS 5-30 DEGREES F. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 25K MILES AT FIRST OCCURRENCE AND LESS THAN 34K AT TWO MOST RECENT OCCURRENCES. BATTERY THIS NEW SHOULD NOT HAVE ISSUES HOLDING A CHARGE. SUSPECT DIESEL FUEL FILTER HEATER FAILURE TO SHUT OFF, RESULTING IN BATTERY DRAIN (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V339000). 3 OCCURRENCES TO DATE, ALL WERE DURING COLD TEMPERATURES WHEN FFH WOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED. JAN 2013, JANUARY 3, 2014 AND FEBRUARY 17, 2014. ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES NOTED AS A RESULT OF BATTERY DRAIN ISSUES INCLUDE MULTIPLE WARNING INDICATORS (PASSENGER AIRBAG, DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID INDICATOR WARNING, BRAKE PAD WARNING, AMONG OTHERS). *TR
I WAS TOLD BY BMW THAT IT WAS THE EGR HIGH PRESSURE HEATER LEAKING, WHEREIN THE LEAK CAUSES DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. I OBSERVED THIS MOSTLY AS I PULL BACK FROM MY GARAGE, WHEN IDLING AND RANDOMLY AS I DRIVE. I'VE NOTICED A STRONG NOXIOUS SMELL IN THE CABIN, WHICH GAVE ME NAUSEA AND HEADACHE. I REMEDIED IT BY VENTING THE CABIN THEN RECIRCULATING THE AIR. IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY EXCEPT WHEN I CIRCULATE THE AIR IN THE CABIN REGARDLESS OF WHEN I'M IN THE ROAD OR PARKED IN FRONT OF MY GARAGE. (I FIGURED THIS PREVENTS THE FUMES FROM THE HOOD ENTERING THE CABIN).I AM FINALLY HAVING IT REPAIRED FOR $800 MAYBE MORE AS I WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW THE FINAL COST. I'VE READ IN THE FORUMS THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON EVEN BELOW 15K MILEAGE X5S WHICH IS VIRTUALLY NEW AND HAS OCCURRED IN DIFFERENT VEHICLE MILEAGES. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND A HEALTH HAZARD TO DRIVERS AND INFANTS. BMW SHOULD BE SHOULDERING THIS UNACCEPTABLE HARDWARE FAILURE! *TR
EXHAUST IS ENTERING THE CABIN THROUGH THE VENTING FILLING THE CAR WITH HARMFUL GASES. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A EGR COOLER/VALVE ISSUE. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN "OPEN CAMPAIGN" FOR THE ERG BRACKET TO BE REPLACED BY BMW BUT NO SAFETY RECALLS ON THE EGR COOLER OR VALVE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS ISSUE SINCE THE LEAK STARTS OFF SLOW AND UNDETECTABLE AT FIRST THEN GROWS TO BE A SERIOUS BURN IN YOUR EYES AND NOSE. THIS COULD BE ESPECIALLY HARMFUL TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY X5, 90 MINUTES FROM HOME, WHEN I NOTICED MY STEERING WAS UNUSUALLY STIFF. IT WAS 5 DEGREES OUTSIDE, SO I ASSUMED IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOO COLD. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE, AND TURN ONTO THE NEAREST SIDE STREET. AT THAT POINT I GOT A CODE SAYING "BATTERY DISCHARGE". I ASSUMED IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEYLESS IGNITION, SO I SHUT IT OFF AND TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON. IT DIDN'T WORK, AND IT GAVE ME THE SAME WARNING AGAIN. IN ADDITION, THE ONBOARD SYSTEM WAS GIVING MESSAGES OF EACH OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WAS SHUTTING DOWN, ULTIMATELY, WITH EVERYTHING SHUTTING OFF, INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE CAR THE NEXT DAY, THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT. I LOOKED THIS UP, AND DISCOVERED THE LETTER DATED NOV. 26TH DESCRIBING THIS RECALL FROM BMW TO NHTSA. WE STARTED THE PURCHASING PROCESS OF THIS VEHICLE ON NOV. 26TH, ULTIMATELY PURCHASING IT ON NOV. 30TH. THE CARFAX DID NOT SHOW THIS RECALL REPAIR WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. MY DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING THEY REPAIRED IT THAT WEEK, BEFORE WE PICKED IT UP, (AGAIN, NO MENTION OF A REPAIR). MY CONCERN IS THIS: IF IT WAS REPAIRED IN NOVEMBER, THIS REPAIR FAILED. IF THEY IGNORED THIS RECALL AND SOLD ME THE CAR, THAT WOULD BE NEGLIGENT. FURTHERMORE, WE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY 2013 FOR A TIRE ISSUE. IF THEY HAD NOT DONE THE REPAIR IN NOVEMBER, CERTAINLY THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR IT THEN. OBVIOUSLY THEY D
2010 BMW X5 3.5 DIESEL WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE TO DIAGNOSE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN. DIAGNOSTICS UNVEILED A CRACKED EGR COOLER THAT ALLOWED RAW EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
AFTER ENGINE START, MESSAGE DISPLAYS ON CONTROL DISPLAY INDICATING INCREASED BATTERY DRAIN AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SERVICED SOON. DISPLAY SHOWS VEHICLE ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE A LIFT. CONTACTED BMW AT ST. ALBANS WHO RECOMMENDED THAT I PURCHASE A BATTERY CHARGER SO THAT I MAY CHARGE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT! PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SPECIFIC CAUSAL FACTOR (LEAVING THE IGNITION ON AFTER ENGINE STOP, LEAVING DOORS OPEN, ETC.) *TR
VEHICLE REPORTS HIGH BATTERY DRAIN MESSAGE AND SOS MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGES. BMW NOT ABLE TO CORRECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X5 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND TWIST WHEN SECURING THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE SEAT BELT SECURED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS FOR FOUR MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED OVER TIME, HE WAS UNABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE PILLAR. BMW INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD COVER FIFTY PERCENT OF THE COST, BECAUSE IT WAS HIS FAULT THE SEAT BELT WAS TWISTING DUE TO HIM NOT RELEASING IT PROPERLY. UPDATED 04/28/11*JB
THE BMW I AM DRIVING DOES NOT HAVE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THE SEAT BELT HEIGHT. THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT PROPERLY FIT ME AS I AM 5' 2". IT COMES ACROSS MY NECK, NOT MY SHOULDER, NO MATTER HOW I ADJUST THE SEAT. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND MAY POSE A SAFETY RISK. THERE HAS BEEN NO PARTICULAR INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE A FUTURE PROBLEM. *TR
MY BRAND NEW 2010 BMW X5 35D HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES, IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE. THE VEHICLE FLASHES "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" AND "REDUCED POWER." THERE IS NO WAY TO CURE THIS ISSUE, AND IT ONLY SELF-CORRECTS AFTER A MATTER OF MANY MINUTES. WHEN THROTTLE IS APPLIED, DURING SUCH AN INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE BUCKS WILDLY, BETWEEN STALLING AND STARTING. THERE ARE MANY OTHER BMW X5 OWNERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. NO FAULT CODES ARE REGISTERING ON THE COMPUTER AND THE VEHICLE SELF-CORRECTS AFTER STARTING AND STOPPING THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES VIA THE PUSH-BOTTOM STOP BUTTON. ONCE THIS TOOK 3-HOURS TO RECTIFY, WHILE I WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT TIMES IN WHICH I'M MAKING LEFT-HAND TURNS IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS, NARROWLY AVOIDING A HIGH-SPEED IMPACT. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 4,000 MILES ON IT. MY DEALER HAS BEEN UNRECEPTIVE TO THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE AND THEY TOOK A REPORT BUT NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK. I'VE LEFT MESSAGES WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT BMW NORTH AMERICA AND STILL NO RESOLVE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE NO IDEA AS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL STALL OR MALFUNCTION. I FEEL I CAN HANDLE AN EMERGENCY, OR AT LEAST LESSEN A POTENTIAL IMPACT IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO, BUT I DO NOT FEEL THE SAME ABOUT MY WIFE. THE CAR LOOSES ALL BRAKE AND STEERING PRESSURE, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE. MULTIPLE OTHER OWNERS HAVE SOLD THEIR VEHICLES AS A RESULT,
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 2010 BMW X5 → · Every X5 year → · How the figures are calculated →