Page 6 of 6 · complaints 251–271 of 271

2012 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 2012 record →

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Oct 9, 201414,000 milesVA

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING OR TURNED ON. HORN AND WIPERS STARTED GOING OFF. WENT OUTSIDE TO VEHICLE, TRIED TO DISABLE. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD (PASSENGER SIDE). COULD SMELL ELECTRICAL SHORT. SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES, ENTIRE DASH AREA CAUGHT ON FIRE, BY THE TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT IT OUT. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 15, 20146,600 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 35 MPH, ENGINE STARTED TO STUTTER, SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, LEAVING NO POWER ASSIST TO STEERING OR BRAKES. VEHICLE REMAINED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEAVILY TRAVELED TWO LANE ROAD. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART SEVERAL DOZEN TIMES, VEHICLE FINALLY STAYED ON ENOUGH TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD, THEN SHUT DOWN AGAIN. AGAIN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO TURM THE CORNER ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHERE IT PROCEEDED TO SHUT DOWN ONCE AGAIN. ENGINE FAILURE MESSAGE APPEARED ON VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY AS WELL AS ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD. WHILE WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK, THE VEHICLE SAT FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART. AFTER ABOUT A DOZEN ATTEMPTS, VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THIS TIME WITH NO ERROR MESSAGES OR DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER SEVERAL ADDITIONAL STALLS, VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT THIS TIME WITH THE VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY INDICATING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" AND ADDITIONAL WORDING STATING "REDUCED POWER AVAILABLE" (LIMP HOME MODE) AND "SAFE TO DRIVE". BASED ON THE MESSAGE AND THE FACT THE CAR RESTARTED, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME. ON THE HIGHWAY (LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY) WHILE APPROACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS (45 MPH) THE ENGINE AGAIN SHOOK VIOLENTLY, STUMBLED, AND SHUT OFF LEAVING NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY, A TRACTOR TRAILOR WAS BEARING DOWN ON MY POSITION FROM THE REAR AND NEARLY STRUCK MY VEHICLE, DUE TO THE SUDDEN POWER LOSS AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. BEYOND THE FAILURE OF T

Exterior Lighting2 injured
Filed Jul 21, 2014VA

THE REAR READING LAMPS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE NO PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE HALOGEN BULBS AND ARE LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE ON/OFF SWITCH MAKING IT FAR TO EASY FOR CHILDREN IN A MOVING VEHICLE TO ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH AN EXTREMELY HOT BULB. THEIR EITHER NEEDS TO BE A PROTECTIVE COVER OR THE BULBS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH SOME LIKE AN LED THAT GENERATES FAR LESS HEAT. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 3, 201438,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLANK SOUND NEAR THE ENGINE, BUT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 2, 2014NY

2012 BMW X5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. *SMD THE LAST DEALER, TOLD THE CONSUMER THE STALLING WAS DUE TO BAD GAS.

Engine
Filed Jun 10, 201456,000 milesTX

SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR IT WENT INTO SAFE MODE WHEN I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD WITH A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND REDUCED TO ONE LANE WITH NO SHOULDER OR PLACE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. THUS, I WAS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ALSO OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC AND PUTTING OTHER DRIVERS AT RISK AS WELL. *TR

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Apr 8, 201430,000 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE GLASS SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WITH A LOUD BOOMING SOUND. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS OPENED WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT A SMALL ROCK HAD CAUSED THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 10, 201414,484 milesVA

I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, AND AS I APPROACHED THE PUMP AND PUT ON BRAKES, I HEARD A CRACK. AFTER I PUMPED MY GAS, I STARTED MY CAR, AND A BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH AN INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A "CHARGING ERROR". I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OFF, BUT I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. MY HUSBAND LOOKED ON THE HOOD, AND NOTED THAT A BELT WAS HANGING DOWN AND FLUID WAS SPEWED EVERYWHERE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. MY INVOICE INDICATES THAT THE ALTERNATOR TENSIONER BOLT WAS BROKEN THAT CONNECTED THE ALTERNATOR BELT TO THE ENGINE (?) AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS TROUBLING BECAUSE THIS BOLT WAS A REPLACEMENT BOLT. THAT IS, WHEN I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED IN DECEMBER 2012, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON AN ALUMINUM BOLT, AND MY INVOICE FROM THAT SERVICE VISIT INDICATES THAT THE "ALTERNATOR PULLEY BOLT" WAS REPLACED. I AM TROUBLED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT BOLT WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE RECALL ISSUE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT BROKE IN THE EXACT MANNER THAT THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT. I AM A BIT TROUBLED THAT A REPLACEMENT BOLT, WHICH WAS REPLACED AS A RESULT OF A RECALL, MALFUNCTIONED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED PROPERLY BY BMW THE FIRST TIME. *TR

Steering
Filed Oct 18, 2013150 milesUT

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 DRI

Structure › BodyCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 8, 2013OH

THE VEHICLE REVERSE UNEXPECTEDLY RESULTING IN CRASHING THE OWNER WHEN UNLOADING GROCERY. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE IN HOSPITALIZE AND UNDERWENT SURGERY. THE OWNER BROKE BOTH OF HIS FEMUR BONES AND RIGHT KNEE CAP. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Sep 17, 201321,000 milesLA

I WAS REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND PUSHED INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME ,BUT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR AND THE REAR END IS ALSO DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR THAT HIT ME DEPLOYED; AND THE TRUCK I HIT HAD AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. JUST WONDERING IF THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH BMW AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING ? *TR

Structure › Body2 injured
Filed Jun 18, 201317,350 milesWA

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE AROUND AND NO FALLING DEBRIS WAS NEARBY. THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD WITH A LOUD BANG, LIKE A GUNSHOT. GLASS RAINED DOWN INSIDE THE CAR AND MY PASSENGER AND I WERE CUT WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE PIECES OF GLASS FROM THE INTERIOR. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 6, 20139,000 milesTX

DOOR LOCKED ITSELF WITH KEY INSIDE, AND CAN NOT OPEN. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 2, 2013OR

I TRIED TO START UP THE CAR, IT STARTED, I DROVE A FEW FEET, AND THEN FAILED. I RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE SAYING THAT THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT SO I MANAGED TO GET IT TO START AGAIN, IT BARELY MOVED, AND THEN FAILED AGAIN. ONE MORE TIME I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND GET IT INTO A PARKING SPACE. I TRIED TO START IT UP MULTIPLE TIMES AGAIN BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED BMW TO HAVE IT TOWED. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 2, 2013OR

SAME THING AS LAST TIME. STARTED UP THE CAR, GOT IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE ENGINE FAILED. TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, THE ENGINE KEPT TURNING OVER AND FINALLY STARTED UP ENOUGH TO GO INTO THE TOW TRUCK. AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP AGAIN. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 19, 20129,598 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE SPUTTERED WITH A MESSAGE DISPLAYING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED ALL HAPPENING WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE ADVISED BY THEIR MASTER TECHNICIAN THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE RAIL SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (DIAG CODE: D1350_00000000_04_02 AND FAULT 48A9 & 3F31). WE ASKED HIM IF THIS COULD SOMEHOW BE PREVENTED AND HE REPLIED "NO" AND WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. HIS COMMENT WAS TROUBLING TO US, SINCE WE JUST GOT DONE DRIVING ABOUT SIX HOURS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED NEAR OUR HOME. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY? I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE HERE FILING THIS COMPLAINT! PLEASE INVESTIGATE SO THAT THIS CAN BE PREVENTED FROM OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS TRAUMA. *TR

Power Train
Filed Sep 27, 2012100 milesNY

CAR SUFFERS FROM TERRIBLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION FROM A ROLLING STOP. DESCRIBED AS TIP-IN ON DISCUSSION WEBSITES. I NOTE MANY HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS IN VARIOUS BMW MODELS AND BMW DOES NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Power Train
Filed Sep 14, 20122,931 milesNV

ENGINE STALLED. I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, WHEN GREEN SIGNAL CAME ON, STARTED TO MOVE THE CAR, BUT INSTEAD OF GAINING SPEED WITH ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH WARNING SIGN STATING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, FUNCTIONING WITH REDUCED POWER". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING, INSTEAD WAS STALLING AND MOVING VERY SLOWLY AT LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR SPEED AND DID NOT GAIN ANY MOMENTUM EVEN AFTER FULL THROTTLE APPLIED. BEING A LOW TRAFFIC ROAD, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT MOST LANE; BUT IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AS THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AT THE INTERSECTION AND WAS MOVING INCH BY INCH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO CHECKED EVERYTHING AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. I ALSO QUESTIONED HIM, WHETHER THE EVENT WAS RECORDED IN THE VEHICLE COMPUTER INFO; BUT HE SAID NOTHING WAS RECORDED. I CHECKED ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES AND EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE SERVICES, MOST OF THE PEOPLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, AS COUPLE OF CUSTOMERS HAVE EVEN SAID, THEIR VEHICLES STALLED ON THE FREEWAY. I REQUEST YOUR ORGANIZATION TO LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 1, 20125 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE ROMS WOULD FLUCTUATE REPEATEDLY AS THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO STALL. THE DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED AND ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXHAUST WAS OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,500.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 22, 2012TX

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

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 26, 20118,200 milesVA

I LEASED MY 2012 BMW X5 35I IN MAY 2011. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH 2 TODDLERS AT AROUND 65 MPH, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE MESSAGE DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER". I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT IT WON'T START. WHEN IT DID START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THE CAR SHOOK VIGOROUSLY AND THEN TURNED OFF. I INITIATED THE SOS CALL VIA THE BMW ASSIST FEATURE IN THE CAR. FOR SOME REASON, THE CALL FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE DATA COULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED. WHEN THE CALL DID GO THROUGH, THE CAR COULD NOT SEND MY EXACT COORDINATES TO THE REPS TO HELP ME GET A TOW TRUCK. AFTER TRYING FOR ABOUT 30 MIN TO GET HELP FROM THE BMW ASSIST, I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, WHICH STARTED NORMALLY AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THE IN-BUILT DIAGNOSIS SAID "ALL SYSTEMS OK". I GOT ON THE INTERSTATE, AND AS I REACHED AROUND 60 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE "ENGINE MALFUNCTION ...". FOR THE NEXT 1.5 HOURS, I TRIED TO CALL THE BMW ASSIST OVER MY PHONE TO GET HELP. THE SAID THE TOW TRUCK SHOULD COME IN THE NEXT HOUR. FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, THE 2 TODDLERS AND 3 ADULTS WERE SITTING BY THE INTERSTATE. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DID NOT SHOW UP, I CALLED THE BMW ASSIST REPS AGAIN, TO BE TOLD THAT THE TRUCK SHALL TAKE ANOTHER 45 MINUTES TO REACH US. I THEN CALLED MY FRIEND TO TAKE EVERYBODY HOME, AND I STAYED WITH THE CAR. I THEN TRIED TO DRIVE AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER, ONLY TO BE PULLED OVER BY THE HIGHWAY PAT

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 2012 BMW X5 → · Every X5 year → · How the figures are calculated →