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U.S. public vehicle records

2010 Bmw X5 SAV problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

19 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

64,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 19 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior421.1%
Electrical and battery issues315.8%
Engine operation210.5%
Transmission and shifting15.3%
Braking behavior15.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
8
Air Bags
4
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Electrical System
3
Steering
3
Power Train
2
Fuel System, Diesel
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine8
Air Bags4
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Electrical System3
Steering3
Power Train2
Fuel System, Diesel1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Engine: 8; Air Bags: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Power Train: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
1
2013
2
2014
1
2015
4
2016
6
2017
3
2018
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20132
20141
20154
20166
20173
20181
20191

2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10552773 · 2013-11-18 (November 18, 2013)

VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12 I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STEERING BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND EXTREMELY STIFF. I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WITH FULL FORCE IN MY BODY TO AVOID HITTING THE POLE AND AND BARELY MISSED HITTING THE STREET LIGHT POLE. THIS INCIDENT SHAKED ME FOR A WHILE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED AND FOUND THAT ALTERNATOR BOLT FROM RECALL 11 11 12 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V550000) HAD SNAPPED CAUSING BELT TO COME OFF AS WELL AS TENSION-ER. IT WAS VERY DISAPP…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552773 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10702323 · 2015-03-28 (March 28, 2015)

I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY 2010 BMW X5 35D BREAKDOWN. IT SAID THE CHARGING MALFUNCTION ON THE SCREEN. POWER STEERING WAS LOST. WHEEL STEER WAS HARD TO MANEUVER. HARD TO MOVE. I ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE BATTERY DIED. EVERYTHING JUST NOT FUNCTION BC OF LOST IN POWER STEERING. WHEN I TOWED MY CAR TO BMW MANHATTAN, THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY BMW X5 35 D. SHE TOLD ME THE DEALER WOULD CHARGE ME ABOUT $900 TO REPLACE PULLEY BELT BOLT AND BATTERY AND ETC . I TOLD HER IT'S ONE OF RECALL. AFTER THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR T…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 10702323 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10897137 · 2016-08-19 (August 19, 2016)

I HAD THE FUEL HEATER REPLACED AND BATTERY ON MY BMW X5-35D A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AT CONSIDERABLE COST. THE ENGINE WAS ALSO THROWING THE FUEL HEATER ACTIVATION CODE. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF THE REPAIR. I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED OF RECALL 13V-339 THAT COVERS THIS PART FOR THIS EXACT REASON WITH A BUILD DATE WINDOW MERE WEEKS FROM THE BUILD DATE OF MY VEHICLE. THE BUILD DATE RANGE ON THIS RECALL IS JUNE 13, 2009- NOVEMBER 9, 2009. THE BUILD DATE FOR MY VIN IS LISTED AS DECEMBER 2009. BMW DID NOT COVER DESPITE THE PROXIMITY OF THE BUILD DATE …

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897137 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10907454 · 2016-09-18 (September 18, 2016)

TAKATA INFLATORS/AIR BAGS - EXCEPT FOR RECEIVING A COUPLE GENERIC LETTERS ABOUT THE RECALL ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO EXPEDIENTLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE. SEEMS LIKE LAWYERS HAVE DONE THE PAPERWORK TO COMPLY WITH RECALL BUT THE PROCESS IS IN STALL MODE NOW AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE? IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE WAS SOME ACCOUNTABILITY TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS AND THE CONSUMERS ARE BEING INFORMED AND PROVIDED SOME ACTUAL PROOF THIS RECALL IS GOING TO BE FIXED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME. GIVEN THAT MOST CARS LAST 10 YEARS TYPICALLY BE…

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10907454 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10936182 · 2016-12-19 (December 19, 2016)

A KNOWN DEFECT OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT PARTITION/SEAL CAUSED OUTSIDE WATER TO ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE WATER DRIPS AND ACCUMULATES OVER THE LAST FUEL INJECTORS, LEADING TO AN EVENTUAL SHORT. WHEN THE SHORT OCCURS, THE VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF PREVENTING ACCELERATION, POWER STEERING NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL, POWER BRAKES NO LONGER ASSISTED. THE SHORT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. FORTUNATELY, TRAFFIC WAS MINIMAL AND OTHER VEHIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10936182 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10723867 · 2015-06-07 (June 7, 2015)

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY BMW X5 HAS LOST ENGINE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED AFTER DRIVING A FEW HOURS. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM LIGHT WENT ON. OUR CAR HAS NOW BEEN AT THE FRESNO BMW DEALERSHIP FOR ONE MONTH. NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED AND WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY INFORMATION FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723867 at NHTSA ↗