2008 Bmw X5 SAV: complaints, problems and recalls

ON FEBRUARY 15, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 AM, MY 2008 X5 3.0SI HAD AN OVERHEATING ENGINE PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA WHERE MY FAMILY AND I WERE VACATIONING. THIS WAS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR ME, MY WIFE AND THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO WERE ACCOMPANYING ME. THE CAR ENTERED INTO A "SAFE MODE", SLOWED DOWN TO ALMOST A COMPLETE HALT, JUST WITH ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES. THEN I HAD TO TRY TO FIND A SAFE WAY O…

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568360 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR HAS A RECALL REPAIR ABOUT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP LEAK. THE DEALER FOUND THE LEAK FROM THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP BEFORE DID THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT ONLY REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE AND LEAVE THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP LEAK UNREPAIRED AND QUOTED ME $2800 FOR REPAIRING THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP LEAK. I CALLED BMW USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO TALK TO THE DEALER AND SAID IT'S THE DEALER DECISION. THIS SEEMS NOT RIGHT FOR ME SINCE THE ROOT CAUSE WAS NOT FIXED FOR THE RECALL. PLEASE ADVICE WHAT I SHOULD DO. [X…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10573614 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH AND ABOUT TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AN ORANGE WARNING SIGN CAME UP THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD A RED SIGN CAME UP STATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED AND I COULD HEAR THE LOUD NOISE FROM THE FAN. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE FAN WAS STILL LOUD AND THE RED ENGINE OVERHEATED SIGN CAME UP AGAIN. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THEY DIAGNOSED…

Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595557 at NHTSA ↗

TRAVELING ON EXPRESSWAY AT APPROX 60 MPH COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE HITTING HIM ON REAR. I SUSTAINED INJURY TO MY CHEST AS A RESULT OF IMPACT AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I LEARNED THAT BMW HAS RECALLED AIRBAGS ON SEVERAL MODELS AND BELIEVE THE 2008 X5S SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MY VEHICLE IS AT A COLLISION CENTER BUT I CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE IN CASE NHTSA EXPERTS WOULD LIKE TO INVESTIGATE IF AIRBAG SENSORS ARE WORKING PROPERLY ON THIS MODEL. IF INDEED THE AIRBAGS ON THE 2008 BMW X 5S ARE NOT WORKING PROPE…

Owner-reported narrative. 83,061 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606584 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-78 EAST IN PENNSYLVANIA, APPROACHING EXIT 59, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR JERKED AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE. AT THAT TIME MY SPEED WAS 40 MPH. THAT PART OF THE INTERSTATE IS PRETTY MUCH UPHILL, THAT'S WHY I WAS DRIVING AT A REDUCED SPEED. WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL A LITTLE MORE THAT'S WHEN THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT APPEARED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD A NEW TRANSMISSION WILL COST ME $7,776.45 EXCLUDING LABOR AND TAXES. IT'S BAFF…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,049 miles reported. Look up ODI 10627396 at NHTSA ↗

MY SON LEAN FORWARD AND TURNED LEFT TO GRAB AN ITEM FROM MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. NOW IT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY WHEN A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER MOVES SLIGHTLY. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND NOTED THAT RECALL HAS BEEN DONE FOR NUMEROUS BMW CARS, BUT JUST NOT MY YEAR MODEL. I BELIEVE THIS IS MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650153 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 114,511 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681079 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS MOUNTED IN THE TAILGATE FAILED. THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN FAULT ON THE E70 MODEL, WHERE THE POOR QUALITY SEALANT AND METHOD USED TO PREVENT THE INGRESS OF WATER INTO THE LAMP HOUSING FAILS. THIS LEADS TO CORROSION OF THE CONNECTOR HOUSINGS AND THE FAILURE OF THE UNIT WHICH MUST BE REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRITY AT GREAT COST. AS BMW ARE AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING (INDEED THEY ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ADMITTING SAME ) SI B 63 11 10 AND THE ITEM IS A SAFETY COMPONENT, I FEEL THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE WORK UNDERTAKEN AT THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721584 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-02-07 (February 7, 2013)

BMW is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 X5 SAV vehicles, manufactured September 12, 2006, through March 18, 2010 and equipped with an 8-cylinder engine. The brake vacuum pump may leak a small amount of lubricating oil into the hose. The contamination could result in a loss of power assist braking.

Consequence: The loss of power assist in braking could increase stopping distance and lead to a vehicle crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum line with one that contains a check valve, free of charge. The recall began during March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Reported: 2016-02-05 (February 5, 2016)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2022-03-02 (March 2, 2022)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.