2004 Bmw X5: complaints, problems and recalls

TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN WHILE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES SAYING TRANSMISSION HAS SHUT DOWN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065323 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105248 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111032 at NHTSA ↗

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 OC…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136355 at NHTSA ↗

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, T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148676 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 51,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185747 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216437 at NHTSA ↗

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 W…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228603 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-11-14 (November 14, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THE RIGHT OUTPUT SHAFT HOUSING FLANGE AT THE ENGINE, AND THE RIGHT-HAND ENGINE SUPPORT MAY BE INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence: WITH PROLONGED DRIVING, THESE BOLTS COULD BECOME LOOSE, CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HOUSINGS. THE RIGHT OUTPUT SHAFT COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED, AFFECTING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE DRIVETRAIN FASTENERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 28, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8 AND 12 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL (EMC) UNITS WERE NOT PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLING WILL OCCUR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND, AFTER REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL OCCUR. THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2004-08-13 (August 13, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE IN-TANK FUEL LINE MAY HAVE BEEN ATTACHED INCORRECTLY.

Consequence: ENGINE STALLING COULD OCCUR, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE'S FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT FUEL IS PRESENT IN THE TANK. DEPENDING UPON TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE IN-TANK SUCTION JET PUMP FUEL LINE AND IF NECESSARY, REATTACH ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THIS RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2004-08-18 (August 18, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH 3.0 L ENGINES AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, IF THE VEHICLE IS IN FIRST GEAR, AND MOVING SLOWLY, WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HELD IN A CONSTANT POSITION OF LOW ENGINE SPEED AND WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL HELD IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, ENGINE SPEED MAY INCREASE.

Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.