2005 BMW X5 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I purchased a used Pirelli Scorpion Strada 255/55R18 109V tire (DOT code 1UN L4W990 4221) for my SUV. When I returned home from the installation, the tire appeared normal. However, the next morning—within 24 hours of installation—I began driving for work when my car suddenly started shaking violently and pulling hard to the right while on the freeway around 3 AM. I was able to safely exit the freeway and pull over. Upon inspection, I discovered that the tire had been shredded by the road—the sidewall had catastrophically failed, and the inner structure had separated. The tire had good tread and showed no signs of damage before the incident. This was a sudden and dangerous failure that placed me at serious risk of losing control of the vehicle. It occurred under normal driving conditions at moderate freeway speed. There were no prior warning signs, dashboard messages, or visible damage. The tire was manufactured in October 2021 at Pirelli’s Rome, Georgia plant. The failure appears consistent with belt separation or internal delamination. The damaged tire has been preserved and is available for inspection. I believe this tire may be part of a defective batch and am reporting this for safety investigation. There are similar complaints online regarding Pirelli tires made in this timeframe.

My father was sitting in his parked car in his driveway and his car caught on fire. A neighbor witnessed it she said it was engulfed in flames within seconds and my father died from smoke inhalation due to the fire. Aberdeen WA police department and fire department examined the vehicle and investigated the cause and determined it started in the vehicle engine. Also the coroner did an autopsy to determine his cause of death. From what I understand there has been numerous similar fires with this model yet it hasn’t been included in any recall. It is unknown to me whether there were any indicator lights on. He had only owned the vehicle for less than a week I believe. I am having the vehicle returned to me now that the police and fire department are finished examining it. As far as I know they are the only ones to have contact with it since the fire.

Fire 1 injured 1 deaths

My father was sitting in his parked car in his driveway and his car caught on fire. A neighbor witnessed it she said it was engulfed in flames within seconds and my father died from smoke inhalation due to the fire. Aberdeen WA police department and fire department examined the vehicle and investigated the cause and determined it started in the vehicle engine. Also the coroner did an autopsy to determine his cause of death. From what I understand there has been numerous similar fires with this model yet it hasn’t been included in any recall. It is unknown to me whether there were any indicator lights on. He had only owned the vehicle for less than a week I believe. I am having the vehicle returned to me now that the police and fire department are finished examining it. As far as I know they are the only ones to have contact with it since the fire.

Fire 1 injured 1 deaths

My father was sitting in his parked car in his driveway and his car caught on fire. A neighbor witnessed it she said it was engulfed in flames within seconds and my father died from smoke inhalation due to the fire. Aberdeen WA police department and fire department examined the vehicle and investigated the cause and determined it started in the vehicle engine. Also the coroner did an autopsy to determine his cause of death. From what I understand there has been numerous similar fires with this model yet it hasn’t been included in any recall. It is unknown to me whether there were any indicator lights on. He had only owned the vehicle for less than a week I believe. I am having the vehicle returned to me now that the police and fire department are finished examining it. As far as I know they are the only ones to have contact with it since the fire.

Fire 1 injured 1 deaths

Faulty Check valve connected to brake booster leaks oil into brake booster causing contamination and loss of power braking. Recall issued for roughly 30,000 BMW X5 vehicles produced from 2007-2010 for a similar issue but none issued for this vehicle.

THE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LOOSING THE INSULATION, AND THERE ALL THE BARE WIRES ARE EXPOSED. THIS IS A HIGH FIRE HAZARD, WHAT MAY CAUSE DEATH OF THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS IN THE TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST IN MY VEHICLE, THERE ARE MANY FORUMS OVER THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE

CAR STARTS TO SHAKE ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN GOING AT A HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY AND NOTICING LEAKS BUT NOT SURE FROM WHERE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS FRACTURED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALMOST STRUCK A WALL. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAY CANTENA BMW (543 TARRYTOWN RD, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, (914) 761-5555), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TAKATA RECALL? DRIVING AT LOW SPEED A VERY LARGE EXPLOSION NOISE (SOUND LIKE SHOTGUN) FROM PASSENGER SIDE. DID NOT COM THROUGH DASH BUT SOUND LIKE IT TORE THROUGH THE HEATER FAN. COULD HEAR PIECES WHEN HEATER ON. EARS STILL RINGING.

ON JANUARY 10 2019 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SUDDENLY MY BMW DECIDES TO SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING. MY STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED UP AND I ALMOST CRASHED MY CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR NOTHING BLINKING ON THE DASH TO WARN ME OF ANY PROBLEMS. I JUST PAYED OFF MY CAR AND THIS HAPPENS TO ME. ITS BEEN REALLY HARD NOT HAVING A CAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. I REACHED UT TO NAPLETON KIA AND BMW OF NORTHAMERICA AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO HELP ME.THEY BASICALLY SOLD ME AN UNSAFE CAR WHICH COULD OF KILLED MY FAMILY. MECHANIC BASICALLY SAYS THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING.AND IT WOULD BE 6000$ TO FIX. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE THERES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND BMW DOES NOT WANT TO HELP.A TRUE LEMON.

TAKATA RECALL I JUST SWITCH MY CAR ON THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I NOTICE IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ALSO SAW PEOPLE SAYING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT BUT WHEN CHECKING MY VIN IT SAID 0 RECALL

BMW X5 2005 A HOLE WAS BURNED INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT, BURNING MY LEG AND A HOLE IN MY SWEATER, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2005 AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY.

1 injured

AS MY CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY (WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION), IT BURST INTO FLAMES, SPREADING TO NEARBY TREES AND BUSHES, AND CRACKING SEVERAL WINDOWS IN MY HOUSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEFORE IT COULD BURN THE HOUSE DOWN AND I MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE HOME WITHOUT INJURY.

Fire

MY 2005 BMW X5 AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON,

LEAVING HOUSE WE FOUND THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING. BRAKE LINES DAMAGED. BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE FABRICATED AND REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED. THE CONTACT'S RIGHT THUMB WAS SEVERED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RALLYE BMW (1 BRUSH HOLLOW ROAD, WESTBURY, NY 11590) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, AND PROVIDED AN INVESTIGATOR TO CONFIRM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

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BOTH TAILLIGHT HOUSING CIRCUIT BOARDS SHORTS OUT. BURNS BETWEEN HOUSING AND ADAPTER . THUS CAUSES A BREAK IN THE CIRCUIT AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TAILLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND IS ILLEGAL TO GO WITH NO TAILLIGHTS.

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. WILL NOT TURN OFF

I CURRENTLY HAVE A BMW X5 2005, WITH 4.4. VIN # [XXX]. BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BRAKE SYSTEM HARDENS WHEN VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AND DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY UNTIL CAR IS RESTARTED. SAME ENGINE AND SAME BRAKE SYSTEM IN DIFFERENT MODEL (740I) HAS BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THE ISSUE. ACCORDING TO BMW SERVICE DESK, THE X5 MODELS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED WITH SAME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ALL THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE ARM, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PACIFIC BMW (800 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD DIAGNOSE AND INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IN FULL, BUT STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,800.

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I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH EVERY SINGLE WINDOW. THEY DO NOT ROLL UP. I REPEATEDLY PAY TO HAVE THESE FIXED AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE. THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFECT IN THESE WINDOWS. I HAVE HAD AN ARRAY OF VEHICLES, NONE OF WHICH HAD HALF AS MANY ISSUES AS THIS BMW.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS), 17V020000 (AIR BAGS), AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN) WAS UNDERWAY FOR OTHER VEHICLE'S OF THE SAME MODEL FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE SERVICE ADVISER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG PARTS COULD BE EXPEDITED WITHIN 2-3 WEEKS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V020000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V020000 AND 17V138000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND THE CONTACT'S PANTS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Fire

SEAT HEATER GOT TOO HOT . IT MADE A BURNT HOLE IN SEAT, MY PANTS AND BURNED ME. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN THEN ACCELERATED ONTO A ROUND-A-BOUT WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR WAS STILL ON. I TRIED SIGNALING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS BUT THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS GOING ON & OFF NOT LETTING ME SIGNAL ANYTHING. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK & TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON IT WOULD JUST CLICK AND ALL LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. I WAITED FOR 20 MIN THEN TRIED TO START IT AGAIN & IT DID START BUT THEN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DYING OUT AND EVENTUALLY WOULD SHUT OFF, THERE WAS MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE.

TAKATA RECALL MY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON TELLING ME THAT THEY DO NOT WORK. BUT SOME TIMES THEY ARE STILL WORKING AND SOME TIMES THERE ARE NOT! WHEN CHECKING THE LIGHT REMOVED RIGHT SIDE BULB (GOOD) PUT LIGHT BULB BACK IN WORKS FINE FOR A WEEK OR SO. THEN IT'S STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH. THE SERVICE ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT PROVIDED.

THE 2005 X5 BMW V8 HAS GIVEN ME ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. FROM REPLACING ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, VALVE GASKETS TO FUEL INJECTOR AND IGNITION PROBLEMS. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE STILL ON DRIVE AND SOMETIMES IN MOTION. CAR HAS ALL TYPES OF PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO DRAIN ME FINANCIALLY

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM, DRIVER SIDE DOOR DAMAGE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE ISSUES. SOUND OF A KICK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHEN STARTING MOTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS TIRES, SIZE: 255/50/19 (NA). UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKE FLUID LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST FROM WATER THAT ACCUMULATED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,417. UPDATED 10/04/16*LJ UPDATED 10/13/16.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN COVER, ALTERNATOR BRACKET, AND OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LEAK AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FRACTURED AND LEAKED TO THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH CAUSED A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

REAR BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, IN MOTION, GOT PULLED OVER BY POLICE

WHILE I WAS REPLACING MY ANGEL EYES I NOTICED THAT THE WIRE INSULATION WAS GONE. I COULD SEE BROWN AND WHITE WIRES ALL IN THE LIGHT HOUSING. NOW ITS JUST BARE COPPER WIRE.

EXCESS SMOKING UPON STARTING. ONE WEEK LATER EXCESS SMOKING CONTINUOUSLY ..SO MUCH SMOKE I COULD NOT USE CAR.

THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL I WENT TO USE THE BRAKES AS A SLOW SPEED 5-25MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOT REALLY HARD AND THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I WAS COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I ALMOST HIT, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AS NORMAL. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE ONLY WHEN DRIVING REALLY SLOW, OR JUST STARTING. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS (BRAKE LIGHT). I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND ALL OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH WERE AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND BACK ON TO SEE IF IT WAS THE COMPUTER OR ABS SYSTEM, THIS DID NOT HELP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (INDEPENDENT) AND HE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS THE VACUUM PUMP THAT HAD AN OIL LEAK. THIS PUSHED THE OIL UP THE VACUUM LINE AND INTO THE BREAK BOOSTER. SO I NEED TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP, VACUUM LINE, AND BRAKE BOOSTER. HE AND I DID A CHECK AND FOUND A RECALL ON THE SAME ENGINE IN DIFFERENT BMW MODELS IN THAT YEAR AND AFTER 2007 IN THE SAME MODEL. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE AND THEY CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION THE IT IS WEIRD THAT THE 2005 X5 4.4 V8 IS NOT IN THE RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUES AS OTHER BMW MAKE AND MODELS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM CONCERNED, BECAUSE THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT BMW AND THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF (BECAUSE OF RECALLS), BUT THE 2005 V8 X5 DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL???? *TR