10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,540 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 BMW X5 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 BMW X5 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #36

Nov 152023

X5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2008 bmw x5 4.8i almost caught fire. The fuel pump connector is burnt into the fuel pump harness. My local mechanic said this was like a ticking time bomb. The issue is these trucks are known for this problem and there was a recall for this but my vin coming up with no recalls when this truck is clearly apart of the bad batch, I have pictures for proof.

- Maspeth , NY, USA

problem #35

Nov 082023

X5

  • miles
X5 was off, parked and the engine compartment burst into flames. Car was totaled There was apparently a recall issues in 2022 in which I was unaware and had no direct contact from the BMW dealer I purchased it from. The recall states that in some vehicles, this part could cause a fire. Well, I had a fire and there was zero indication of anything wrong with the car.

- Newtown, PA, USA

problem #34

Jun 012023

X5

  • miles
My 2008 BMW X5 was taken to a shop to be diagnosed due to Diagnosis as followed:( low coolant light coming on) -??coolant crossover pipe from timing belt cover leaking-?? it is available for inspection, although it is not safe to drive. The low coolant light went off after I put more in it and did not come back on. Me and my then 10 month old were picking my 14 year old up from school and I noticed smoke pouring out of the hood. There was no warning lights or anything. Then the air conditioner started to blow smoke out as well. I cut the car off and it continued to smoke for approximately an hour. The car was about to catch on fire with no warning lights and the hazardous smoke out of the vents. The problem was diagnosed by Dan-??s Auto Center. I can not move my car because it will smoke at the engine and cause a fire risk. The low coolant sensor came on a few days after purchased. I took it to get it diagnosed and the cost from that place quoted approximately 3,000 dollars. I put coolant in it and did not drive it for awhile. The sensor went off and the coolant was still full. There were no signs, no sensor, no overheating, just all the sudden huge clouds of smoke coming from my hood of the car. BMW has a lot of recalls for this same situation, but my car (year) is not listed.I do not understand this. Please add my car to the list, this is a 2000 to 3000 job and I have to get my car towed to a place if I ever can. Can I take this to a BMW Place and ask them to fix due to other recalls? This was very scary for me and my children. -??The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles, a melting intake manifold, and potentially fire, -??according to BMW.

- Sherwood , OR, USA

problem #33

Jun 262023

X5 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've been experiencing drive train problems with my vehicle and upon research I've concluded that not just only me but many people with the same vehicle as mine have been having transfer case/driveshaft/differential problems and the scary part is that no codes pop up for this issue!! I've already took it to many shops I've even took it to an official BMW dealership and they don't seem to help but the real reason I'm reaching out is because I nearly had a near death experience related to this issue on the freeway.. the vehicle seemed to shake violently and felt like it wanted to seize up while driving and had to do an emergency pull over but once again it doesn't throw no codes and not only that I've already spent thousand of dollars into this car for it to react like that while driving! Please ?? hear me out and help me resolve this as soon as possible.. thank you [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Newark, CA, USA

problem #32

Dec 102022

X5

  • miles
On 12/10/2022 I was driving to work and my BMW started smelling of like electrical fire. I pulled over on a exit in Sweetwater, TN and upon exiting the vehicle I noticed flames under the hood of the car. The car was on fire somewhere in the engine. A passerbuyer stopped and called 911 for me Christianburg, TN fire Dept. done the report. But BMW has a recall on this vehicle for over 1yr with no remedy to fix knowing the car can catch on fire. Luckily I was not injured but I suffered a total loss from my vehicle. Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 22V119000 Report Date: Mar 02, 2022 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. What You Should Do: 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. Summary: 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 X

- Lenoir City, TN, USA

problem #31

Feb 012022

X5

  • miles
This car is not safe to drive, when you accelerate lots of black smoke come from tail pipe and loose power at the same time, Its burning through spark plugs Im having to change them at least every 2 wks plugs cost 15$ a piece, Its burning through oil oil leaks popping up random all over every 2 weeks its burning through 5 quarts of oil, oil is 18$ a quart, Do to the lose of power i have to take the access roads to and from work. Its causing me to miss a lot of work Im afraid for my wife and kids to be in the car with me its just not safe we got the letter from BMW 2 months ago about the recall what is considered a timely manner because 2 months is a ling time we need this resolved asap bmw just giving us the run arounds verses solving this issue. This car has been riding this unsafe way for at least 6 months and its getting worst by the day, its costing us to much money plus lose of work

- Sanantonio, TX, USA

problem #30

Mar 152022

X5

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

this vehicle is dangerous and I cannot drive it without it smoking and overheating, exhaust or fumes get inside the vehicle not safe for my family, I bought it last year and have had problems since and I cant get it fixed. I tried to call the BMW office last year to no avail and no returned calls, I constantly had to fill coolant when driving and afraid to drive no more because smoke from engine and smell of smoke is frightening while on the road. can't drive this vehicle anymore

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #29

Mar 052018

X5

  • miles
ear conditioning will not work while driving in the desert.

- Los Osos, CA, USA

problem #28

Mar 012020

X5

  • miles
suspension warning came up. air suspension bags. and air pump fail while driving at 65m/h. car was hard to control. I had to slow down to 40m/h. to drive safely.

- Los Osos, CA, USA

problem #27

Jan 222022

X5

  • miles
Car engine stalled. Needed to be jumped. The battery was brand new, was changed a few days ago.

- Ramsey, NJ, USA

problem #26

Mar 222021

X5

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle shut off while stopped. A smell of hot electrical was present immediately before the shut off. Inspection of the vehicle showed a blown fuse for the fuel pump circut, as well as melting of the plastic power connection to the fuel pump, and the insulation on the power wires themselves. The bare wires were exposed at the connection. The wiring harness was stiff from the connector of the fuel pump to the rubber seal on the body.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

problem #25

Jan 282020

X5

  • 130,000 miles
Brake light bulbs are installed in plastics that are melted quickly by the time which creates fire risk. I opened both brake light bulbs and saw that both sides are melted in plastics are completely black around from the heat. My car has unknown electrical issues that turns tons of lights and errors in my dashboard computer, then later on they go away. And also I smell burning smell sometimes. I believe all related to brakes bulbs are burning the inserts or somehow this model of BMW has electrical problems. Last time on 1/28/2020 when we were driving from NJ to ct on 95, car lost all of dashboard lights and details including speedometer, tacometer, miles, singals etc, all died and tons of error message poped up. But car drove just fine.

- Monroe, CT, USA

problem #24

Dec 012018

X5

  • 103,000 miles
Vehicle started smoke from engine area and caught on fire. Vehicle was in motion driving on a city street at normal speed. I pulled over and got myself and child out of vehicle. Vehicle preceded to burn and was fully engulfed. Fire fighters extinguished fire.

- Montclair, NJ, USA

problem #23

Oct 022018

X5

  • 141,244 miles
Kept getting mail about a recall my car had didnt think it was that important so I stalled the process a little until I kept getting mail non stop about the matter so I finally find the time to take my car to get the recall done of course I imagined it will be a walk in the park due to the fact that it was free of charge, so after I get the recall done for fuel pump and airbags I pick vehicle up from the dealer everything seems to be fine, next day comes my car leaves me stranded on a random block and completely shuts down on me, what makes matters worst now im stuck somewhere and have to get a tow truck to take me somewhere im not bothering or move me out the way, I contact the dealer tel them whats going on they make me pay a tow truck to bring the car to them again, so I bring the car to the dealer and let them check over the work they just did on my car because I wasnt having any problems with my car before this literally none maybe a lightbulb went out that was about it nothing else even passes inspection with flying colors, so anyways pass that now they telling me that the problem is in the fuel system that they just was suppose to replace mind you I never had a problem with my vehicle and ive owned it a few years, so now I got this recall done and now this problem comes up, so now I agree to pay them 1100$ just to fix something that was suppose to be free which im not happy about one bit not only they take longer then they suppose too working on my car but few days after I pay them and take my vehicle now the same problem again !! get stranded so now im not thinking going back because I cant afford to have something else come up and have to pay once again ! so as of now I had to take my car to my own personal mechanic so he can fix a problem my car never had prior to this recall visit im furious and spend over 3000 trying to clean up the dealers mess !

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #22

Jul 312017

X5

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated that the air conditioner failed to function while attempting to be used. Also, while driving approximately 55 mph, smoke appeared under the hood of the vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to bimmer car care (2017 wabash ave, Chicago, il 60616) where it was diagnosed that the blower fan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Normal, IL, USA

problem #21

Jun 302017

X5

  • miles
Takata recall I have replace my key fob two time in one year each time it cost me $275 by BMW why can't BMW replace the key with a $2 like all its other models. Only the 2008 models cost that much

- New Rochelle, NY, USA

problem #20

May 012017

X5

  • 106,000 miles
Water leakage on driver side rear- as well as accumulating in spare tire well submerging battery in 3 inches of water. Hi-fi amplifier - bluetooth- navigation- radio- sos damaged from this. All windows shut and vehicle filled with water.

- Oak Lawn, IL, USA

problem #19

Mar 132017

X5

  • 10 miles
While driving on the highway, the dashboard give error that the transmission has failed. Car loses power and would not accelerate. Pulled over to the sign and turned off engine. Subsequently, engine will not start or crank as if battery power is list. Engine can be restarted with a jumper or if the car is left for about 30 minute to an hour, the engine will start without a jumper.

- Greenwich, CT, USA

problem #18

Oct 102016

X5 6-cyl

  • miles
While driving with the heat on, there's a burning smell that come through the vents. Continue driving with heat on long enough and despite the smell, the right side(passenger) began to smoke, so bad you cant see to drive... while driving and you press on the gas to accelerate, it's not a smooth transition, U cant beat a Honda... while driving every now and then U hear a loud screeching sound till you turn your car off... in stationary position with the car on, its makes loud engine running sounds... the car also pulls to the right...

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #17

Dec 282015

X5

  • miles
My dashboard light flick engine, ABS, parking break will shut off vehicle less than 10min driving with caution.

- Wyandanch, NY, USA

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