While driving at around 35 mph, engine started to stutter, shake violently, then completely shut off, leaving no power assist to steering or brakes. Vehicle remained dead in the middle of a heavily traveled two lane road. After attempting to restart several dozen times, vehicle finally stayed on enough to pull to side of road, then shut down again. Again after numerous attempts to restart, vehicle was able to turm the corner onto a residential street where it proceeded to shut down once again. Engine failure message appeared on vehicle information display as well as engine warning lights on dashboard. While waiting for tow truck, the vehicle sat for 15 minutes before I attempted to restart. After about a dozen attempts, vehicle restarted, but this time with no error messages or dashboard warning lights. After several additional stalls, vehicle restarted but this time with the vehicle information display indicating "engine malfunction" and additional wording stating "reduced power available" (limp home mode) and "safe to drive". based on the message and the fact the car restarted, I attempted to drive home. On the highway (long island expressway) while approaching highway speeds (45 mph) the engine again shook violently, stumbled, and shut off leaving no power steering or power brakes. Unfortunately, a tractor trailor was bearing down on my position from the rear and nearly struck my vehicle, due to the sudden power loss and catastrophic engine failure. Beyond the failure of the high pressure fuel pump (per BMW dealership), the vehicle information system is flawed as it did not remember the first catastrophic engine failure and instead reset itself. It advised although there was an engine malfunction, it was safe to drive with reduced power available. A catastrophic engine event like that should result in a warning and advisement not to drive the vehicle.

- Flushing, NY, USA

2012 BMW X5. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle stalled several times. The last dealer, told the consumer the stalling was due to bad gas.

- Oneida, NY, USA

Shortly after starting the car it went into safe mode when I was on a busy road with a 55 mph speed limit which was under construction and reduced to one lane with no shoulder or place to safely pull over. Thus, I was in a dangerous situation and also obstructing traffic and putting other drivers at risk as well.

- Conroe, TX, USA

I leased my 2012 BMW X5 35I in May 2011. I was driving on the interstate with 2 toddlers at around 65 mph, when the car suddenly lost power and the message displayed "engine malfunction, reduced power". I pulled over on the shoulder, and tried to re-start the car, but it won't start. When it did start after multiple attempts, the car shook vigorously and then turned off. I initiated the sos call via the BMW assist feature in the car. For some reason, the call failed multiple times, and the data could not be transferred. When the call did go through, the car could not send my exact coordinates to the reps to help me get a tow truck. After trying for about 30 min to get help from the BMW assist, I tried to restart the car, which started normally as if nothing ever happened. The in-built diagnosis said "all systems ok". I got on the interstate, and as I reached around 60 mph, the engine stalled again with the same message "engine malfunction...". for the next 1.5 hours, I tried to call the BMW assist over my phone to get help. The said the tow truck should come in the next hour. For about 2 hours, the 2 toddlers and 3 adults were sitting by the interstate. When the tow truck did not show up, I called the BMW assist reps again, to be told that the truck shall take another 45 minutes to reach us. I then called my friend to take everybody home, and I stayed with the car. I then tried to drive at about 40 mph and take the car to the dealer, only to be pulled over by the highway patrol. He said I was violating the law by driving at 40 mph in a 70 mph zone. I then called my insurance company to get a tow truck, which arrived in 30 min. The next day my wife took the car to the dealer, and the report sheet they provided said that the high pressure pump was faulty, and that they have replaced it. I am yet to take my car on the interstate to check the performance at 65 mph.

- Fairfax, VA, USA