3.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,507 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.

2012 BMW X5 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2012 BMW X5 Owner Comments

problem #12

Sep 122022

X5 6-cyl Diesel

  • miles

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

BMW turns off driving down the road. Loss of power, power steering and brakes. Dangerous due to the fact that it is hard and sometimes impossible to pull over and get it to restart. When it happens on the freeway it is very dangerous because it is almost impossible to pull over. The SUV just quits working for no apparent reason. This has happened several times and not just one incident. Last time it happened was in the middle of an interstate in Denver CO with a child in the back seat. It happens at different speeds without warning.

- Wright, WY, USA

problem #11

Feb 132021

X5

  • 70,200 miles
Cel light came on. The decoded code is P2457. The egr module needs to be replaced as per the technician

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #10

Jun 012018

X5

  • 128,000 miles
On 2018 the engine's idler pulley bolt fail. The vehicle lose the power and don't run. I have tried to fix the problem with BMW Agency on tucson Arizona, but they never can help with this problem. They always say the same 'we can't do nothing about it. I'm very fustrated because this is my only vehicle. Finally I visited another mechanic to fix my vehicle. I already spend money to fix the problem, and you company just give me excuses. I'm very upset with the service, very bad service. Sometimes the persone by phone tell me that he would see how he can help me, and he going to call me back and never happened. The last time one person of customer service her name amalia phone number +16614322897 tried to help me, but instead he told me that I owe you 150 dlls. I'm just try to keep the vehicle in good conditions for the safety of my family. And see if you going to help me to get some money back that I already spend of my pocket. Thank you !!

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #9

May 232018

X5

  • miles

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

BMW has opened a recall for my vehicle as of may, 23 of 2018 and the parts aren't available even now. I have called them numerous times with no success at all. Nobody nows when these parts will be available. I'm a rent a car company owner and this vehicle stays in my garage and collects dust with no revenue what so ever. Please help me to resolve this issue.

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #8

Nov 092018

X5

  • 90,000 miles
This weekend I was driving my BMW on the expressway and hear a loud pop. When I looked up my sunroof exploded and scattered into small pieces. I was out of town and all the schererville dealer told me is to contact my insurance. They didn't accommodate me at all. Nothing hit my car and the same situation happened to a relative in her BMW car last year. This was a very scary situation and I was stuck all weekend out of town with a hole in my car. The tempered glass is defective and BMW needs to be responsible.

- Lynwood, IL, USA

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problem #7

Aug 252018

X5

  • 60,000 miles
Faulty water pump-can't cool down car inoperable many other X5 already have this recall but not mine" going to cost me 1100 under warranty?!"

- North Smithfield, RI, USA

problem #6

Apr 142017

X5

  • miles

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

Recall campaign no. 17V-138: Front driveshaft. Recall letter dated April 2017. Scheduled repair with the nearest BMW dealer repair shop in arlington, Texas for several months now, no repair has been done. Scare of driving vehicle, because the front wheels vibrate when driving even a moderate speed. I have called the BMW repair shop multiple times, but no response to repair.

- Mansfield, TX, USA

problem #5

Nov 112017

X5 6-cyl Diesel

  • 57,200 miles
EGR COOLER AT FRONT OF ENGINE IS LEAKING EXHAUST. EXHAUST DIESEL SMELL IS COMING IN SIDE THE CABIN. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SMELLING DIESEL EXHAUST. DETERIORATING HEALTH OF FAMILY ADULTS AND KIDS. UNSAFE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ARE ALREADY FOUND ONLINE. REACHED OUT TO BMW NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMERREALTIONS@BMWUSA.COM AND THEY WONT COVER IT. 2012 BMW X5 XDRIVE35D 57200 MILES ON CAR. THIS IS UNSAFE CAR. DIESEL SMELL INSIDE CAR IS BAD. MY EMAIL [XXX] PHONE [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #4

Jan 172017

X5

  • 10,000 miles
Takata recall - dealer has been putting me off for at least 10 months for front driver and passage side airbag replacement.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #3

Nov 082015

X5

  • miles
Engine malfunction, reduced power, error mesage this morning. Just had to have egr replaced 5 days ago (@52,000 miles) at the tune of $1005....now my car will only go 35 mph. Car started making a "whistling sound" on 11/07 during acceleration....then today, it started "rattling" them engine malfunction message came on and power went away!

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #2

Jan 062014

X5 6-cyl Diesel

  • 14,484 miles
I pulled into a gas station, and as I approached the pump and put on brakes, I heard a crack. After I pumped my gas, I started my car, and a battery light came on along with an indication that there was a "charging error". I attempted to drive off, but I could not turn my steering wheel left or right. My husband looked on the hood, and noted that a belt was hanging down and fluid was spewed everywhere. My car was towed to the dealer for repair. My invoice indicates that the alternator tensioner bolt was broken that connected the alternator belt to the engine (?) and had to be repaired. This is troubling because this bolt was a replacement bolt. That is, when I had my vehicle serviced in December 2012, I was informed that there was a recall on an aluminum bolt, and my invoice from that service visit indicates that the "alternator pulley bolt" was replaced. I am troubled because the replacement bolt was supposed to address the recall issue, but the replacement bolt broke in the exact manner that the recall was supposed to prevent. I am a bit troubled that a replacement bolt, which was replaced as a result of a recall, malfunctioned. This appears to be a safety issue that wasn't addressed properly by BMW the first time.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #1

Oct 232011

X5

  • 8,200 miles
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

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