2011 BMW X5 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

I own a 2011 BMW x5. The NHTSA shows 15 recalls for my vehicle type; however, NHTSA must be relying upon BMW for the VIN numbers as: 1.) my vehicle doesn't show up for recalls; 2.) I have never been contacted by BMW for many of those recalls - in fact, I have not received a letter from BMW in many many years, and among the 15 recalls above, I have never received any notification of for at least October 20, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V707000 Camshaft Timing Bolts May Loosen Causing Stall Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. April 18, 2018 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 Electric Auxiliary Water Pump Failure October 30, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 PCV Heater may Short Circuit March 2, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 Front Driveshaft Universal Joint may Fail May 17, 2016 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V311000 Front Driveshaft Universal Joint may Fail. When I call BMW, they say there are no recalls outstanding on my vehicle and this NHTSA states there are recalls, but does not associate my VIN with the recalls, so say there are no recalls outstanding. The most prominent recent issue was that when my BMW dealership diagnosed a check engine light in my vehicle, they wanted to replace a SCR DEF active tank for $3,000, but it turned out that BMW had an almost 100% failure rate for the same part and issued an extended warranty for this part under their technical bulletin SI B01 23 16. They denied replacing the parts under the warranty stating that it was limited to 10 years/120,000 miles. I had only 101,600 miles on my car, but they stated the 10 year limited out the warranty from the in-service date. However, my car had many emission system related issues including just a few years previous.

As I was slowing down to make a turn, the vehicle went into neutral and shut off. I immediately turned it back on and put it in drive and the same thing occurred moments later. I start it again and drove away enough to safely park. I let the car rest in the off position for 30 minutes and it drove fine. There were no warning lights and the vehicle is well maintained with scheduled services. I contacted the nearest reputable mechanic and explained the situation. I drove it there. They found no faulty codes when they plugged in the computer and the battery has no issues. The vehicle drives fine now, but this is very concerning especially since this took place in local traffic.

The SUVs drive belt has come loose and was ingested through the front crankshaft seal, causing engine issues such as oil starvation leading to engine damage and unknown check engine codes. The SUV has been confirmed to have belt fragments inside the engine. I have video documentation.

Under normal driving conditions on city roads the universal joint literally shattered. There is no aftermarket upgrades and no unlicensed work done the vehicle. I had just got it back from the dealership and they checked over it and it checked out good. This is outlandish I don’t understand why my vehicle is not within the recall.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED SPEED ON I95 INTERSTATE 95SOUTH IN CHICAGO. I HAVE SPEND OVER $18,000 ON ENGINE ISSUE AND HIGH CONSUMPTION OF OIL IS ALSO A MAJOR ISSUE. THERE IS A SEVERE ENGINE ISSUE THAT MAY LEAD TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. ONCE THE ENGINE REDUCE POWER IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL THE TRUCK OVER TO SAFETY. THE WHOLE X5 5.0I NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM CENTER OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,171.

VEHICLE IS HAVING ISSUE WITH FRONT DRIVESHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS. SHAKING, AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE IS NOT STATIONARY AT ANY TIME THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. TOOK VEHICLE TO NEAREST MECHANIC, WHO IS ASE CERTIFIED AND BMW . SAID THAT VEHICLE NEEDS FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS RECALL 17V-138 ON MY VEHICLE. RECOMMENDED CONTACTING LOCAL BMW SERVICE FOR REPLACEMENT. TECHNICIAN STATES THAT DRIVESHAFT IS FAILING AT SAME AREA AS RECALL EXPLAINS. WHEN CONTACTING TOM HESSER BMW OF SCRANTON, PA, WAS TOLD VEHICLE HAD SERVICE ACTION PERFORMED IN 2015 (PRIOR TO SI B26 02 17) UNDER PREVIOUS OWNER AT AROUND 57,000 MILES. EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERS 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS 137,000. ASKED IF VEHICLE COULD BE COVERED UNDER BMW CUSTOMER GOODWILL. WAS DENIED FOR NOT BEING A REGULAR CUSTOMER. FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA. DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED WITH DEFECTIVE PART WHICH HAS ONLY LASTED 60,000 MILES AND NOW ENDANGERS MORE ACCIDENTS AS VEHICLE DRIVESHAFT COULD CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL AT ANY POINT. RECALL HAS NOT ADDRESSED ISSUE OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY.

TRANSFER CASE: SLIPPING AND HESITATION IN MOTION/DRIVING AND ACCELERATION. ALSO POPPING AND SLIPPING IN FRONT END NEAR FRONT WHEELS... LOOKED UP ONLINE TROUBLESHOOTING AND FOUND PROBLEMS WITH 2011 MODEL DESIGN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK HARD WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED. THERE WAS ALSO A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BMW GLOBAL IMPORTS (500 INTERSTATE N PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30339, (800) 294-1853) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RUMBLING AND BANGING NOISE. THE EMERGENCY POWER DOWN PULL OVER MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THERE WAS OIL EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF WYOMING VALLEY (1470 HIGHWAY 315, WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702, (570) 338-6955) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MILES / PER HOUR. SUDDENLY THE CAR SHOWED "ENGINE MALFUCTION - POWER REDUCED" AND SHE COULDN'T KEEP THE SPEED AND CAR STARTING LOSING SPEED AND DROPPED TO 10 MILES / HOUR, SHE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID THE DANGER OF BEING HIT BY OTHER CARS ON THE BUSY EXPRESSWAY. AFTER SHE PULLLED OVER AND CALLED ME, I DROVE TO THE PLACE WHERE SHE PARKED THE CAR AND USED A CODE READER TO FOUND SOME ERROR CODE "47C4", BUT AFTER RESTARTED CAR, CAR SEEMED OK. I DROPPED THE CAR AT BMW MOUNTAIN VIEW DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE "LOW PRESSURE EGR" WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $1800. WE FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGER TO HAPPEN TO ANY CAR BECAUSE SUCH AN FAILURE IT'S NOT SAFE TO US AND ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED!

FRONT WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE SHUDDER BADLY WHEN TURNING AT SLOW RATES OF SPEED. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (BMW OF TULSA, 9702 S MEMORIAL DR, TULSA, OK 74133), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS WILLING TO PAY HALF FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED WITH THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE COST FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

THIS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VANOS SYSTEM. AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH FULL TRAFFIC, MY ENGINE FAILED AT 70 MPH CAUSING TO ME ALMOST GET KILLED IN TRAFFIC AS I FOUGHT MY WAY THE THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND IT SEEMS THAT THE VANOS BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE CAMSHAFT AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. I WENT TO MY WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE DUE TO IT BEING THE BOLT THAT BACKED OUT. AS THEY DO NOT COVER BOLTS. NOW I AM PAYING FOR A CAR THAT I CANT DRIVE AND IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT BMW OF MT. LAUREL IN NEW JERSEY WITH AN 18K BILL. THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ALOT OF PEOPLE IN THESE VEHICLES. THAT VANOS UNIT IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AGAIN WITH THE CORRECT BOLTS REINFORCED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT HOT WATER HAD LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (UNITED BMW, 11458 ALPHARETTA HWY, ROSWELL GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT WHILE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND RATTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

I NOTICE WHEN TURNING A VIBRATION OR SHUDDER COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, INCLUDING THE NHTSA SITE, I FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR X5S. THE APPARENT FIX FOR THIS IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE, A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR. I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY WIFE BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE HER DRIVE IT BECAUSE BETWEEN THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE DRIVESHAFT, BOTH KNOWN ISSUES, I AM CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT, THERE IS NO WAY IT SHOULD HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS BARRING A VERY POOR DESIGN.

WELL LAST YEAR AT THIS EXACT SAME TIME THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BROKE CAUSING A DOMINO EFFECT OF DAMAGES THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED AND SMASHED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND DENTED THE EXHAUST PIPE. SERVICE ADVISER AT DEALER WAS NOT WANTING TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES UNDER RECALL PROGRAM ACTED LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE OR THE RECALL IN EFFECT. AFTER I PRESENTED ALL MY FINDINGS THEY CONTACTED BMW NA AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ,EXHAUST AND THE DRIVE SHAFT AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO ME. HOWEVER I DID END UP PAYING OVER $4K FOR OTHER OIL LEAKS ETC. NOW THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALERS WITH POPPING NOISE VERY HARD JERKING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THEY NOW CLAIM THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS BAD AND IT'LL COST $2700 (FOR THE PART ALONE) AND LABOR TO REPLACE THIS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I LOOKED UP ON LINE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND BMW IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. SURELY THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE CONNECTED TO THE TRANSFER CASE. SO IF THE DRIVE SHAFT HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT ONCE THEN THAT MALFUNCTION MUST HAVE DAMAGED THE TRANSFER CASE ALSO OR IF THE INSTALL WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY THIS COULD HAVE DAMAGED THE TRANSFER CASE. WHICH I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD ADDRESS UNDER THE RECALL FOR FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. WHY IS NO ONE TAKING ANY ACTION ON THIS MATTER. A FAULTY TRANSFER CASE IN THE X5 CAN CAUSE LOSS OF DRIVE AND THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH IF THE OCCUPANTS ARE ON A FREEWAY OR IN AN INTERSECTION ETC WHERE THEY ARE STUCK. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND HOLD THE MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUCH DEFECTIVE AND POOR QUALITY PRODUCTS.PREMIUM DOLLAR FOR THESE CARS DEMANDS PREMIUM SERVICE AND CUSTOMER CARE. CURRENTLY MY CAR SITS IN THE SHOP WITH A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF ALMOST $9K TO REPLACE TURBO HOSES AND TRANSFER CASE.

IT APPEARS THAT THE BMW X5 35I HAS THIS ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASE ON A HUGE NUMBER OF THE VEHICLES. WHILE THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME VIN #'S I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE TO EXTEND IT TO ALL OF THEM. MY X5 HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS EXPIRED BECAUSE OF MILEAGE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH NOTICE WHEN IT GOES OUT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH. DOES BMW OR THE NATIONAL SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REALLY WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE ? I THINK NOT ONLY MY VIN # NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED BUT ALL BMW 2011-2012 X5 SHOULD BE INCLUDED. BMW HAS BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THIS IN REGARD RECALL NUMBER 16V311000. THE DRIVESHAFT IS COMPROMISED. THE JOINTS ON THE SHAFT ARE ABRAISED AND THE CAR IS BECAMING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS THE CLANKING NOISE WILL GET LOUDER. POTENTIAL OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE IF NOT FIXED. SYMPTOM: LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN TURNING.

AIRBAG RECALL OVER 18MONTHS-BMW SAYS "CAN'T GET PARTS". "MAY SHOOT SHARDS IF DEPLOYED. DRIVESHAFT RECALL -BMW SAYS CAN'T GET PARTS. "IF FAILS, FRONT WHEELS DON'T WORK. CRACK IN EGR COOLER. DEADLY EXHAUST IN PASSENGER CABIN-REPAIRED 5/8/17. RECALL ALTERNATOR BOLT -REPLACED AND REPLACEMENT BROKE! CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STEERING IN TRAFFIC ON MOUNTAIN ROAD AT NIGHT.