2012 BMW X5 Steering Problems

It suddenly became very, very difficult and almost impossible to steer.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Repair shop repaired the pulley because i couldn't steer the vehicle correctly. It would jerk me on the road. Vehicle is available for inspection but is already repaired by local shop. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I could drive but couldn't steer intermittently. Scary!! i couldn't make a full turns and there was a rough spot in the steering sometimes. Eventually it locked up an couldn't leave parking spot. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. But i already got it repaired. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not that i know of. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. I only smelled burning rubber or electrical components. Smoke from engine bay and screeching sounds. Worst part is it was intermittent which gives the driver a false sense of security to drive but almost crashed because down the road couldn't steer.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE BELTS WERE LOOSE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IDLER PULLEY WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

IN 2012 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS CAR AND THE WORK WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALER. ON 12/16/2016 THE STEERING FAILED WILE THE CAR WAS IN OPERATION. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ON THE SAME PART AS BEFORE. MY INVESTIGATION SHOWED THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE STEERING FAILURE IN THAT TIME PERIOD CONCERNING THE SAME MODEL, ENGINE AND EVERYTHING BUT A 2011 MODEL. I PAID OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE REPAIRS COMPLETED BECAUSE I NEED TRANSPORTATION, HOWEVER BMW IS CLAIMING THAT ONCE THE WORK IS COMPLETED AND AFTER TIME OF WARRANTY THEY ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND BMW WILL BILL CUSTOMERS FOR THE WORK EVEN IF THEY ARE REPLACING THE EQUIPMENT WITH FAULTY PARTS. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WASN'T DRIVING FAST AND THE WEATHER WAS NICE OR I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH NO STEERING.. *TR

MAKING A SHARP TURN RESULT IN VIBRATION

SHUDDER OR VIBRATION FELT ON STEERING WITH FRONT WHEELS TURNED TO RIGHT OR LEFT. VIBRATION FELT WHEN MOVING FORWARD FROM A STOP POSITION OR BACKING UP WITH FRONT WHEELS TURN TO EITHER SIDE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES BUT IT IS GETTING WORST EVEN WITH THE NEW TIRES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT WHEELS WILL AUTOMATICALLY FOLLOW A RUT IN THE ROAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE UNEXPECTEDLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. MY WIFE HAD RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN HER HANDS AND CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. WHEN WE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE THE DEALER GAVE US A DIFFERENT MODEL WITHOUT THE AGGRESSIVE SUSPENSION - THE VEHICLE DRIVE BEAUTIFULLY. WHEN WE ARRIVED BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP THE DEALER HAD THIS MODEL ON THE FLOOR AND OFFERED US A "DEAL" TO PURCHASE IT. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT MAKE US AWARE OF THE PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE HANDLING. NOW AT 7000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAYS WE MAY HAVE HIT A CURB. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND ANOTHER OWNER WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO HIS LETTER HE WAS ON THE WAY HOME AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND IT "TOOK OFF ALL OVER THE ROAD." HE DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ADVISE THEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS. HE FINALLY, WITH APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES TRADED THE VEHICLE IN. WE ASKED THE DEALER IF THEY WOULD TRADE IT FOR THE MODEL WE TEST DROVE. THEY SAID BECAUSE IT WAS REGISTERED THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE US $45K. WE HAD JUST PAID $62K FOR IT. MY DAUGHTER RECENTLY BORROWED THE CAR, AND DECIDED IT WAS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THE STEERING/SUSPENSION ON THE X5 SPORT ACTIVITY. PLEASE LOOK INTO TO IT. WE FEAR THAT WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WE WILL EVENTUALLY COLLIDE WITH A PASSING VEHICLE DUE THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE SIMPLY REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR CITING IT IS SIMPLY TOO DANGEROUS - SHE IS RIGHT! ON THE WEBSITE "TIRE RACK" THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF X5 OWNERS WHO ARE FUMING ABOUT TIRE WEAR ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE. MOST SEEM TO ACHIEVE NO MORE THAN 10K MILES. *TR