2018 BMW X5

I experienced a complete failure of the rear pneumatic (air) suspension system on my vehicle. This system uses rubber air springs (“airbags”) rather than conventional coil springs. When it failed, the rear of the vehicle dropped significantly, causing metal-to-metal contact, an extreme upward pitch of the front end, and pronounced instability. The vehicle became difficult to control, with excessive rear sway creating an unsafe driving condition. Based on my experience and publicly available information, this appears to be a known and recurring issue affecting BMW X5 and X6 models (E70, F15, and G05). The failure is commonly attributed to degradation of the rubber air springs, which can dry out, crack, or leak. When leaks develop, the compressor runs excessively and may fail, resulting in sudden loss of suspension support. While these components may be considered wear items, the frequency and relatively early occurrence of these failures suggest a design or engineering vulnerability rather than typical maintenance. Failures are widely reported between approximately 50,000 and 100,000 miles or within 4–7 years, indicating a pattern of premature degradation. This condition can occur without clear warning, including after the vehicle has been parked, meaning drivers may not recognize the issue until the vehicle is unsafe to operate. Once the system fails, handling is severely compromised, increasing the risk of loss of control. Repair costs often exceed $5,000, which may discourage timely repairs and leave vehicles in unsafe condition. BMW characterized this as a maintenance issue despite the apparent pattern. I am submitting this complaint because this condition poses a serious safety risk. A sudden loss of rear suspension support at speed could result in loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash, injury, or fatality.

Vehicle: 2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e Recall: NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-608 Complaint Description: My 2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e experienced a sudden Electric Motor Electronics (EME) failure that rendered the vehicle inoperable. This occurred before the recall remedy for NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-608 was completed. It is available for inspection upon request. Recall 24V-608 addresses fluid intrusion into the electric coolant water pump electrical connector, which can cause electrical shorts, overcurrent conditions, and power instability. The EME is directly dependent on stable electrical conditions. After the vehicle failed, the recall repair was performed; however, completion of the recall does not reverse electrical damage that may have occurred prior to the repair. Prior to the EME failure, I made multiple attempts to have the recall addressed by contact BMW authorized dealers, but the recall condition remained unresolved. Following the failure, BMW of North America denied responsibility in writing, closed my case, and did not identify any alternative root cause or provide technical findings explaining the EME failure. The vehicle is not drivable and requires approximately $12,000 in repairs. I also incurred rental vehicle expenses as a result of BMW’s refusal to repair. This appears to be recall-related electrical damage affecting a critical control module, creating a safety concern due to sudden loss of vehicle function putting safety of myself and others at risk. I am submitting this complaint to document a safety-related electrical failure associated with Recall 24V-608 and BMW of North America’s refusal to remedy the resulting damage.

I am writing to formally report an issue with my vehicle involving a persistent parking brake malfunction. The yellow parking brake indicator light remains on and will not reset. After researching the issue, I’ve found that this is a common problem among other vehicle owners of the same make and model. The malfunction appears to be related either to a faulty sensor or the entire parking brake module assembly, and the cost to diagnose and repair can exceed $2,000, which places a significant burden on owners for what appears to be a widespread defect. Given the importance of the parking brake system for vehicle safety and reliability, I believe this issue warrants further investigation and potentially a recall or service campaign.

On July 9, while accelerating on a busy freeway during rush hour, the car stalled in the middle lane and was unable to be driven off to the side. I called 911 and a tow truck came to tow the vehicle. The problem was diagnosed by BMW as the high pressure fuel pump, which was determined to have blown out and sent metal into the entire fuel system - with a repair estimate of $26k. The high pressure fuel pump had already been replaced by BMW under a recall and the remedy was to replace it with the same faulty component, which failed again. There was no warning or signs of impending failure. The 2018 BMW X5 has been serviced solely by BMW and inspected multiple times with no suggestion there were any issues. I called BMW after the incident, and since the car is 3k miles over the extended warranty on this part, they have denied any help in remedying this issue.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart. After restarting the vehicle, the contact observed white smoke and embers coming from the EGR cooler and intake manifold. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel); the VIN was included, but the vehicle was already repaired in 2022. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 66,000.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

BMW issued a recall in October 2024 regarding the engine coolant pump electrical connector on my 2018 BMW X5 xDrive40e, warning of electrical shorts and fire risks. It's now late March 2025—approximately six later—and BMW dealerships still state explicitly they have no available remedy and no timeline for repair. Recently, my vehicle showed a drivetrain warning message, which I suspect is recall-related. I called BMW corporate recall hotline and my local BMW dealership (BMW of Tenafly) today (March 24, 2025). The dealership explicitly stated that they can only perform diagnostics, and even if their diagnostics confirm my drivetrain issue is recall-related, they 'cannot do anything' due to BMW's lack of available recall remedy. When I expressed concern to BMW of Tenafly representative that this recall involves serious safety risks (electrical shorts and potential fire), the dealership representative dismissed my concern by simply saying, 'every recall is urgent.' This response underscores my concern that BMW and its dealerships are not treating this recall issue with adequate seriousness or urgency, leaving consumers like myself at ongoing safety risk. They also mentioned charging $150/day storage if I leave my vehicle at their facility beyond diagnostics, which discourages vehicle owners from having their recall-related safety issues adequately addressed. I’m escalating to NHTSA now because BMW has not provided a recall remedy within a reasonable period, and I'm concerned about ongoing safety issue.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was black smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the EGR cooler and intake manifold had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V755000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 73,000.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact stated that a low coolant message was displayed on the instrument panel while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer where an oil change was performed, and the contact was informed that there were no other defects found with the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure returned a week after the oil change and the vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact that the intake manifold was cracked and that the EGR valve cooler was defective, and that both parts needed to be replaced. The mechanic replaced the intake manifold and the EGR cooler and informed the contact that there was an unknown recall on the vehicle for the defect. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, the contact was denied a reimbursement request. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 83,429.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the thermostat was stuck opened, causing the check engine warning light to illuminate and the transmission oil coolant heat exchanger to be damaged by the thermostat failure. The contact was advised that the thermostat and coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

The front driveshaft is known to fail in these vehicles. Mine is very loose and my mechanic advised me to not drive the car anymore until I replace it. When it snaps off, it is known to destroy either the transmission or engine. This needs to be recalled by BMW.

Driving my BMWX5 on 11/5/2024 on an open road with my dog, I heard an unusual loud thump. Since there were no warning lights before or after the thump, I continued until it was convenient to stop. While I continued, I heard light noises on top of my roof. I did not go under any overpasses. When I stopped and pulled back the cover of my sun roof, I was aghast to see a large gaping hole and total shatter of my sunroof! Had I not had my sunroof cover closed, all the glass would have rained down on my and my dog. Also had it rained down on me, not knowing how I would have reacted, I might have caused an accident, particularly had my driving been impaired. I took pictures of the shattered sun roof. I also took a picture of the odometer. I had 49,075 miles on my vehicle that day. That day I took my vehicle to a BMW Collision Center, which is right beside the Dealership. The total shatter obviously was confirmed. A part has been ordered and the vehicle will be taken in next week for repair. This is at my cost as is the rental car since my insurance deductible is so high. I have called into the General Manager of the BMW Dealer over the last 2 days with no return call.

The water pump's electrical plug connector has a safety recall without a current available remedy. The issue causes small drops of liquid from the positive crankcase ventilation system to drip down onto the water pump's electrical connector, which could lead to a short circuit and potential thermal event or fire.

Driving the vehicle a short distance, I can smell oil burning after the car is stopped. I have had to put oil in the car twice because the warning light came on suggesting that a quart of oil is needed. The vehicle has less than 122,000 miles. Also, the car idles a lot before I put it in gear. I was told at the last oil change that I need spark plugs. The battery and tires were replaced by a BMW dealership over a year ago.

The windshield wiper fluid reservoir failed and leaked out all the fluid at 6.5 years/34,000 miles. Without wiper fluid I am unable to clean the windshield which is a visibility safety issue. The car is currently at the dealer waiting for a repair part.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

EME (ELECTRONIC MOTOR ELECT.) The vehicle is already at the service department of BMW in Puerto Rico. According to them, there was an EME failure. The warranty says the electrical system is covered under a warranty of 8 years or 60,000 miles. Neither of them has passed. The service department says the warranty is on the main battery, but the EME is part of the electrical system. They want to charge almost 20,000 for the replacement and adjustment of the system. This statement is unacceptable. It would put this vehicle which has been jealously taken care of in a total loss condition. It still owed 25000 dollars and the repair cost 20,000. It does not make sense and is not the only one with this situation. The problem is that it died in the middle of the road, Luckily there was not much traffic. It is very dangerous if it happened on the freeway, it could have caused a very bad accident. BMW should be liable for this damage and a recall should be performed.

The AC compressor catastrophically failed and sent metal throughout the AC system. I will have to auction the vehicle and try to get some money from the vehicle to buy another car. I doubt that I will still have the vehicle by the end of August 2024. Because my vehicle is a plug-in-hybrid and AC lines run through it, the check engine light came on because the electric drive could not function properly. It was 90+ degrees outside and thus inside the car, and a good portion of the power to drive my car wasn't available since the electrical drive was affected. The problem was diagnosed by our local BMW dealer. Their analysis is sent via video messages. While I doubt you will be allowed to view it for corporate safety standards, the URL for the video they sent is [XXX] . I also saved a screen grab video but it is too large to send. Just the BMW dealership. The cost to repair is approximately $18,000. There was no warning. Shortly after the AC stopped cooling the check engine light came on and it appeared that my car stopped using the electric drive. This problem (catastrophic AC compressor failure) appears to have occurred in several other BMW models and model years. The only recommended fix is an extremely costly replacement of every AC line in the entire car system (engine, cabin, hybrid battery in my car's case). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)