32 of the 556 complaints filed about the BMW 5 Series are about the steering — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2011.
32
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
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WHILE MAKE TURNS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AXEL MAKES POPPING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS VIOLENTLY. TOOK TO SHOP THEY SAID NOTHING FOUND WRONG WITH CAR. CV AXEL REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.ALSO NOT EVEN 10K MILES THE CAR WENT THRU 2 BELT TENSIONER CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO SNAP/TEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11155399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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A FEW DAYS BACK MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE LIKE ONE OF THE RUBBERS HAVE GONE BAD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 55K MILES ON IT AND IS MAJORLY GARAGE KEPT. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS OF THE SAME ISSUE. YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE AT: HTTP://F30.BIMMERPOST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=838504 YOU CAN HEAR THE SQUEAK IF THE CAR IS DRIVING OR IS STATIC.
NHTSA complaint #11083506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. CAN NOT GET IT OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MODE THAT SHOWS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FIND THAT THIS HAS AND IS A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN BMW AUTOMOBILES, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. NOT TO MENTION INCONVENIENT SINCE YOU CAN NOT START OR DRIVE THE CAR. IT HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE FOR NO KNOWN REASON. I AM PRETTY DARN UPSET ABOUT THIS! LUCKILY I HAD JUST PUT THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MIGHT OF HAPPENED IF I WAS ON A PUBLIC STREET OR AWAY FROM MY HOME...PERHAPS IN A PARKING LOT. I WOULD BE STRANDED SINCE THE CAR CAN NOT START OR BE DRIVEN IF THE WHEEL IS LOCKED.
NHTSA complaint #10895538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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VEHICLE IS DISPLAYING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK. A RED WARNING LIGHT WITH A LOCK SYMBOL (UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER) IS ON THE PANEL DISPLAY. THIS IS VERY ALARMING AND DISTRACTING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL IMPACT THE ACTUAL STEERING. SO FAR THE VEHICLE DOES START UP AND RUNS NORMALLY, BUT THE INDICATOR IS CONSTANTLY ON. I REVIEWED SOME OF THE ONLINE FORUMS AND SOME SUGGEST THAT THIS FAULT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO NOT START. MY DAUGHTER IS THE ONE NORMALLY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE GOING TO ASSIST TO GET HER ANOTHER VEHICLE, SINCE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ONE IS SAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10748947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION LOCKS PREVENTING THE VEHICLE TO START STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #10744822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS DRIVING APPX 40MPH WHILE ON A LOCAL ROAD SLIGHTLY UPHILL, ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST. LUCKILY NO CARS AROUND ME SO I WAS ABLE TO BARELY ROLL OVER TO THE ROADSIDE. CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED ECU FOR A TOTAL COST OF $2K.
NHTSA complaint #10568719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNTION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED APROX. 30 DEG OFF CENTER. THE CAR DRIVES FINE BUT THE WHEEL IS STUCK 30 DEG OFF CENTER.
NHTSA complaint #10447318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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ACTIVE STEERING FAULT LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER RESTRAINING SYSTEM LIGHTS COME ON AFTER CAR PARKED FOR OVER A WEEK DURING A TRIP OUT. SEVERAL FORUMS HAVE INDICATED SIMILAR FAILURE WITH EXCESSIVE REPAIR COSTS FROM DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10436926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I E60 HAD "ACTIVE STEERING FAULT CAME ON AT ALL TIME .THE DEALER WANTS 4000USD TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE STEERING CONTROL IS FINE . I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE HAD RELATED TO STEERING ANGLE SENSOR DEFECTIVE FROM BMW FACTORY AND DEALERS IN US DID NOT WANT TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THIS PROBLEMS HAD HAPPENED TO ALL BMW'S . ALL OVER THE BLOGS .CUSTOMERS HAD FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. PLEASE LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM(S).
NHTSA complaint #10418480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 2011 528I AUGUST10 BUILD. THE FIRST IS THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT THAT THE CAR HAS HAD SINCE DAY ONE. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THE PROBLEM. AFTER SOME PERSISTENCE THEY DECIDED TO CHECK THE CAR OUT. THE STRUTS WERE ROTATED AND SOFTWARE UPDATED AND NOW "DRIVES STRAIGHT". THE CAR DRIVES STRAIGHT FOR MAYBE 25 FEET BEFORE THE CAR STARTS TUGGING HARD RIGHT EVERYTIME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO AND IT IS ALL "WITHIN TOLERANCE". THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY ADDRESSED. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE INITIAL LAG IN ACCELERATION WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN AT A DEAD STOP OR CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, YOU HAVE TO FLOOR THE CAR TO FINALLY GET IT TO DECIDE WHICH GEAR TO START IN. THIS ACCELERATION LAG CAN BE A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC A COUPLE OF SECONDS CAN MEAN ALOT. I HOPE BMW ADDRESSES THESE ISSUES OR I WILL BE FORCED TO SELL MY CAR AND NEVER LOOK BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10418466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THERE ARE 3 MAJOR ISSUES. 1. VEHICLE TENDS TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. FEELING IS QUITE LIKE A VEHICLE THAT HASN'T BEEN ALIGNED FOR A WHILE. 2. THE MOST DANGEROUS. UPON ACCELERATION AND/OR AT LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKS FORWARD WITHOUT ANY NOTICE- MAKING IT TOO LATE FOR THE DRIVER TO SLAM THE BRAKES. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS STANDING THREE FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, YOU CAN EASILY CRASH AND REAR END INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. AND OF COURSE, YOU WILL BE SUED FOR NOT KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE. THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES. 3. VEHICLE WOBBLES AS IF THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED. THERE ARE CLEARLY UNKNOWN DEFECTS THAT CAN NOT BE LOCATED. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER, THEY KEEP ASCRIBING IT TO "NORMAL" CHARACTERISTICS AND THEY KEEP INFORMING ME THAT BMWS ARE BUILT THAT WAY, THEY ARE NOW SPORTIER. HOWEVER, TO ANY NEW OWNER, IT IS NOW DEADLIER. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER ALSO STATE UNLESS THEY VEHICLE DOESN'T INFORM THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. ITS MORE LIKE, UNTIL SOMEONE DOESN'T SUE THEM IS WHEN THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BMW SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY BEFORE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BEGINS AGAINST THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10418816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I PURCHASED MY 2011 550I IN JANUARY OF 2011. TWO WEEKS AFTER ACTUALLY GETTING THE CAR ON THE ROAD I NOTICED THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. CAR STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT IN ADDITION TO NOW I HAVE A LOUD WHINING NOISE AT 2000 RPMS. THE CHIEF MECHANIC HAS HAD MY CAR FOR TWO WEEKS NOW AND CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A LOT OF LOUD CREEKING NOISES COMING FROM MY ROOFTOP LINER. THE ENTIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT I DON'T HAVE MY CAR BACK YET DUE TO THE WHINING ISSUE BEING UNRESOLVED. THE VEERING RIGHT ISSUE SEEMS MOST COMMON AMONG ALL COMPLAINTS AND IS WHY I DECIDED TO LOG A COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10406284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TWO SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2011 BMW 535I: 1- STEERING: THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT ALSO CANNOT BE CONTROLLED IF ANY WIND IS BLOWING. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN JUST TO KEEP IT CENTERED. 2- TRANSMISSION: THE THROTTLE IS INITIALLY NON-RESPONSIVE FROM STOP OR LOW SPEEDS, THEN SUDDENLY IT JERKS TO THE FRONT, ALMOST HITTING THE CAR INFRONT OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #10397095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I HAVE A NEW BMW 550I WITH SPORT PACKAGE AND 19" WHEELS. THIS CAR IS TRYING TO KILL ME. THE CAR STEERS WHEREVER IT WANTS TO. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER SINCE DAY ONE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE SOFTWARE AND THE STEERING COLUMN TO APPEASE ME, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS CAR WILL PULL YOU TOWARD THE GUARD RAIL AND ONLY A FRANTIC, PANIC, SAVE MY LIFE MOVE CAN KEEP THE CAR FROM CRASHING. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE WHEN I DRIVE THIS CAR. I HAVE NEVER AND I REPEAT NEVER DRIVEN SUCH A HORRIBLE CAR.MAYBE WHEN I A AM KILLED IN THIS CAR BMW WILL PAY FOR MY FUNERAL. THIS IS THE BIGGEST COVER UP IN THE HISTORY OF CARS. THEY HAVE LACK OF CONSCIENCE THAT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THEY ARE TORTURING NEW OWNERS OF THIS CAR WHO PAID GOOD IF NOT BLOOD MONEY TO OWN ONE AND NOW DESPERATELY WANT HELP TO FIX OR GET RID OF THIS CAR. I WANT OUT. I AM TALKING TO LAWYERS AND MAYBE THIS IS THE ONLY LANGUAGE BMW UNDERSTANDS. CLASS ACTION SUIT SEEMS LOGICAL. I AM CONTACTING MEDIA AND ANYONE ELSE I CAN.I TRIED TO TRADE THIS CAR IN AT SEVERAL DEALERS. BOTH OF THESE DEALERS SENT ME A LETTER STATING THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE MY CAR IN TRADE AFTER TEST DRIVING IT. THEY SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. THEY WANT NO PART OF IT. IN ALL OF MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. A NEW CAR COSTING 75K AND THEY WON'T TAKE IT IN TRADE WITH 6000 MILES. NEVER HAVE I HEARD OF THIS. SO, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PIECE OF CRAP F10 550I AND I HOPE YOU LIVE THROUGH IT.
NHTSA complaint #10378256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY 2011 BMW 550I SEDAN HAS HAD STEERING WHEEL GRINDING SENSATIONS AND LOUD NOISES WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THERE IS A "THUD" COMING FROM THE STEERING COMPONENT ALSO. BMW STATES THERE ARE NO FIXES FOR THIS AND THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL AREA INDEED HAS A PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIPS IS STATING IT IS A VALVE BLOCK PROBLEM WHICH HAS A CURRENT BACKORDER OF 2 WEEKS. HOWEVER, PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPLACED THE VALVE BLOCK IS STILL HAVING THE SAME STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE INCLUDED A LINK TO A BMW FORUM THAT HAS ABOUT 1 IN 3 OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM- HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=495019&PAGE=18 IF THERE IS A STEERING WHEEL FAILURE AT HIGHER SPEEDS, IT CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO HUGE CATASTROPHIES.
NHTSA complaint #10375090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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BMW 2011 535I - VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTER LETTING HAND OF STEERING WHEEL. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 12/31/2011 NEW AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1/2/11. IT WAS RELEASED TO ME TODAY WITH THE PROBLEM NOT BEING FIXED. ISSUE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAN PULL VEHICLE INTO LANE WITH OUT DRIVER TURNING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10374690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY 2011 BMW 528I PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALER'S LOT. THE CAR REMAINS IN THE DEALER'S SHOP. IT HAS HAD TWO WHEEL ALIGNMENTS AND A SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD. I HAVE DRIVEN IT AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED AND IT CONTINUES TO WANT TO PULL RIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS 375 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10373873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND MADE REPAIRS BY PERFORMING AN ALIGNMENT AND OTHER UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. HE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT TORSION BAR BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF HE WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THE VEHICLE THEN HE SHOULD TURN IT BACK IN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50.
NHTSA complaint #10372708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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VEHICLE RAN OFF OF RIGHT EDGE OF ROAD DUE TO STEERING PULLING TO THE RIGHT. RIGHT WHEELS/TIRES SUFFERED $2400 DAMAGE. TIRES/WHEELS REPLACE, ALIGNMENT DONE AND CAR STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THIS IS A DEFECT FROM BMW - NUMEROUS US OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ON 2011 BMW 5 SERIES CARS (SEE OTHER NHTSA REPORTS).
NHTSA complaint #10369283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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BMW 2004 545I ACTIVE STEERING PROBLEM. MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE ACTIVE STEERING LIGHT WENT ON. NOW THE CAR DRIVES STRAIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TILTED TO THE RIGHT. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY VOLTAGE DROP. CAR STARTS TO SHUT DOWN MAJOR COMPONENTS ACTIVE STEERING, TRANSMISSION, NAVIGATION, AND I-DRIVE SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS THE WHOLE CARS ELECTRONICS. SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE A 8 MONTH OLD KID IN A CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10367336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.