BMW 5 Series transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

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.

POWER TRAIN

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 5-SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, BMW OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE ORDERED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, VIN TOOL CONFIRMS REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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 AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10993684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY UPHILL, ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED, NO POWER, GOT A MESSAGE "DRIVE-TRAIN MALFUNCTION, NO MAXIMUM OUTPUT, DRIVE MODERATELY". I WAS SURROUNDED BY CARS/SEMI TRUCKS, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MANAGED TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULD. COULD NOT RESTART CAR, GOT A MESSAGE "AUTOMATIC START/STOP DEACTIVATED: ENGINE WILL NOT START AUTOMATICALLY. PRESS THE START/STOP BUTTON TO START THE ENGINE." ABOUT 30 MINS AFTER ENGINE STALLED, I FINALLY RESTARTED THE CAR. CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 10 MILES @ 60-65 MPH. AT A LOCAL STREET, AS I SLOWED DOWN TO APPROACH A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ENGINE STALLED AGAIN, NO POWER, CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD, GOT THE TWO SAME MESSAGES, COULD NOT START CAR. ABOUT 30 MINS AFTER ENGINE STALLED, I FINALLY STARTED THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10895472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION JERKS AS IF YOU ARE MISSING A SPARK OR IT IS TRYING TO FIND A HIGHER OR LOWER GEAR WHILE CRUISING IN TRAFFIC BETWEEN 32-40 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10628590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

ON OR ABOUT MAY 2013 I WAS TRAVELING AT 60MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD BANG SOUND AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO AN AUTOMATIC STOP. SCARED AS VEHICLE BEHIND ME SCREECHED AND TURN AWAY AVOIDING ME. I REMAINED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND I TRAVELED FEARFULLY TO COMPLETE MY ASSIGNMENT. SAME DAY ON MY RETURN HOME VEHICLE STOPPED ABOUT 3 TIMES BUT I DROVE STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP. WITHOUT INSPECTING MY VEHICLE I WAS TOLD MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WAS GONE. I WAS QUOTED VERY HIGH AMOUNT BUT SOMETHING TOLD ME A BAD ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WOULD NOT START A VEHICLE SO I OFFERED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE HOME. MY VEHICLE STAYED HOME FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WITHOUT USE ONLY WARM UPS REVERSE AND PARK. I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH TO AVOID THE FRIVOLOUS AMOUNT THE DEALERS QUOTED AND FOUND THAT THE INTEGRATED MODULE (IVM) WAS BAD. I GOT IT FOR $144 AND REPLACED IT AND PROBLEM WAS FIXED AFTER 4 MONTHS. UNTIL APRIL 2014 I DROVE THE OUT TO WORK AND BARELY TWO MILES AWAY FROM HOME I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN RELEASED THE VEHICLE SOUNDED A HUGE BANGED SOUND THIS WITH TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION LIGHT ACTIVE BRAKE LIGHTS AND SEVERAL OTHER LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD. ONCE AGAIN I SURVIVED BEING RAN OVER IN THE EARLY MORNING RUSH. TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW DEALERSHIP. TOLD GEAR SHIFTER WAS BAD AND REPLACED FOR $915 AND THEREAFTER I RECEIVED A CALL THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. I WAS ADVISED COST WILL BE $15000 THEN LATER THAT IT CANNOT BE FIXED AND ADVICE TO SALE IT AS IS TO SOME GUY. I OWE $17900 ON VEHICLE. CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA TO COMPLAIN WAS TOLD NEW TRANSMISSION COST $9200 AND I'M ASKED TO PAY $7400 BEST DEAL. THERE'S NO REASON FOR TRANSMISSION ON 2008 TO GO OUT. SINCE DEALERS TOOK MY CAR THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL FOR 4 DAYS AND TOOK IT FROM ME BUT KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR ADDITIONAL 2 WEEKS AND ARE STILL HOLDING IT CALLING TO ACCEPT DEAL.

NHTSA complaint #10607925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD AN OIL LEAK, RADIATOR LEAK, DEVELOPED AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, TAR IS ACCUMULATING ON TOP OF THE SUNROOF EVERY TIME I OPEN IT, THE HEATER FAN MAKES NOISE, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISE AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS IT IS STILL LEAKING OIL. ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO OWN BMW'S HAVE ALSO HAD AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONS. NONE WERE PART OF THE RECALL, ALL PAID $1,300.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. BMW SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THEM. THE PURPOSE OF RECALLING SOME IS TO AVOID A TOTAL RECALL. THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR CARS WITH INFERIOR PARTS SO THAT THEY DO NOT LAST FOR MORE THAN 60,0000 BEFORE MAJOR PROBLEMS OCCUR. ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAS SPENT OVER $10,000 ON REPAIRS TO HIS 2004 X3.

NHTSA complaint #10585739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I BACKED MY 2003 BMW M5 OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND HEARD A TERRIBLE SOUND, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR FORWARD, AND THE NOISE GOT WORSE. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DRIVE WAY AND PUT IT ON JACKS AND STANDS TO FIND THE NOISE. I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS BROKEN (I HAVE PICTURES AND WILL BE GETTING THE ORIGINAL PARTS BACK FOR TESTING) FROM THE MOUNT HOLDING IT TO THE FRAME. I HAVE RESEARCHED FORUMS FOR 1999-2004 BMW 5 SERIES CARS AND HAVE LOCATED 14 MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FATE (IS HAS HAPPENED IN 528, 540, AND M5 MODELS FROM 1999-2004). THE REPAIR IS COSTING ME APPROXIMATELY $4000.00. IF THIS BREAK HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HAVE SEPARATED AND WOULD BEEN FREE TO FLY AROUND AND CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND ANYONE IN IT.

NHTSA complaint #10513279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

REPORTED ENGINE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUIDS (LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AT THE TIME REPORTED) AND WAS ADVISED BY BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, REPAIRS EXCEED $1000. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC'S ADVICE THAT IF TRANSMISSION GOES UNREPAIRED, RISK TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP AND NO LONGER DRIVABLE. BMW IS AWARE OF LATENT DEFECT AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE, SHOULD MAKE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. BMW SHOULD ALSO BE CONCERNED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. TRANSMISSION FLUID RELEASES TOXINS THAT WHEN LEACHED INTO GROUNDWATER, REALSEASES CONTAMINATES INTO SOIL AND WATER, AND POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO ECOSYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10496662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550IX EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE P245/40/R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AN ALERT ON HIS DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED INSTRUCTING HIM THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THAN 50 MILES AS THE TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. THIRTY MILES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD DEVELOPED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO SHRED. THE VEHICLE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. UPDATED 12/14/12 *BF THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES. THE CONSUMER STATED TWO OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR TIRES DEVELOPED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTIONED. THE VIDEO SCREEN FLASHED A MESSAGE INSTRUCTING THE CONSUMER TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. IN THE PROCESS, THE VEHICLE LOST A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF POWER OUTPUT AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVEN OVER 30 MPH. UPDATED 07/09/13

NHTSA complaint #10482194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES WHEN NOT ONLY ADDING ADDITIONAL SPEED WHILE DRIVING BUT WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, AS WELL. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND THERE IS OFTEN A LAG IN ACCELERATING WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED OR AT A LOW SPEED, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN. NOT ONLY IS THERE A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT HOW A $51,000 LUXURY SEDAN SHOULD DRIVE -- IT IS RATHER ROUGH AND ANNOYING TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO IDLES AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED OR NO SPEED WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AFTER SITTING FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. IN THIS CASE, I HAVE TO APPLY A DECENT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR EVEN TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10425302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO TIP-IN OF ACCELERATOR FROM STANDSTILL. AS YOU PRESS HARDER TO GET INTENDED ACCELERATION, CAR LURCHES FORWARD DRAMATICALLY AND UNSAFELY. VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY, ESPECIALLY IN CLOSE, STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP (THE BMW STORE IN CINCINNATI, OH) ON 9/5/11 AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT BMW IS CURRENTLY ONLY PROVIDING A SOFTWARE PATCH FOR THE 535 MODEL. I WAS ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL BMW ISSUES A SOFTWARE PATCH FOR THE 528, BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY UPCOMING FIX. I AM CONCERNED THAT BMW HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE 535, BUT NOT THE 528, AND THAT A POTENTIAL FIX IS UNCERTAIN. THIS IS A MAJOR DRIVEABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10424031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 528I. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. DEALER REP STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT NO FIX HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY BMW. UPDATED 09/29/2011 *LN

NHTSA complaint #10419873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

BMW 528I THROTTLE LAG/TIP IN/DELAYED ACCELERATION FROM A STANDING STOP;CONSTANT PROBLEM;HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BMW DEALER THAT THIS IS NORMAL.IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND AM FEARFUL IT COULD LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUE.THIS IS A BRAND NEW 2011 MODEL WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES ON ODOMETER.

NHTSA complaint #10419477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BMW 528I WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP,THE CAR CREEPS OUT SLOWLY AND WHEN MORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL IT JUMPS FORWARD VERY FAST AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTED. WHEN COMING ON TO THE FREEWAY THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT AS NEEDED. THIS DELAY HAS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH FOR ME. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT AS NEEDED AND CAUSES A BUMPING FEELING LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. ALL THESE SYMPTOMS HAPPEN RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTED. VERY DANGEROUS.BMW KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS AND HAS FIXED THEM IN THE 535 MODEL. BMW DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE 528I MODEL. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING MORE HE CAN DO WITH THE CAR TILL BMW COMES UP WITH A PROGRAMMING CHANGE. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10419287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. ONCE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE MESSAGE DISPLAY INFORMED HER THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOCKED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V504000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA complaint #10419223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2011 BMW 528I (VEHICLE) I NOTICED AN ACCELERATION LAG STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD STOP. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO TURN ONTO A STREET FROM A STOP SIGN. IT CRAWLS INTO THE ROADWAY WHEN MODERATE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL. IF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS CLOSE THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO STOMP ON THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AHEAD AT AN UNEXPECTED RATE OF SPEED. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THEY STATED THEY RESET THE "LEARNING" PROGRAM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ADAPT TO THE WAY ONE DRIVES. THIS DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER TELLING THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AGAIN, THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND TOLD ME THAT THEY "ALL DO IT". SINCE THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES ON THE COMPUTER OF THE VEHICLE THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I FEEL THIS WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT WHEN IMMEDIATE AND LINEAR ACCELERATION IS NEEDED AT A CRITICAL MOMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10418347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS PARKING; 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, WHEN I AM PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD. 2 OF THOSE 4 TIMES, I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD SHIFTED FROM REVERSE, TO DRIVE, AND JUST TAKEN MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. THE DEALER HAS CONTINUED TO SAY THAT THINGS ARE OK AND NORMAL. THEY ARE NOT NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE OTHER SHIFTING ISSUES BELOW: --35MPH (5TH TO 6TH HESITATION) 5-6 HARD SHIFT (SPORT MODE GOING 45-55 MPH) SLOW TO ENGAGE REVERSE -- GEAR SHIFTING IN GENERAL IS JUST SLOPPY (THE LOANER THAT THE DEALER PROVIDED, SHIFTED GREAT).

NHTSA complaint #10418216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.