32 of the
293 complaints filed about the BMW X5 SAV
are about the braking system —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
I PURCHASED A 2006 X5 4.4I (N62B44 ENGINE)USED WITH 138,000 MILES. WENT TO LEAVE DRIVEWAY, CAR WAS IN REVERSE, PRESSES BRAKES TO ADJUST MIRRORS, LET OFF TO KEEP BACKING OUT, HAD TO PRESS AGAIN FOR ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT, I LOOKED UP AND I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE BUSHES IN MY FRONT YARD. BRAKES WERE PUSHED BUT NOT ENGAGING. I THOUGHT THAT TO BE ODD, SO I WANTED TO RUN TO A CERTIFIED BMW REPAIR FACILITY. I WAS IN TRAFFIC GOING ABOUT 40 AND HAD TO UTILIZE THE BREAKS AGAIN, THE CAR STOPPED. WITHIN ONE MINUTE I HAD TO PRESS AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, I PUMPED THE BREAKS AND THE PEDAL WAS SO HARD THERE WAS NO GIVE. I PLOWED THROUGH A RED LIGHT ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERAL CAR PILE UP, AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. AT THE REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THE VACUUM PUMP WAS LEAKING OIL EVERYWHERE BECAUSE IT WAS BUSTED, THE OIL WAS BACKING UP INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HAD MIXED WITH THE BREAK FLUID AND THE BREAK BOOSTER WAS BAD. I AM HAVING TO PAY 2400 FOR THE SERVICE WHEN IT WAS JUST PURCHASED 3 DAYS AGO. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AT TIME OF PURCHASE WHICH WOULD HAVE KEPT ME FROM PURCHASING WITH CASH. THERE ARE STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS ALTHOUGH I HAVE TAKEN DOWN SEVERAL BUSHES BECAUSE THE X5 WOULD NOT STOP AND ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION BECAUSE THE X5 WOULD NOT STOP AGAIN. THE 2007 X5 HAS BEEN RECALLED TO THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE EXACT SAME DIAGNOSIS AND SYMPTOMS, THE 5 SERIES FROM THAT YEAR WAS ALSO RECALLED. JUST NOT THE X5 DUE TO AN OBVIOUS OVERSITE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE WHEN IT IS OPERATED WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED. THE VACUUM PUMP, BREAK BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER ARE ALL PART OF THE RECALL, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT A BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MINE. I
NHTSA complaint #11190652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE THE PARKING BRAKE SYMBOL WENT YELLOW AND IT SHOWED A MESSAGE STATING IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED PARKING BRAKE. SINCE THE CAR MOVED FINE WITHOUT ANY NOISE AND IT GAVE NO INDICATION OTHERWISE IT SEEMED SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SOME TIME LATER IT STARTER MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRUCK STOP THE BRAKES WERE FOUND EXCESSIVELY HOT IN ADDITION TO MAKING NOISE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A SHOP IT WAS REVEALED THE PARKING BRAKE HAD PARTIALLY ACTIVATED, DRAGGED THE SHOES UNTIL THEY WERE WORN DOWN, MADE METAL TO METAL CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR HAT AND CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT ALL ASSOCIATED HARDWARE ON BOTH SIDES. UNDER SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS NOT UNLIKELY THAT ONE OR BOTH REAR WHEELS COULD HAVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. THE ERROR MESSAGE ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE OF THIS MODULE IS HIGHLY MISLEADING, SINCE IT SEEMS WITH THE FAILURE OF THIS MODULE THE VEHICLE HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER THE PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED OR NOT.
NHTSA complaint #11122754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LIGHTS ARE FAILING CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. BMW ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM (SB-10040177-8428 / SI B63 10 09) IN MARCH 2011. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE BMW DEALERSHIP MANY MANY TIMES, BUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS NEVER MENTIONED OR EXECUTED. WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON THE DASH - ISSUE IS PRESENT BOTH MOVING AND STATIONARY. HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2013/SB-10040177-8428.PDF HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2013/SB-10040177-8428.PDF
NHTSA complaint #11105182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BMW X5 BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK NEEDED MORE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE THE LONGER I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE PEDAL BEGAN TO RISE AND THE TRUCK WOULD BEGIN TO CREEP FORWARD UNLESS MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE PEDAL. I DROVE TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A RECALL PERFORMED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT. DURING THAT VISIT I INFORMED THE SERVICE WRITER OF THE BRAKE ISSUE AND ASKED IF IT WOULD BE CORRECTED UNDER A RECALL AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHER RECALLS. I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND THAT SOME BMW X5'S WE'RE EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND WERE BEING RECALLED BUT NOT MY VEHICLE. I ORDERED ALL NECESSARY PARTS AND REPLACED THEM MYSELF. WHICH CONSISTED OF A NEW UPDATED PUMP, ALL UPDATED OEM LINES WITH CHECK VALVES AND A NEW TRW OEM BRAKE BOOSTER. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ENGINE OIL VAPOR TRAVELS INTO THE LINES AND UP TO THE BOOSTER WHICH CAUSED THE RUBBER DIAPHRAM TO FAIL IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THESE ARE ALL THE SAME PARTS MENTIONED IN THE RECALLS ON OTHER BMW X5'S COVERED BY THE RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #11085097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PARKING BREAK SWITCH LEAVER BROKE. THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLASTIC SWITCH LEAVER IS VERY THIN (FLIMSY), THEREFORE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT NOT TO BREAK UNDER REPEATED NORMAL USE. THIS RESULTS IN THE PARKING BRAKE BECOMING INOPERATIVE. PLEASE SEE UPLOAD PHOTO.
NHTSA complaint #11013091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH;ELECTROMECHANICAL PARKING BRAKE FAILURE--SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT CAUSED THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR TO FAILURE // YELLOW & RED ( BRAKE & 4X4) WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR PARKING BRAKE FAILURE ,BRAKES LOCKED VX CAME TO IMMEDIATE STOP AND WOULD NOT DRIVE!
NHTSA complaint #11003920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES DSC AND AWD AND 4X4 MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS WITH GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED, CAR WILL HESITATE BY GOING INTO NEUTRAL AND JUMPING BACK INTO DRIVE ACCOMPANIED BY ENGINE REVVING UP TO ABOVE 3000 RPM. WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS AND THE GAS IS NOT DEPRESSED, CAR WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST, UNTIL I ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CAR IS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND THE ERROR OCCURS, THEN THE CAR JERKS TO A HALT AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SWITCHED INTO PARK AUTOMATICALLY. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. HAD DEALER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, PRESUMED IT WAS DUE TO STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEEDING TO BE REINITIALIZED, BUT THE ERROR STILL OCCURRED. OFTEN TIMES, WHEN I START MY CAR AND THE ERROR OCCURS PRIOR TO BE EVEN SELECTING A GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10967064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" AIRBAGS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED NOR SERVICED. RECALL CAMPAIGN 13V-045: INSPECT BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM SUPPLY LINE. INVOLVES THE E70 (X5) WITH THE N62TU ENGINE PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2006 TO MARCH 2010. SI B34 04 13 (LABOR OPERATION 00 61 028)- BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM SUPPLY LINE WAS REPLACED IN JULY 2013 AT BMW HAWAI'I ... REQUESTING SAFETY RECALL REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR LABOR OPERATIONS 00 61 029 AND SUBLET CODE 4. DUE TO BRAKE BOOSTER 'TOTAL FAILURE'. VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO SLIGHTLY MOVE FORWARD WITH BRAKE PEDDLE FULLY PRESSED. VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH BRAKE PEDDLE FULLY PRESSED WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED IN DRIVE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL UPHILL OR DOWN HILL BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONARY WITH BRAKE FULLY PRESSED. OWNER UNAWARE OF BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE DUE TO HAVING NO KNOWLEDGE OF BRAKE MECHANICS. ANNOTATED TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE BOOSTER AND POSSIBLE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. SI B34 04 13 - IF A PRIOR REPAIR WAS PERFORMED- APPLICABLE RECALL PROCEDURESMUST BE STILL PERFORMED. THE REPAIR DESCRIBED IN THIS BULLETIN IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE (P. 4-5).
NHTSA complaint #10958745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECALL : BRAKE VACUUM PUMP RECALL MENTIONED THAT ALL X5 AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 12, 2006 THROUGH MARCH 18, 2010. MY CAR HAS SAME ISSUE AND ITS BUILT YEAR IS 2006 BUT COMPANY SAYS THAT MY VIN DOESN'T COME UNDER RECALL. THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, WHEN I HAVE ISSUE WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT THEN THEY SHOULD FIX IT. I AM NOT GETTING ANY HELP FROM BMW DEALERS SO I HAVE TO SPEND MY OWN MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE UNDER RECALL MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING. MY VEHICLE IS WITH THE MECHANIC AND IT SHOWS THE LEAK FROM VACUUM PUMP WHICH CAN CREATE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. I DONT WANT TO TAKE ANY RISK DRIVING VEHICLE IN A CONDITION WHEN BRAKES WONT APPLY, SPECIALLY HAVING KIDS IN MY CAR. MY CAR BROKE DOWN BECAUSE ALTERNATOR GENERATED HIGH VOLTAGE WHICH SCREWED UP MY BATTERY SO I GAVE MY CAR TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO FIX IT. WHILE FIXING THE MENTIONED ISSUE, HE FIND OUT OIL LEAK FROM VACUUM PUMP. I DID RESEARCH ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND FIND OUT THAT PEOPLE GOT LUCKY THAT THEY GOT SAVED IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO OIL LEAK IN VACUUM PUMP THAT'S WHAT MADE ME SCARED.
NHTSA complaint #10817083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LINES CORRODED AND RUPTURED WITH LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND DECREASED BRAKING ABILITY. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER GENTLE BRAKING ON THE ROAD AT LOW SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10816253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT, BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AND FAULTY LIGHTS, AND SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
NHTSA complaint #10809501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE POWER BRAKING SYSTEM HAS STOPPED WORK ,BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND WILL NOT STOP THE VEHICLE ,I SEE THAT BMW HAS A RECALL ON THE 2007 X5 MADE THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL WITH THE V8 ENGINE, I AM A MEMBER ON MY FORMS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF BMW X5 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM SUDDENLY NOT WORKING , I HAD MY BMW X5 AT THE BMW SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSE WAS THE VACUUM PUMP HAS FAILED , VACUUM TUBE IS LEAKING AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS FAILED ALSO. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM , THIS IS NOT A TAIL LIGHT NOT WORKING , THIS IS PUTTING PEOPLE LIVES IN DANGER. THE REPAIR COST IS $2300.
NHTSA complaint #10809202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES WHAT SO EVER. THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO STOP IS IF YOU PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP D PATRICK, AND MATT HAS TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PART WAS SERVICED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO (WHICH THE VEHICLE HAS SAT SINCE OCTOBER OF 2014) THAT EVEN THOUGH IT FAILED IT IS NOT COVERED. THERE IS A RED BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ON THE DASH, THEY SAID NO BRAKE FLUID CAME OUT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND FAULTY LINES.
NHTSA complaint #10787398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED FORCEFULLY NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) WHEN THE FAILURE HAD NOT YET BEEN EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA complaint #10780788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR LOOSES POWER TO BRAKE AND ALMOST CRASHED. THE BRAKES BECOME REALLY STIFF WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH ON THEM IT DOES NOT STOP. I READ ONLINE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE CRASHED WITH THE SAME ISSUE. CALLED BMW BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE,
NHTSA complaint #10734446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRIED TO COMPLETE A 3-POINT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN PLACING VEHICLE FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE UNASSISTED IT ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT BRAKE NOR STEER; THUS CAUSING MYSELF TO CRASH HEAD ON INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER.
NHTSA complaint #10724806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS MOUNTED IN THE TAILGATE FAILED. THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN FAULT ON THE E70 MODEL, WHERE THE POOR QUALITY SEALANT AND METHOD USED TO PREVENT THE INGRESS OF WATER INTO THE LAMP HOUSING FAILS. THIS LEADS TO CORROSION OF THE CONNECTOR HOUSINGS AND THE FAILURE OF THE UNIT WHICH MUST BE REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRITY AT GREAT COST. AS BMW ARE AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING (INDEED THEY ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ADMITTING SAME ) SI B 63 11 10 AND THE ITEM IS A SAFETY COMPONENT, I FEEL THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE WORK UNDERTAKEN AT THE COST OF BMW AND NOT THE UNFORTUNATE OWNERS. THEY SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST, REPLACE THE SEALS WITH THE UPDATED ITEM (A NEOPRENE GASKET RATHER THAN SOMETHING RESEMBLING BATHROOM CAULK) AT THE NEXT SHEDULED SERVICE BEFORE THE DRIVER FINDS THEMSELVES WITH TWO FAILED BRAKE LIGHT UNITS?
NHTSA complaint #10721584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ISSUE IS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CAR DEVELOPED A SUDDEN DANGEROUS LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. ONE MOMENT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING CORRECTLY AND THE NEXT THEY WERE NOT. BMW HAS 2 RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. THE RECALL CAMPAIGNS ARE 10V-446 & 13V-045. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IS THE FOLLOWING: "THIS RECALL INVOLVES THE POWER ASSIST BRAKING FUNCTION. A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL COULD LEAK FROM THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP INTO THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE. OVER TIME, CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER COULD OCCUR. THIS COULD AFFECT THE POWER ASSIST BRAKING FUNCTION. IN CERTAIN CASES, LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST COULD OCCUR. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER BRAKE PEDAL FORCE, INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE, AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. " MY CAR HAS THE EXACT ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALLS. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT TO INDICATE THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES. I CALLED BMW NA AND DESCRIBED THE ISSUE TO THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP DETERMINED MY CAR HAD THE ISSUE AS DETAILED IN BOTH BMW RECALLS. AS INSTRUCTED BY BMW I REPORTED THIS BACK TO THEM AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THEY FOLLOWED UP WITH ME (2/10/15 TO BE EXACT) ONLY TO TELL ME THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE AS PART OF THE RECALL AND THUS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THIS DECISION WAS MADE DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR MEETS NEARLY ALL PARAMETERS OF THE RECALLS (MY EXACT MODEL IS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THE RECALL BUT THE MODEL OF BRAKING SYSTEM AND ENGINE MATCHES THE RECALL DETAILS). THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE BMW SHOULD BE OVERLOOKING OR DENYING COVERAGE FOR. THIS BRAKE ISSUE AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST THE CARS LISTED IN THE TWO BMW RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #10682655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT THAT ANOTHER OWNER MADE UNDER NHTSA ID NUMBER 10483182. THE PLASTIC ROCKER SWITCH FOR THE ELECTROMECHANICAL PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE BROKE DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL ACTUATION AND REQUIRED THE ENTIRE "EMF SWITCH" ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO RESUME OPERATION OF THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS SWITCH APPEARS TO HAVE A DURABILITY ISSUE WHICH COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE TO BE STUCK WITH THE BRAKE SET ON OR UNABLE TO SET THE BRAKE WHEN NEEDED. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE SWITCH DESIGN THAT MIGHT ADDRESS THE MATTER GOING FORWARD I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS PART REMAINS APT TO FAIL PREMATURELY AND SUDDENLY.
NHTSA complaint #10669903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OCTOBER 16, 2014 I STARTED UP MY 2009 BMW X5 4.8I SAV AND THE LEFT BRAKE LAMP MALFUNCTION ALERT CAME ON, AS WELL AS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I HAD A FRIEND CHECK TO CONFIRM THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD STILL BE SEEN BEFORE DRIVING OFF. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE SAV TO THE BMW DEALER ON OCTOBER 22, 2014. THE DEALER STATES "BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHT LENSES ASSEMBLIES REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS CONTACTS BURNED, MELTING LENSES CAUSING INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERABLE." I STATED THIS SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL BUT INSTEAD THEY OFFER TO SERVICE BODY REPAIRS ON THE TAIL LIGHTS FOR A COST OF $600+. I CALLED BMWUSA REGARDING THIS, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A RECALL FOR MY SAV. I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL FOR 134,100 MODEL YEAR 2008 -2010 528I, 535I, 550I, AND M5 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 1, 2007 - DECEMBER 31, 2009 THAT WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2013 SINCE THE X5 IS BASED OFF OF THE 5 SERIES BUT I WAS TOLD AGAIN, THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY SAV. THIS ISSUE REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF MY INTENTIONS (BRAKING, TURN SIGNAL, REVERSING), INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I BELIEVE THE DEALER SHOULD REPLACE THE REAR LAMP BULB CARRIERS FREE OF CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #10660185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.