at 130,000 miles
South River, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE TAIL BREAK LIGHT ON WEN I DRIVE ALL TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10873332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 BMW X5 brake problems
12 of the 215 complaints about the 2001 BMW X5 are about the braking system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 130,000 miles.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Service Brakes
4
33.3%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
25.0%
Pedals AND Linkages
1
8.3%
Disc
1
8.3%
Drum
1
8.3%
Parking Brake
1
8.3%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings
1
8.3%
Brakes across every BMW X5 year
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 181,060 miles
Winter Haven, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. WITHOUT WARNING, THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAN FAILED AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE RADIATOR AND ENGINE DAMAGE. THE RADIATOR WAS EXTREMELY HOT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO MADE SEVERAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT COMPLETELY STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 03V001000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 02V194000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 01V197000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), AND 01V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,060.
NHTSA complaint #10715611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 157,000 miles
Dorchester, MA
Fire
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO SHUT OFF AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, BLACK SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
NHTSA complaint #10567679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 miles
Dripping Springs, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
TODAY I BROUGHT MY BMW X5 TO DEALER BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. DEALER SAID THAT THE BULB HOLDER HAD FAILED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT MELTING THE BULB HOLDER. LAST SEPTEMBER, I HAD A NEW BULB HOLDER ASSEMBLY REPLACED FOR THE REAR TURN SIGNAL AFTER THE SAME WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE DEVICE FAILED BECAUSE OF EXCESS HEAT, MELTING THE BULB ASSEMBLY. THESE WOULD SEEM TO BE RELATED PROBLEMS AND SAFETY ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10482786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorba Linda, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING A NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN BRAKING. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN FIXED BY THE DEALER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10024601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,500 miles
Edward, OK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING, A SPRING FELL OUT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10020438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL # 03 V 001 000. REGARDING THE BRAKE LINE.
NHTSA complaint #10015111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cherry Hill, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DUE TO THE REAR BRAKES BEING WORN, ALSO THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #565716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cherry Hill, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DUE TO THE REAR BRAKES BEING WORN, ALSO THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #565716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Merion Station, PA
PARKING BRAKE
THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS FROM SECURELY PARKED PLACE AND STRUCK PARKED VEHICLES DUE TO PARKING BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #565488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITH OUR BRAND NEW BMW X5. I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE FAILURE TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VOB BMW FOR WORK. VOB SAID THEY NEVER FOUND ANY PROBLEM, AND CLAIMED TO HAVE REPLACED THE HYDRALIC SYSTEM. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 14 DAYS. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON A MARCH 15TH. THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN, WITH MY HUSBAND DRIVING ON THE 17TH. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO VOB, WHERE IT IS STILL SITTING TODAY 4/2/01. BOTH BRAKE FAILURES WERE SIMULAR. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BOTH DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE ON, AND WE WERE BOTH DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (APPROX. 35 MPH). NEITHER OF US WERE DOING HARD BREAKING, RATHER JUST TYING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. UPON PRESSING ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR IN BOTH CASES. THE DEALERSHIP STILL CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FURTHER. WE HAVE SENT NUMEROUS CERTIFIED LETTERS TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY, THAT THIS SAME SITUATION ACCOURED TO A DR. LIVING IN THE COLUMBIA MD AREA. HE WAS ISSUED A NEW VEHICLE FROM HIS DEALER. MY HUSBAND AND I ASSUMED WE HAD A LEMON ON OUR HAND, HOWEVER, NOW AFTER LEARNING OF THIS OTHER INCIDENCE I HAVE TO WANDER HOW MANY OTHERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.
NHTSA complaint #743433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, BRAKING ACTION NORMAL. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. VEHICLE AT DEALER SINCE 25 MAR 2001.
NHTSA complaint #885509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.