11 of the
215 complaints about the 2001 BMW X5 are about the
steering — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
113,744 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V173000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLAZA BMW (11858 OLIVE BLVD, CREVE COEUR, MO) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED; HOWEVER, THE VIN HAD NO OPEN RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS UNDER THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11119625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesPelion, SC
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DRIVER COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC POTENTIALLY LOCATED A FAILURE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SPINDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10972004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hardy, VACrash1 injured
STEERING
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, A COYOTE JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO VOID A CRASH AND SWERVED CAUSING AN UNKNOWN REAR WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND CRASHED UPSIDE DOWN INTO THE SIDE OF A RESIDENTIAL HOME. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT WHO WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE IMPACT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INTERNAL BRUISING THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10967473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,744 milesWest Chester, OH
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
I PURCHASED MY 2001 BMW X5, NEW IN SEPT OF 2000. I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT PRETTY QUICKLY. THE MOST PLAUGING PROBLEM WAS THE GAS GAUGE. IT TOOK BMW 5 TIMES TO FINALLY FIX IT. 2/26/01 14461 MILAGE, 3/9/01 14512 MILAGE, 5/16/01 18566 MILES, 8/29/01 24493 MILES, AND FINALLY 2/26/02 37268 MILES. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR, WATER PUMP, LOWER CONTRO ARM (TWICE), AND VARIOUS OTHER NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS. I TRIED TO ENACT THE LEMON LAW, BUT SINCE THE 3RD TIME ON THE FUEL GAUGE WAS AT 18500 MILES, I WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T APPLY. NOW AFTER 4 AND A HALF YEARS, I HAVE 114,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I WAS JUST TOLD THAT THE MOTOR IS SHOT AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $11,500. I CAN'T SINK THAT KIND OF MONEY INTO A CAR WITH THAT MANY MILES BUT I CAN'T SELL IT WITH A BAD MOTOR AND I CAN'T MAKE PAYMENTS ON TWO CARS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AND BMW HAS REFUESED HELP ME. THE ONLY OFFER THEY MADE WAS TO GIVE ME $5000.00 OFF ON A NEW CAR WHEN I HIRED A LAWYER TO TRY TO ENACT THE LEMON LAW, BUT WITH THE MILAGE I HAD ON THE CAR ALREADY I STILL WOULD HAVE OWED THEM MONEY ON THE TRADE-IN. THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE INCIDENT. IT'S JUST BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE PAID BMW OVER $3600.00 FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. NOW IT'S GOING TO COST ME OVER $11,000 MORE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN. I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS AND HAVE ALWAYS PAMPERED THE CAR. I ONLY USED THE BEST GAS, NEVER MISSED ANY SCHEDULED SERVICES. I CAN'T BELIEVE BMW IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS BETTER THAN THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10116227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,000 milesMontgomery, AL
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH STEERING GEAR BROKE. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. OWNER HAD THE BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS IS WHEN THE OWNER WAS INFORMED AS TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE. OWNER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT AN ENGINEERING TEAM WOULD BE OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. AS OF TODAY THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10117287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesMount Freedom, NJ
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING COLUMN BINDS WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WITHIN SPECS.
NHTSA complaint #10083783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spring Valley, CA
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING COLUMN WAS REPAIRED FIVE TIMES DUE TO STEERING STICKING OR BINDING IN POSITION.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10051690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edison, NJ
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, CONSUMER WAS EXITING. THE STEERING WHEEL FREE WHEELED WITH VEHICLE CONTINUING FORWARD. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE DEALERSHIP KEPT LUBRICATING THE WHEELS. TS
NHTSA complaint #8024060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coconut Creek, FL
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WILL STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, AND CONSUMER FEELS HER FAMILY IS NOT SAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Crosswicks, NJ
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER STATES A PROBLEM EXISTED WHERE THE SEAL ON THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #567569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Memphis, TN
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
IT TOOK 11 DAYS FOR BMW TO INFORM ME OF A SAFETY-RELATED RECALL (BETWEEN THE TIME RECALL APPEARED IN THE LOCAL PAPER (JAN. 31) AND NOTIFICATION I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL (FEB. 10). BMW SHOULD BE APPROPRIATELY "PUNISHED" FOR THIS INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU. P.S. THERE SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT TO PUT AN EXACT MAILING DATE ON THESE RECALL LETTERS. DR. CETINGOK.
NHTSA complaint #740718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.