BMW X5 transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA complaint #11758461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The driveshaft malfunctioned which caused the vehicle to lose control. Yes, it is available at the repair shop. Wife was driving with mother-in-law and [XXX] child at highway speeds (55) requiring her to maintain control and pull over without getting hit by other cars. Independent repair shop confirmed the driveshaft failed and took out the transmission and transfer case. No warning/engine lights or other indications of any issues. Reading online confirms this to be a case for these vehicles - here is one example [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11758546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

We live in [XXX]. We own a 2021 BMW X5-45e. It has about 85,000 miles and has always been serviced by the BMW dealer here in [XXX] – Pierce BMW. On the evening of XXX I drove the vehicle home at 6:30PM after a 30 mile drive and parked the car outside in the shade of our house. The temperature at the time was approx. 95 degrees F. At 6:45PM we left the house and drove on the freeway and city streets of [XXX] about 8-10 miles to see a concert in downtown [XXX]. The temperature at that time was about 90-92 F. There was no wind. We then parked outside the venue for about an hour and watched the concert. We came out of the concert at about 8:30 and started the car. I drove about 200 feet to the corner and stepped on the brake. As the car slowly came to a stop the emergency/parking brake suddenly engaged at about 2-3 miles per hour. The car jerked to a very sudden and violent stop. To get the car going, I had to disengage the parking brake which was on with the indicated brake light. The engine was still on and there were no warning lights flashing. I turned the corner and accelerated again to about 15 miles per hour and touched the brakes to bring the car to a stop. The same thing happened. The car jerked to a sudden stop. To get the car going, I had to disengage the parking brake. The engine was still on and there were no warning lights flashing. It also happened a third time. That time, my elderly wife complained of pain in her back. After the third time, I turned the engine off and waited about one minute. I then restarted the car and drove it home with no problems. We have had no further issues, but this is a big concern as we no longer trust the car to perform as expected. This is a very worrisome issue and would like some answers, but apparently none are forthcoming. I took the car to Pierce BMW and they could find no fault code or problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11758372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e. Experiencing intermittent/sudden drivetrain malfunction warnings. Vehicle loses power or enters limp mode while driving. Max eDrive / electric drive becomes disabled even with battery charged. Multiple warning lights appear. Issue appears related to the hybrid system (possible EME, SME, Safety Box, or high-voltage battery faults). This creates a safety risk because power can be lost unexpectedly while moving. Mileage at time of most recent occurrence: 126,500. Problem first noticed 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #11757231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My 2022 BMW X5 is having the transfer case star to fail. Where the symptoms currently are at is the car has a shudder in certain situations. I can feel it when maneuvering at slow speeds and I can feel it at times at speed or when on a steep hill. I bought the extended warranty for the car and the maintenance package for the vehicle. I'm at 68k miles and the shudder started before that but I am still covered under extended warranty. I have had all maintenance done on the vehicle at the local BMW dealership including all tire needs and have always replaced tires as necessary and number of tires at a time they suggest. When I took it in as the vehicle is reporting needing brakes 2 weeks ago, I mentioned the shudder and asked about tire tread on the 2 front tires. They came back with that the tires were fine in spec with the back 2 but that shudder is the transfer case. The dealer also then mentioned a couple things: - They now recommend changing the fluid in the transfer case by 60k miles due to amount of failures they are seeing (my X5 was in the dealership multiple times before an after 60k and it was never recommended). - that since it is not in the recommended maintenance for the xdrive4.0i that the car would not alert to have it changed and therefore BMW would not cover changing the fluid under the UltimateCare (service maintenance plan they sold me). That the transfer case was meant to be a for life fluid. - I asked what happens next if the fluid is not changed, that it will continue to degrade and once it fully gives out the vehicle will become inoperable - I asked does the fluid change save the transfercase and they said it seems to help many vehicles and the shudder disappears but for some it does not. - I then asked would the BMW Extended Warranty purchased cover it if it fully failed or the fluid change did not solve the shudder and I was told maybe fully, partially or not at all. Ext Warranty brochure says it is covered at platinum level I hav

NHTSA complaint #11756717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The front driveshaft universal joint failed causing the drive shaft to bust a hole in the engine and crack the transmission. There was no knocking noise prior to failure. It suddenly failed, disengaged and caused damage. I was told by service manager the u-bolt must have been defective to have failed without warning.

NHTSA complaint #11756576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

The contact owns a 2022 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transfer case fluid needed to be replaced three separate times. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed again and determined that the transfer case fluid needed to be replaced. The transfer case fluid was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA complaint #11756295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

The high-voltage battery system (this is a plug-in hybrid) began intermittently displaying a "battery not properly charging" warning approximately 6 months ago; the issue would resolve after plugging in and charging. On July 14, 2026, while driving, the vehicle displayed a "critical battery failure - pull over immediately and drive slowly" warning. The driver pulled over and shut off the vehicle; the warning cleared and the car appeared to drive normally afterward. This warning recurred several times over the following weeks under the same pattern. On August 6, 2026, the same critical battery failure warning appeared while driving; this time steering feel and drivetrain response were abnormal, and the air conditioning and several electronic features stopped working. Our safety, and the safety of other drivers on the road, was put at risk by the sudden loss of full vehicle control while in motion. The vehicle has been at an authorized BMW dealership for inspection since August 7, 2026; a full diagnosis is pending. Dealer service staff independently remarked that two other BMW X-series plug-in hybrids came in that same morning with the identical warning and symptoms, suggesting this may be a widespread component defect rather than an isolated issue.

NHTSA complaint #11755843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

Over the last approximately 20,000 miles or so I've noticed a studder/shaking of the vehicle when turning and/or accelerating at slow speeds, in particular, while the car is cold (not warmed up). I change the transfer case fluid about 5,000 miles ago and the problem did not resolve. I now see that there is a class action lawsuit against BMW for known failure of the transfer case. I would like my problem noted for the record and hopefully action by BMW.

NHTSA complaint #11755185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I own a 2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e that has developed a drivetrain shudder during slow-speed, tight turns while lightly accelerating, such as when maneuvering in parking lots or making U-turns. The vibration is consistently reproducible under these conditions and is felt through the vehicle during the turn. The vehicle otherwise drives normally at higher speeds. After researching the issue, I found that many other owners have reported substantially similar symptoms involving the transfer case on BMW xDrive vehicles. My independent BMW repair shop has recommended a transfer case fluid service as the first corrective action based on the known nature of this problem. I am having that service performed and will retain all repair documentation. I am submitting this complaint because this appears to be a recurring issue affecting multiple vehicles. If the condition worsens, it could lead to drivetrain binding during low-speed maneuvers and may affect safe vehicle operation. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this is a broader defect requiring manufacturer action. I will update this complaint if the repair does not resolve the condition or if additional diagnosis identifies an internal transfer case failure.

NHTSA complaint #11755151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

It’s a common issue between 2019-2020 where the oil pump which came from factory has plastic impellers which crack/disintegrate causing catastrophic failure to the engine disabling the vehicle the only warning signs before this happens is you cant read oil level and or the car prompts with a warning low oil messages if untreated the car will have catastrophic engine failure with little to no warning the car was mass produced and this is a common issue therefore should be recalled

NHTSA complaint #11751677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

On July 8, 2026, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled while I was driving in the middle lane on the I-95 highway, creating a safety concern. There was complete loss of engine power and low power to steering. The vehicle had to be towed to BMW of Peabody, Massachusetts. The vehicle had 30850 miles during the incident. During the inspection at service centre, I was informed that the safety fuse box and 12V auxiliary battery had failed which stalled the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11749966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I am reporting a front differential/front drive axle failure and a separate steering wheel/steering column adjustment issue. The vehicle was brought to an independent BMW/German repair shop for a routine oil change/inspection. The shop advised me that the front differential/front drive axle assembly had failed or was severely damaged and needed repair/replacement. The vehicle/component is currently at the shop and should be available for inspection upon request. I am concerned this could put my safety and others at risk because the front differential is part of the AWD drivetrain. If it fails further while driving, it could affect drivability, traction, or vehicle control, especially at speed or in poor road conditions. The issue has been confirmed by an independent service center. To my knowledge, it has not yet been inspected by BMW, police, insurance, or government reps. A third-party warranty inspector may inspect it before repair. The exact cause is UNKNOWN. I was told BMW appears aware of this issue because the replacement part has a newer/superseded part number. This suggests BMW may have revised or updated the original part. I do not know if BMW has formally acknowledged a defect, but I am concerned this may be a broader issue given the low mileage. Separately, the power-adjustable steering wheel/steering column sometimes makes a grinding/vibrating noise when I start the vehicle and the wheel automatically moves out/down into the driving position. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The exact date it first appeared is UNKNOWN, but it has occurred more than once. I previously raised this type of issue with a BMW dealer and was told it was a known issue. The exact cause is UNKNOWN. I am concerned it could involve the steering column adjustment mechanism or related components. I am reporting both issues because the vehicle is low mileage and I am concerned they may be safety-related defects rather than isolated maintenance items.

NHTSA complaint #11749496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

On July 6, 2026, while my brand-new vehicle (purchased June 10, 2026) was stationary and preconditioning, the high-voltage drivetrain and climate control networks suffered a catastrophic synchronization failure. The vehicle’s internal communication bus network completely crashed, causing the SME (Battery Management System) and IHKA (Climate Control) modules to stop communicating. This software/hardware network dropout left the high-voltage electric AC compressor running entirely unmonitored. As a direct result of this uncontrolled loop, the undercarriage of the vehicle physically froze into solid blocks of ice, fluid rapidly dumped onto the pavement, the Malfunction Indicator Light illuminated, and the battery management system triggered an emergency hard-fault safety lockout. This digital lockout instantly stripped away 75% of the high-voltage battery's usable range, dropping it from 38 miles to 9 miles in a single millisecond to prevent a catastrophic thermal event. During this component failure, the high-voltage compressor was audibly grinding and suffering heavy mechanical strain due to liquid refrigerant slugging. This presents an extreme, unreasonable public safety risk. A sudden high-voltage network crash and sudden loss of 75% of battery range while driving on a highway would result in an instantaneous, uncommanded drop in vehicle propulsion, placing passengers at risk of a severe rear-end collision. Furthermore, the complete loss of climate module communication controls the battery pack's thermal management/chiller plate; an unmonitored thermal loop on a lithium-ion hybrid battery is a distinct fire hazard. This is a documented, recurring issue affecting the BMW X5 xDrive50e platform, and a federal safety investigation/recall is required before an owner suffers an accident or thermal fire.

NHTSA complaint #11749186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I purchased my vehicle around Labor Day of 2020. I still own and operate the vehicle. Since I have owned my vehicle, I have repeatedly been told my turbos are leaking oil, etc. I have even had several oil leaks repaired on my car. Fast forward six years, and I am buying 5 quarts of oil every two weeks and topping up the oil in my vehicle every week, at least 2-3 quarts per week. I also have smoke coming out of the tail pipes intermittently. The car also smells like it is burning oil, but there are no visible oil drips on the ground currently. I discovered by research there have been two lawsuits: Isley v. BMW of North America LLC, et al., Case No. [XXX] in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ([XXX] [XXX]), and Bang v. BMW (Original [XXX]) ([XXX]). I have had repeated documented repairs and I never received a notice for these cases. I need my vehicle repaired and I need BMW to take ownership of this defect. I never received one notice regarding these lawsuits, or I would have had my vehicle repaired. I only have 102,000 miles (currently), so my vehicle should be covered in terms of mileage. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11747246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

My vehicle has suffered catastrophic electrical failure due to water intrusion directly into the rear cargo compartment. This water ingress has destroyed vital electronic control modules that were designed and placed in low-lying, unsealed body cavities—an engineering layout heavily documented as a design vulnerability in the E70 chassis. My safety was put at risk as this happened on the highway and threw my SUV into limp mode. I could not drive the speed limit on the highway and had to drive home with my hazard lights on while cars drove around me and almost collided with me on the highway. BMW has previously acknowledged the severe liabilities of placing sensitive electronics near drainage paths, as seen in the Catalano v. BMW of North America litigation. This is not a wear-and-tear issue; it is a design failure that leaves critical safety components swimming in water during normal rain events.

NHTSA complaint #11746759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I drive a 2015 BMW X5. While driving on a local street, I heard a severe banging noise underneath the car. I pulled over, and it turned out the front driveshaft had broken, striking the transmission pan and other parts beneath. When I towed the car to the shop the mechanic also found that an AC drain line dripped onto the driveshaft U-joint, causing rust over time, which led to this failure. There were no warning lights prior. If this had happened on the highway, it could have caused far greater damage--potentially to the transmission, transfer case, front differential, or even the engine. This was a serious safety risk, and I urge the NHTSA to investigate this design flaw and consider a recall on affected models before others suffer similar damage.

NHTSA complaint #11745798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I am writing regarding my BMW X5 xDrive40i, model year 2019. For this G05 model coded cars, repeated transfer case failures have been reported due to a known issue: on the factory they put a wrong oil in it and then published a Technical Bulletin about it as if they are not the ones responsible for that. The problem is, due to that mistake, transfer cases of cars manufactured between 2018-2020 becomes dead in time. Cars shudders, jerking at low speeds, cannot deliver the power to the ground effectively due to intermittent and very disturbing, powerful shudders. This creates a huge safety concern cause: 1) if you are on an intersection the car might not join safely to the traffic in a perceived timing due to the shudders, intermittent power delivery. 2) If you are on a driveway and moving to the street the car might not move to the street for the perceived timing or once moved cannot move safely to join the traffic. 3) If there is a failure on the transfer case and if there is a sudden stop is needed. On the road with no shoulder access or if this is a bridge where there is no shoulder, it creates a huge risk to safely move the vehicle. An unavoidable sudden stop can create a huge accident risk for everybody. This is a very known and very common problem for BMW cars equipped with B58TU engine especially years 2018-2020. BMW is also definitely aware of that and this safety concern but instead of fixing it they moved away their responsibility as if they are not the ones made the mistake. But, when contacted with BMW NA, they refused to help.

NHTSA complaint #11741002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I own a 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i with the B58 3.0L turbocharged inline-six engine. While driving in Minnesota, the vehicle suddenly displayed an urgent warning stating “oil pressure too low” and instructed me to stop the engine. This occurred while the vehicle was being operated on the road, requiring me to stop driving immediately. The vehicle was later inspected by an authorized BMW dealer. The dealer diagnosed the failure as a defective oil pump and stated that the oil pump must be replaced. The estimated repair cost was approximately $7,500 or more. This is a serious safety concern because a sudden loss of engine oil pressure can lead to engine seizure, loss of motive power, and loss of vehicle control risk depending on traffic conditions. The oil pump is a critical lubrication component and should not fail as a normal wear item. I have found numerous similar owner reports involving BMW B58 oil pump failures, including reports suggesting that cold-weather operation may contribute to or expose the failure. My vehicle is operated in Minnesota, a cold-weather state. The vehicle was inspected by Park Place BMW in Rochester, MN. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this is a safety-related defect affecting 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i vehicles and other BMW models equipped with the B58 engine.

NHTSA complaint #11739764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.