2003 BMW X5

99 complaints on file, page 1 of 5.

1. Filed Oct 29, 2023Failure Oct 27, 2023Anaheim, CAElectrical systemFire

   Wiring dash fire. Heavy smoke from dash and vehicle completely in flame in minute. My son sent me a recording while it was happening, he did no know what to do or what was happening.

   NHTSA complaint 11552487
2. Filed Jan 12, 2023Failure Jan 4, 2023137,000 milesBlue Island, ILElectrical systemFire

   The contact owns a 2003 BMW X5. The contact stated the vehicle was parked, while entering the vehicle he noticed the dashboard was melted, which was caused by a fire that occurred independently. The contact stated he reviewed a camera that was near the location of the vehicle and saw the fire occur on the video. The contact did not call the fire department to report the incident. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11501408
3. Filed Jan 3, 2023Failure Jan 3, 2023Blue Island, ILElectrical system, Unknown or otherFire

   My 2003 BMW X5 was parked outside of my house, turned off and not driven for hours and burst into flames consuming the whole dashboard, fire department said that fire was due to some electrical problem with car, very scary please help could of killed my family the incident was recorded on home surveillance footage, but I cannot upload because of size

   NHTSA complaint 11500047
4. Filed Jan 27, 2022Failure Jan 24, 2022Myerstown, PASeatsFire

   LH - Driver side seat caught fire and melted through seat material and melted onto my coat. there are burn marks / holes through the seat due to the heater malfunction/ short. My coat was also ruined with plastic melted onto it from the seat.

   NHTSA complaint 11449083
5. Filed Jan 10, 2022Failure Jan 1, 2022Huntsville, ALUnknown or other

   The windows keep getting stuck. Not just one but both. We have replaced the windows 3 times. The window regulator keeps getting wound up in the gear. The motor in the window has to keep getting replaced. This is causing the window to get stuck or tight. Which ever you choose to call it. when it gets this way it causes the window to pop the crack or break. This has happened twice. my BMW is still in good shape all but the 2 front windows. This needs to be addressed.

   NHTSA complaint 11446959
6. Filed Mar 6, 2021Failure Feb 26, 202162,000 milesBridgeport, CTAir bagsCrash

   2003 BMW X5 INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLAT. NO ONE SITTING IN PASSENGER AREA THANK GOD OR WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. HAPPENED ON CITY STREET

   NHTSA complaint 11399509
7. Filed Dec 18, 2020Failure May 15, 2020180,000 milesColorado Springs, COElectrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system

   THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER WHILE ON THE ROAD. IT GOT SLOWER AND SLOWER, TILL IT FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAD TO BE TOWED THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE HOUSE. THE ENGINE WOULD START UP, BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE ANY OF THE GEARS.

   NHTSA complaint 11384008
8. Filed Aug 25, 2020Failure Aug 22, 2020130,500 milesGalloway, NJEngine, Unknown or other, Vehicle speed control

   I PURCHASED A BMW X5 AND THE FAIL TRANS LIGHT CAM ON AND THE GEARS ARE SHIFTING OUT OF CONTROL. ALMOST GOT MY SON KILLED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF. MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

   NHTSA complaint 11351088
9. Filed Mar 13, 2020Failure Mar 13, 2020199,000 miles1622 E. Cortez ST Phx,az 8502, AZElectrical system, Body, Unknown or otherFire1 injured

   THIS MORNING 03/13/2020 AT APROX. 2:30AM MY BMW X5 2003 WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES FOR NO REASON AND MY TWO GERMAN SHEPHERDS HEY YOU AND MY BABY DIESEL WERE INSIDE,AND HOW ONE MADE IT OUT AND THE BABY DIDNT, I BUSTED WINDOWS CAUSE I HEARD HIM CRYING ,,,,I COULDNT GET HIM I TRIED TO I TRIED OH MY GOD MY POOR BABY , I WAS INJURED AND SCARED FOR LIFE WITH THAT. MY CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN FRONT OF A FRIENDS HOUSE ON A SIDE STREET, ALL A LOSS. NO PICTURES TAKEN ,SEVERAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. CAME.

   NHTSA complaint 11317929
10. Filed Dec 26, 2019Failure Dec 23, 2019180,000 milesDallas, TXEngineFire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED FLAMES AROUND THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF DALLAS (6200 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209, (972) 763-5528) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11291245
11. Filed Sep 6, 2019Failure Aug 21, 2019172,000 milesMorrow, OHAir bags, Electrical system

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT 55 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE BMW STORE (6131 STEWART RD SUITE 1, CINCINNATI, OH 45227, (513) 271-8700) AND WAS INFORMED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CAUSED THE FAILURE DUE TO NOT DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WAS PROVIDED COMPLAINT ID NUMBER: 3787246. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

    NHTSA complaint 11253660
12. Filed Jul 16, 2019Failure Jul 9, 2019168,000 milesRichmond, TXUnknown or otherFire

    PARKED VEHICLE, NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD, TURNED INTO FIRE, HEARD 'BOOM,' VEHICLE EXPLODED, HOUSTON FIRE DEPT RESPONDED AND WILL HAVE REPORT OF THIS INCIDENT

    NHTSA complaint 11232480
13. Filed Jul 3, 2019Failure Jan 20, 2017Orlando, FLAir bags

    TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS) AS OF JANUARY 20, 2017. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER (FIELDS BMW WINTER PARK, LOCATED AT 963 WYMORE RD, WINTER PARK, FL 32789, (407) 628-2100) INITIALLY INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG RECALL WAS SERVICED, BUT LATER RECANTED THE STATEMENT AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

    NHTSA complaint 11229271
14. Filed Jun 30, 2018Failure Jun 27, 201870,000 milesPetoskey, MISteering, Unknown or other

    WE HAVE REPLACED 7 WINDOW REGULATORS KEEP BREAKING. ALL BMW PARTS. DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ALSO NOW THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAS WENT OUT AND CAUSING ISSUES WITH BRAKES ETC. BITH OF THESE ISSUES CAUSE THE AUTO TO FAIL SAFETY INSPECTION. THE DRIVERS SIDE REGULATOR SCRAPED ALL THE TINTING OFF THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW AS WELL. THE REGULATORS WERE ALL REPLACED 4 YEARS AGO WITH BMW PARTS AND THEY ARE BROKEN AGAIN AND BEING REPLACED AGAIN. REASEARCHING IF THERE IS AFTER MARKET TO FIX PROBLEM WITH THAT DOWEST HAVE THE DEFECT BMW'S REGULATORS HAVE. THE FIX IS ALMOST $2000.00 EACH TIME. THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING AND WAS JUST DIAGNOSED AND ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON..

    NHTSA complaint 11104867
15. Filed Apr 17, 2018Failure Apr 14, 2018106,000 milesWhitehouse Station, NJPower train

    WHILE DRIVING, I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I STARTED TO GO, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, YOU HEARD THE GRINDING NOISE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, UPON HIS INSPECTION, THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE WAS ALSO STRIPPED. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, THE FIRST WAS IN JANUARY 2017.

    NHTSA complaint 11088722
16. Filed Apr 11, 2018Failure Apr 4, 2018130,222 milesRancho Cucamonga, CAAir bags, Engine, Unknown or other

    WITHIN 24 HOUR OF PURCHASE OF VEHICLE,ITWAS SMOKING WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALER MAD HIM AWARE OF THE CAR ISSUE NOW I HAVE FOUND ATLEAST 6RECALLSON 2003 X5 BMW.RECALL15V318000 RECALL17V047000 RECALLO3V197000.ASWELL ENGINE RECALLS.LOSS OF ENGINE POWERJUST SHUT OFF,SEVERE SMOKE FROM BACK OF VEHICLE.(FILE:///C:/USERS/OWNER/PICTURES/BMW_NEW.PDF) .CAME TO COMPLETE STOP,WHENI FIRST BROUGHT CONCERN TO THE DEALER FROM THE CAR PLACE.IT WAS WITHIN 24 HOURS,THE SELLER CONTACTED ME AND SAID HE HAD A RELIABLE CAR AND I END UP WITH 2003 BMW WITH AT LEAST 8 RECALLS (HTTP://UKCAR.REVIEWS/BMW-X5-E53-LCI-2003-PROBLEMS-RECALLS/).I PURCHASE THE CAR 1-4-18..I CALL THE DEALER ABOUT MY CONCERNS,1-5-18.THE CAR WAS PURCHASE FROM MONETARY CALIFORNIA,I SENT SOME TO PICK THE CAR UP AND THE LOCATION WAS AT MONETARY VALLEY FORD. HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 9519658614. ALSO I PAID 3600 DOLLARS CASH FOR THE CAR AND THE DEALER PUT 2500 ON A DOCUMENT HE GAVE ME .I NOTICE IT AFTER I REGISTER THE BMW.AS WELL THIS DEALER IS IN VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW CODE

    NHTSA complaint 11084493
17. Filed Sep 7, 2017Failure Sep 6, 201795,000 milesBrooklyn, NYEngine, Fuel/propulsion system, BodyFire

    DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN STREET, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT UNDER HOOD, PULED OVER TO SIDE, FLAMES VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD, WITHIN 15 MINUTES, ENTIRE FRONT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES, MAJOR FIRE, TOTAL LOSS. ALL THIS TOOK ABOUT 30 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY, NO INJURIES.

    NHTSA complaint 11022057
18. Filed May 19, 2017Failure Apr 2, 2017150,000 milesLaurinburg, NCAir bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Vehicle speed control

    2003 BMW X5 RECALL FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2003 BMW X5 RECALL FOR AIR BAGS, FRONTAL, DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL-STAGE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG THAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOISTURE INTRUSION WHICH, OVER TIME, COULD CAUSE THE INFLATOR TO RUPTURE. THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING AND DOESNT GO INTO FIRST GEAR ALSO SHOWS CAR OVERHEATING BUT IT HASNT OVERHEATED. WHEN TURNING IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL THEN RIGHT BACK TO PROBLEM, ALSO THESE TWO ERROR CODES HAVE APPEARED P0600 SERIAL COMMUNICATION LINK AND P1747 CAN-BUS MONITORING

    NHTSA complaint 10990584
19. Filed May 5, 2017Failure Sep 1, 2016Severna Park, MDAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10983684
20. Filed Apr 26, 2017Failure Feb 18, 2017Santa Maria, CAAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10980857