Steering Idler Arm problems of the 2012 BMW X5

The idler pulley bolt broke for the third time. The car has approx 60 k miles, and the last replacement was done in may 2018, approx 15 k miles ago. Vehicle was moving and it lost the steering (steering hydraulics stopped working, making it very difficult to steer), battery indicator came on and the engine cooling fan set on high speed. The incident happened while driving, approx half the mile from the house. Was able to slowly pulled it in front of the house. Notified the dealer and waiting for them to come and pick it up, the car is not driveable. This incident, with the idler pulley bolt is the third time after their initial recall. BMW does not have a remedy for this.

Tl the contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. While driving 10-20 mph, the contact heard an abnormal clunking noise. The contact looked under the hood and noticed that the belts were loose. In addition, the steering wheel was difficult to turn and the battery indicator was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the idler pulley was fractured. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 111,000.

While out of town, vehicle in motion on road, hear a clunk in the engine bay and many warning lights go off. Go to pull over and steering is very difficult to operate. Manage to pull out of traffic safely. The reduced mobility of vehicle due to loss of power steering could have easily caused a life threatening situation. Call tow truck. Garage states loss of power steering is due to loss of serpentine belt due to broken idler pulley bolt, even though a recall for this part exists and has been performed. Recall 12v5500000 engine idler pulley may break, was performed in 2013. This same recall should apply but BMW service states they will not service again as it has already been completed. Parts are on back order, takes over a week for bolt to arrive. Many documented cases of original recall repair failing a second time in as little as 5 months to as many as 3. 5 years after initial recall service. BMW refuses reimbursement for the cost of repair, $1153. 00. A new recall should be issued.

(ah power steering?) tl the contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being reversed, the power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to faulkner BMW located 1530 manheim pike, lancaster, PA 17601, (717) 569-4269, to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the idler pulley bolt fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 12v550000 (steering, engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

On July 31st 2017, the bolt securing idler pulley and alternator sheared. Battery charge malfunction light came on followed by loss of power steering. Looking at my service record, I see that this same bolt was subject to a recall in January 2013 when car was at 12332 miles. The car is now at 63456. Also noted on BMW owners web site that many other owners of this e70 series design have had the same repeat problem. BMW dealer in CT performed the latest repair and offered no explanation, except that their work is guaranteed for 2 years. Original recall performed by dealer in raleigh nc where car was purchased new has advised me to post this report and call Bmwna. I am waiting to hear back from them, but first discussion was not good. They claimed that they did not have a record of this as a continuing problem and would not be able to give me any assurances that it would not happen again. I note that the part number of the new bolt just installed is the same as the old bolt installed in 2013. We were very lucky not to be involved in a serious accident and without some clear assurances that BMW understand how to fix this continuing problem I am very worried about driving the car. At the time of the bolt failure we were driving at about 20mph through the center of the town of stratford CT and just managed to pull off the road into a train station parking lot.

My wife was driving my vehicle to get car wash. All of a sudden she lost power steering and the car battery warning came on. The idler pulley bolt snapped. Luckily my wife did not crash. She was driving 60mph and lost power steering. She is pregnant and had 2 kids in car. Now I've replaced this bolt again. I put purchased a new idler pulley bolt with loc tite. I replaced it and met every specification that NHTSA required. Basically it only require more torque and loc tite. This time it snapped in my drive way thank goodness. This is a serious traffic safety situation, I've read multiple forums where people have had work done at dealership and the bolt is snapping 3 days later. Obviously BMW did not fix the problem.