One problem related to steering noise has been reported for the 2012 BMW X5. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While idling in the middle of the night, a roaring noise all of a sudden started underneath the car. As I started moving, the noise seemed to follow the engine acceleration and got louder. The steering wheel started getting harder to manipulate and the noise got louder at each steer. I was in a different state, about 40 miles from my house. By the time I got to my house, the steering wheel was almost impossible to maneuver. I parked the car to take it to the dealer the next morning. That morning, when I started the car for the dealer, the noise was like a cracking noise and the steering wheel was stuck. I called roadside assistance to tow the car to the BMW of manhattan dealer. Among other things, they found: power steering reservoir empty, connections on pressure return lines leaking, gaskets seals leaking. After they fixed the car, I started having steering issues. The steering wheel now has an extremely wide play, the car is rocking at the slightest bump, pulling left or right when braking. Moreover, when on a highway at about 55mph, any rough or path hole would throw the car on a zig zag and I I have to fight with the steering wheel to keep the car from veering onto other cars running by. I returned the car 3 times to the same dealer, 10/07 and 10/23 and after keeping the car for days, they say cannot replicate my complaint. In the meantime, I sent them countless of explicative emails and copied BMW customer service to no avail. I had to go to open road BMW of edison NJ on 12/0314, 2/13/15 and at the 3rd time on 3/31/15 and at 34,500 miles, they found out this: excessive play inside steering rack, dropped subframe, bled the system, replaced steering rack. On 4/3/- 4/5/15, I am still having sudden pulls on braking and uneven roads I learned BMW recalled 2009- 2012 X5d sav vehicles for steering wheels issues. My car is Jan 2012. It has never been recalled.