Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of BMW X5 - part 1

Was driving at normal interstate speed when I received a warning on my dashboard to pull over and turn off engine —- low engine pressure, immediately. Call a tow. I immediately pulled over, turned off my car and contacted a tow. My vehicle was towed to the BMW dealership. I received an update that my oil pump failed. It’s almost $6k to replace and then stated not sure if that’ll truly fix the problem and to change the engine $28k. I began to do research and this is a known problem. Many owners have this problem- BMW is aware and began change the plastic part to metal in the subsequent years. I received no warning that it was beginning to fail and it is a safety hazard as I was on the interstate at the time.

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I am writing to formally express my concern regarding serious and repeated safety-related failures with my 2022 BMW X5 xdrive45e, VIN [xxx] . I purchased this vehicle in 2022 through a custom build, at a purchase price exceeding $80,000, with the expectation of reliability, safety, and premium quality consistent with the BMW brand. In October 2025, while my wife was driving with my son in the vehicle, the hybrid component safety box failed without warning, causing the vehicle to stall on the roadway. This created a dangerous situation for my family. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, repaired, and returned to me on November 4, 2025. Unfortunately, on February 3, 2026, a second serious incident occurred. After my wife picked up my son from school, the vehicle began jerking violently while driving, and a strong sulphur-like odor entered the cabin. Fearing for their safety, she immediately stopped driving. The vehicle was again towed to BMW of jackson. I was informed today by the service advisor that the failure is due to another hybrid-related component, specifically the eme hybrid inverter, and that BMW north America is declining to cover this repair under warranty. These repeated hybrid system failures are deeply concerning, particularly given that both incidents involved my wife and children and posed clear safety risks. As a result, both of my children are now fearful of riding in the vehicle, and this situation has caused significant emotional distress to my family. Given the nature of these failures, the vehicle’s purchase price, and BMW’s emphasis on safety and engineering excellence, I find it unacceptable that a critical hybrid component failure would not be covered under warranty—especially following a prior hybrid system failure less than four months earlier. I am requesting that BMW north America review this matter promptly and provide a reasonable resolution, including warranty coverage for the eme hybrid inverter repair. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia.

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The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the red oil light suddenly illuminated and the messages "stop carefully and turn off engine", “engine oil pressure too low", "continued driving will result in engine damage". The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic, who discovered that the engine oil was black and thick. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, who confirmed that the engine oil was thick and dark, and the engine needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 85,000.

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Premature oil pump failure. 2019 BMW X5 with only 46k miles has been diagnosed with an oil pump failure. Vehicle needed to be quickly pulled over and shut off to avoid catastrophic engine failure or engine seize. If this happens on the highway or at any speed the vehicle will lose power and be unsafe to control likely ending in an accident. This is a known issue. BMW produced the vehicle with a flawed oil pump design that has a plastic ring around the impeller. The ring deteriorates and cracks leading to pump failure and loss of oil pressure it is only on limited models early 2019 X5. BMW redesigned with an all metal pump quietly. This issue needs to be addressed with BMW as it is unsafe for these family vehicles to be on the road with such a significant risk to its passengers and others. The failure happens with little to no warning. When contacting BMW they told me they would not consider helping with repairs. The repair for this part is upward of $8k which in turn will likely limit consumers ability to fix proactively. This is totally unacceptable and needs to be addressed by the NHTSA directly with BMW. P.

BMW knowingly did not notify it's 2019 BMW X5 m40i (engine b58) vehicle owners. This is in reference to the faulty design and made plastic engine oil pump. It has been known to fail prematurely due to weaken parts. Some analysis done was from certain oil viscosity's applying additional unneeded stressful pressures. This later was recognized by BMW and a newer design and/or metal sturdier one had taken it's place in subsequent model years starting in 2020. Some owners were able to remediate the oil pump failure and new replacement either covered under intact warranties, and some were covered through quieter negotiations with BMW customer care's authorizations. To my understanding, no recalls were made nor were any techical service bulletins (TSB) made to it's owners. I don't see how BMW can be allowed to get away with an issue of safety which could cause a catastrophic failure of the affected engine? under the circumstances, BMW should be fully reimbursing me for the repairs here, and be glad there were no serious injuries or worse, deaths! I have been in contact with their customer care and nothing has been done to date.

Engine starter overheating. Car won't start until engine cools down. Car would not let my shift into neutral in order to move to a safe location. Was stuck in front of several cars in an unsafe location. No warning message showed up. Car was just inspected and serviced with no indication that this was a problem. Car taken to dealer after incident and inspected produced the same results.

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, unknown warning lights illuminated on several occasions. The failure had occurred while driving and while restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.

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During a trip out of town, I saw a warning light that informed me that the engine coolant level was low and that scalding could occur. The next morning, my husband checked the coolant levels and added coolant to the reservoir. Later that day, I received the same warning message. The vehicle was leaking coolant and could not sustain the appropriate levels. We brought the vehicle to the local BMW dealership and was told that the coolant pump had broken from the inside and would need to be replaced.

Oil leaking from the valves cover onto the manifold and could cause a fire. I have replaced the valve cover on 11/03/2022 miles 107698 I pay 1493. 21 for the repair. Last week 12/23/2025 the same thing started again. The oil is leaking again on manifold the car is smoking I am afraid to drive the car. I believe I should not be paying again for the same problem.

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The contact owns a 2014 BMW X5. While the contact's daughter was attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the 12-volt battery and the auxiliary battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who specialized in foreign-made vehicles. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the water pump was constantly running and was draining the 12-volt battery. The mechanic determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

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The contact owns a 2022 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine service. The contact stated that during the inspection of the vehicle, the dealer discovered that the water pump was beginning to leak coolant onto electrical circuits, inside the engine compartment. The dealer recommended the water pump replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system), however, the vehicle model year was not part of the original VIN selection. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.

The safety risk arises from inaccurate federal recall records maintained by BMW of north America. My vehicle had a safety recall for starter replacement (recall 25v-644). This recall repair was already completed by an authorized BMW dealer, and the starter was replaced under warranty. However, BMW continues to list the recall as open with “remedy not available. ” this creates a safety risk because inaccurate recall records may lead to improper vehicle safety status, incorrect regulatory reporting, and potential refusal of assistance if a starter-related failure or no-start condition occurs in the future. The problem has been confirmed by an authorized BMW dealer, and I have official service documentation showing that the recall repair was completed. The vehicle was inspected and repaired by BMW of gwinnett place. No warning lights were present after the repair. This complaint is not about a new mechanical failure, but about BMW’s failure to accurately update and close a completed safety recall, which misrepresents the vehicle’s safety status.

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the message "low oil pressure - stop vehicle immediately" was displayed, and the oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the oil pump was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000.

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving the oil pump assembly on my 2019 BMW X5 xdrive40i. While driving at low speed in normal conditions, a sudden dashboard warning appeared stating: “engine oil pressure too low — stop carefully. ” I immediately pulled over and shut off the engine. My vehicle had been serviced by an authorized BMW dealership less than one week earlier, and no faults or issues were identified. There were no warning signs or symptoms prior to the failure. An independent licensed repair facility inspected the vehicle after the incident and confirmed that the oil pump had failed due to a defective plastic internal component used in the pump’s design. The failed parts are available for inspection upon request. This failure created a significant safety risk, as sudden loss of oil pressure can cause engine seizure, loss of power steering, loss of braking assist, and an inability to safely control the vehicle. Had this occurred at highway speeds, the consequences could have been severe. I have since learned that this exact issue has been reported by other owners of 2019 BMW X5 vehicles and other BMW models using the b58 engine, which were equipped with an oil pump containing plastic internal drive components prone to cracking or separating. BMW appears to have updated the oil pump design to a metal version in 2020 and later models, suggesting the manufacturer was aware of the weakness of the earlier design. The defect was confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle had also been inspected by BMW one week prior during scheduled service, yet no issues were detected. Because this failure presents a clear safety hazard and appears to be related to a widespread design flaw, I respectfully request that NHTSA open an investigation into the oil pump used in 2019 BMW X5 vehicles and consider issuing a safety recall.

In the middle of driving, multiple warning lights came on in the car and the steering became very stiff, which made it difficult to steer the car. We brought the car to the dealer service station and they identified that the crank pulley system had a failure and the vibration damper needed to be replaced. Apparently, this issue also resulted in the engine not properly charging the car battery, which also resulted in battery failure. This car only has about 38,000 miles on it and has been plagued by safety issues. The difficulty steering the car could have resulted in an accident on the road. This same car also had a water pump failure at approximately 35-36k miles that was separately reported to NHTSA previously.

A concern regarding my BMW X5 it’s a 2019 X50i it’s my only vehicle that I have to get to and from work and drive my family around. I have been having starting issues at random times I can go a week no issues than randomly. My vehicle doesn’t want to start. Also, I have engine codes that are the same ones that apply to other recalls my starter is my main concern because it is an unsafe situation in certain circumstances because it’s happened at a light due to the auto stop switch I have to turn it off so that problem wouldn’t occur anymore because it also happened on the freeway during traffic that was a scary scenario when I had my family with me luckily it did turn on as I was steering out the way of traffic, I love the car unfortunately it is giving me safety concerns ,I seen there is a recall on NHTSA campaign number: 24v-576 subject : starter motor may fail and overheat according to this my vehicle meets all these criteria’s I need help with further assistance please if you can and thank you for your time.

The vehicle shakes at low speeds with a jolt and vibration when turning. When I pressed the accelerator from a standstill, the gas pedal broke off from its floor mounted bracket.

BMW 2021 X5 engine starter failed. BMW south miami dealership troubleshooting found the starter motor faulty and replaced it. This failure is not part of the current starter recall for BMW X5. (25v644000) my X5 maufactured date is June of 2021. I purchased the X5 in July of 2021. I paid $2166. 35 for repairs and I am seaking a refund.

Drivetrain lights came on out of no where. I was coming to a red light and when car stopped the light on dash came on and message came on for drivetrain malfunction. Car was turned off and on and message went away. Car was brought to dealer and they were able to diagnose saying 3 injector problem and need to replace cylinder head. Was told this a problem with the new v8 engines. Can be dangerous if driving and message is gone and continue driving.

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I bought the car 8 months ago from fred anderson Acura in greenville was told the car was inspected and serviced and I’m was in great condition. 8 months later I have 10 thousand worth safety issues wrong with the car that I have to fix .

Car wouldn't start anymore, starter malfunction. Couldnt go into neutral.

I bought this car and started to have issues after a couple weeks. Because it is a hybrid model, it works perfectly fine when the car is running on the battery. Immediately the engine began to work, I get hesitation and the car drives rough. I took it to the first dealership that said there was water in the engine but they were proved wrong because what they show as water was apparently fuel that did not burn the right way in the cylinder. The dealership came with another excuse that the filter had traces of water which makes them to believe something was wrong. I took the car to another BMW dealership as I did not trust their diagnosis. The other BMW dealership performed some work on the car but then came to the conclusion that their hands were tied because of what the previous dealership reported to BMW north America. I called BMW north America and they told me to go back to the dealership after I had no success at the dealership. I believe this is a lemon case and also constitute a safety hazard because I nearly had an accident because the car switch from running on battery to combustion and immediately on the highway. The speed slows abruptly and car began to drive rough. I would appreciate any traction this can get from the board to resolve this with the manufacturer.

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My starter motor overheated and my car would not start and my car indicated the fluids and components were overheated - my dealership confirmed the problem with a video they sent me. If I was still driving the car, I don't know what would have happened to me my daughter and husband in the vehicle. I called my service rep and the dealership is looking into it as my VIN does not have the recall. Nothing was wrong and no lights were on the vehicle prior to the car not starting. I had been driving it for about 25 minutes. In may of this year, not even 6 months ago, they had to replace a "heat management module", which cost me $2500 and they said it is not related. They found 8 fault codes at a frequency of 255. The dealership is telling me this is not related, but I have a hard time believing that.

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the coolant warning light illuminated with the message "coolant dangerously low - fill right away" displayed on the instrument panel. The message was displayed on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the dealer discovered coolant leaking from the bottom of the vehicle and diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was not available.

My husband and I brought our 2010 X5 (VIN ), mileage: to BMW of el cajon on 09/29/2025 for a recall service. Before the recall repaire, the vehicale was in normal working condition: -no check engine lights or warning indicators -no unusual noises -fully drivable on a daily basis after the recall was completed, the dealership informed me that: -multiple check engine/warning lights appeared -the vehicle developed a very loud/high pitch noise -they do not recommend driving the vehicle in its currently condition. They did not warn us about his initial, they did after informed them we do not feel safe driving the car in this condition. The dealership explained this happened because they had open a valve to perform the recall, which they claim disturbed "sludge". They are now refusing to correct the problem unless we pay out of pocket. The issue did not exist before the recall and occurred only as a direct result of the recall repair. The recall left my car unsafe and undriveable, and I am being told to pay for a problem that only arose due to a federally mandated recall work. The recall resulted in a vehicle that is no longer safe to drive, with multiple warning lights and severe engine noise. The dealers refusal to fix this without charing me undermines the purpose of a recall, which is to ensure safety at no cost to the owner. I ask NHTSA to investigate this matter and ensure BMW and its dealerships perform recall repairs properly, at no cost to consumers, and do not return vehicles in unsafe conditions.

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The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 30-40 mph, the message “low engine oil” and to pull over to avoid engine destruction was displayed. The driver pulled over. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the internal parts of the oil filter made of plastic had deteriorated. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be taken apart to replace the filter. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and covered half the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Component failed: water pump (engine cooling system) - part has been superseded by BMW with upgraded version, indicating manufacturer awareness of defect. Failed component retained and available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: complete water pump failure at 56,611 miles created immediate risk of catastrophic engine overheating and potential engine seizure while driving. BMW-certified mechanic warned that driving vehicle even short distances could result in total engine failure, creating risk sudden loss of power on highways/intersections engine fire from overheating being stranded in dangerous locations/conditions complete loss of steering assist if engine stops confirmation: BMW-certified independent mechanic (formerly employed by BMW) confirmed water pump failure and identified it as "common b58 engine issue. " BMW dealer (silver spring) immediately quoted exact repair cost of $2,300, indicating familiarity with this failure pattern. Mechanic documented that BMW has superseded the original part with an upgraded design, suggesting manufacturer acknowledgment of defect. Inspection status: failed part preserved by mechanic with full documentation including BMW's superseded part number from their system. Vehicle not inspected by BMW due to dealer network failure - three dealers failed to respond, one took 5+ hours to return call, none could provide service in reasonable timeframe. Warning signs: no prior warning symptoms. Failure was sudden and catastrophic. Temperature gauge spiked without warning during normal driving conditions. No previous cooling system issues or warning lights. Regular maintenance performed per BMW specifications. Additional pattern evidence: research reveals extensive documentation of identical b58 engine water pump failures between 40,000-60,000 miles across multiple BMW models (x5, x3, 3-series, 5-series) on owner forums. BMW's decision to supersede the part without issuing a recall suggests they are aware of the defect.

Engine hesitates on startup and doesn't turnover. Plenty of power, battery is fine. Other models have been recalled, but for some reason, this model is not included. Please extend this recall to include more models as the problem exists in other 2020 models not on the current recall list.

While driving this new 2025 BMW X5 m60i vehicle with only 6200 miles, all of a sudden battery failure indicator came on in the middle of traffic, followed by drivetrain failure / malfunction indicator came on. BMW roadside assistance was contacted, and advised me to have vehicle stopped and pulled over immediately and towed. Situation was dangerous as the traffic was flowing at 40 mph. Vehicle eventually totally lost power. It was towed to local BMW dealership where it was purchased from. The dealership service department was able to reproduce the issue, confirmed that it was a cracked transmission casing, resulting in fluid leak, causing electrical failure and leading to mechanical failure. BMW head office was contacted by the dealership service department and new transmission was requested. Please refer to pages 3 and 4 of the service report attached for details. This is a brand-new vehicle, bought directly from dealership 5 months ago, and had been driven with caution and care. No prior indicators were ever noticed. My safety and safety of nearby vehicles was compromised due to the fact that power was suddenly lost and engine failure unexpectedly occured at such low mileage in fastr flowing traffic. It is incomprehensible that a brand-new vehicle such as this would all of a sudden develop a serious malfunction without prior warning, and have a cracked / broken transmission casing which was found to be leaking fluids. It seems it was defective to begin with.

My 2020 BMW X5 experienced starter failure after completing recall campaign 24v-576 for starter electrical overload risk. The vehicle was subject to this recall which acknowledged a defect causing electrical overload to the starter system. I completed the required software update in late 2024, approximately 4 years after the vehicle was manufactured and exposed to the acknowledged defect. Following the recall repair, the starter system failed on three separate occasions over a six-week period. The most recent failure occurred while traveling with family, creating a safety risk by nearly stranding us in a remote location. The vehicle would not start despite multiple attempts, requiring emergency roadside assistance. The failing starter component has been diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized BMW dealership service center. The dealership provided a repair estimate of approximately $3,000 for starter replacement. The component is available for inspection upon request at the dealership. Prior to complete failure, there were intermittent starting issues with the engine occasionally requiring multiple start attempts. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared before the failures. The vehicle has low mileage for its age, making this a premature component failure. The timeline strongly suggests the starter damage resulted from prolonged exposure to the electrical overload defect acknowledged in the recall, as the failure occurred shortly after the 4-year delayed software remedy was applied. The manufacturer has not inspected the failed component despite the clear connection to their acknowledged safety defect.

Failed components 1. Oil pump $8769. 41 2. Cylinder head assembly- valve cover $4280. 83 3. Center console control panel $3051. 93 4. Transfer case replacement tbd 2019 BMW X5 xdrive40i has multiple major component failures at 70,000 miles. Oil pump failed causing loss of oil-level monitoring. The cylinder head assembly was diagnosed with oil consumption, the transfer case exhibited driveline shuddering, and the center console control panel developed internal electrical faults that affect vital vehicle components. All have been diagnosed by BMW of north haven, CT. The oil pump and transfer case failures have created potential loss of engine lubrication and vehicle control putting my safety at risk. The oil-level test aborts at 16% making it impossible to verify oil quantity or pressure while driving. The shuddering occurs during low-speed turns and acceleration. BMW north America reviewed my case and approved goodwill coverage for transfer-case fluid change all other safety-related repairs have been denied. Supporting BMW service bulletins: •sib 27 02 jerking or shuddering from driveline xdrive transfer case atx13-x (faulty factory oil specification). •sib 11 03 n20/n26 engine timing chain and oil-pump drive chain warranty extension (pattern of oil-pump failures in prior engines). •sib b01 13 front center console cupholder liquid ingress (electrical faults from liquid intrusion in 2019–2022 g05 X5). •sib 65 12 roof-mounted antenna housing seal not adhering (water ingress from shark-fin antenna affecting interior electronics). Note: I paid out of pocket to replace and reprogram thetelematics communication box (tcb) due to faulty seal around shark fin. A class action lawsuit is currently in happening for this exact issue in California. These issues are not normal wear and tear. They represent premature mechanical and electrical failures on a well-maintained vehicle as well as posing a safety risk to me and other drivers.

A drivetrain malfunction warning, chassis warning, auto level suspension was locked, and check engine light was on while driving on the freeway. We made it home safely and parked the BMW X5 45e inside the garage. I plugged in my charger and was not able to charge. Went to start on electric mode/hybrid mode but was not able to turn on. Then I switched to sport mode via gas and engine started but stuttered, and was unable to switch gears from parking to reverse or to forward. Engine continued to shut studded and then engine and electrical completely shut down. I will contact BMW riverside on Monday.

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving or while the vehicle was parked and occupied, there was an abnormal smoke odor coming from the engine of the vehicle. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 60,000.

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Car would randomly not start and went dead at red stop lights on occasion. Had to have the car towed to BMW dealership where they diagnosed it as a bad starter. Car only has 35,000 miles and this appears to be a know problem by BMW and BMW owners.

The oil pump contains a plastic housing that fractured during regular use. (yes, I did retain the part for inspection and can include photos of the defect here). Yes, the problem has been confirmed by my mechanic and the general public with multiple posts and videos shared widely across the internet and in vehicle forums. This failure caused the engine to lose oil pressure abruptly. Had this occurred at highway speeds or in heavy traffic, it could have resulted in a serious accident. BMW is aware of the problem and has redesigned the oil pumps for all X5s starting in 2020. There is no real warning for this potential failure which would cause the engine to cease. The problem is most commonly diagnosed by checking the oil level via the I-drive system electronically, (there is no dipstick for these cars). The oil level cannot be provided on the screen due to significant pressure fluctuations caused by the damaged oil pump- and that's how you know you're at risk of engine failure. There has been no recall for the 2019 vehicles. All 2019 Bmws with the b58 engine, (and the Toyota supra), include this dangerous and expensive design flaw and I believe a recall should be issued; the majority of these cars are still on the road. I estimate the total number of cars to be 250,000 cars. My oil pump had to be replaced or the car would be rendered undriveable. The estimate from BMW dealership #1 exceeded $11,000; the estimate from BMW dealership #2 exceeded $8,000. The car has less than 70,000 miles on it and this is a known issue for this model year.