Steering Idler Arm Problems of 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.

See all problems of the 2012 BMW X5 🔎.

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.

Lost power steering as car was driving approx 50 mph on garden state parkway at top of bridge over the raritan river. Battery warning came on dash, car lost power and then stopped. No collision or injury. Car was towed and repaired by c&t towing and auto repair, rahway NJ. Damage observed was partially melted idler pulley and shredded drive belt. Repair included replacement of drive belt, a. C. Stretch belt, idler pulley, drive belt tensioner and serpentine tensioner.

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The engine belt idler pulley bolt broke causing a sudden loss of power steering when the serpentine belt came off the alternator and power steering pump. This is the same problem associated with recall 12v550000 a few years ago. The dealer said the vehicle was fixed under the recall but it was before I owned it so I don't know for sure. I believe the recall should be reinstated. The vehicle was moving on a residential street at less than 25 mph and my mom was driving. If she had been going any faster she would have crashed.

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.

Vehicle is subject to recall 12v550000 due to idler pulley bolt which can break, causing accessory drive bet to dislodge and loss of power steering, alternator, etc. This vehicle's idler pulley and bolt were replaced as part of the recall 2. 5 years and 35,000 miles ago, but experienced the exact same failure, again, last month. BMW USA and the local dealer were contacted, both refused to fix the issue, stating that the repair is only valid for two years. The new idler pulley bolt that was installed sheared off at its mounting point, just as the original bolt that was subject to recall did. It is clear that the replacement bolt is subject to the same failure as the original - worse, as this failure occurred in under 3 years and 40,000 miles, it appears that the "fix" is worse and more dangerous than the originally recalled part. In my vehicle, the pulley bolt snapped while the vehicle was being driven on a city street, causing a "bang" noise and the complete loss of power steering.

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(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.

The engine idler pulley bolt broke while vehicle was in motion on highway. Vehicle iost all power steering. Alternator warning lamp illuminated along with warning message "charging malfunction". The bolt had previously been replace in 2012.

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn after the engine and battery warning indicators illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle however the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence and was examined by an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the idler pulley bolt had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 12v550000 (engine and engine cooling , steering) however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

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The contact owns a 2010 BMW X5. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lower idler pulley bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12v550000 (engine and engine cooling , steering). The failure mileage was 44,000.

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that the steering wheel would sporadically become difficult to turn. Additionally, there was an electrical failure within the instrument panel. The failure was recurring. The check engine warning light was also illuminated whenever the contact reversed from his driveway. The contact also stated that the vehicle could not be shifted from park to reverse or drive. The vehicle was towed twice to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the idle pulley bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred twice. The authorized dealer replaced the idler pulley belt a third time and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

I was driving my X5, 90 minutes from home, when I noticed my steering was unusually stiff. It was 5 degrees outside, so I assumed it might have been too cold. I was able to move over to the right lane, and turn onto the nearest side street. At that point I got a code saying "battery discharge". I assumed it had something to do with the keyless ignition, so I shut it off and tried to turn it back on. It didn't work, and it gave me the same warning again. In addition, the onboard system was giving messages of each of the systems that was shutting down, ultimately, with everything shutting off, including the emergency lights. I had to have the car towed. After the dealership looked at the car the next day, they told me this was part of a recall for the idler pulley bolt. I looked this up, and discovered the letter dated Nov. 26th describing this recall from BMW to NHTSA. We started the purchasing process of this vehicle on Nov. 26th, ultimately purchasing it on Nov. 30th. The carfax did not show this recall repair when we purchased it. My dealership is claiming they repaired it that week, before we picked it up, (again, no mention of a repair). My concern is this: if it was repaired in November, this repair failed. If they ignored this recall and sold me the car, that would be negligent. Furthermore, we had the car into the dealership in January 2013 for a tire issue. If they had not done the repair in November, certainly they were responsible to repair it then. Obviously they didn't. Now, the car completely fails, and is in the shop. This repair took 3 days! I am unsure of the safely, as well as this failure being just a pulley bolt. I am aware of the most recent recall of Feb. 19th, for electrical problems, but at this time, doesn't include the X5? the pulley bolt problem doesn't seem to fully describe the loss of steering and power I experienced.