14 complaints reported

2001 BMW X5 Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
14
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2017

THE TAIL LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES AND THE SIGNAL ON BOTH SIZE IN THE REAR DO NOT WORK THE SIGNAL ON THE RIGHT SIDE ON THE FRONT DOES NOT WORK . I HAVE CHANGE ALL THE FUSES IN ALL THE LIGHTBULBS BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2017
Apr 2016 Fire

04/30/16 I BOUGHT THE SUV LAS MONTH AND HAVE EVERY THING ORIGINAL EVERY THING WAS FINE UNTIL TODAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE PASENGER SIDE UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT A 30 MIN AFTER PARKING IT ON THE DRIVE WAY I HEAR THE ALARM AND SAW ALOT OF SMOG COMING FROM THE TRUCK AT SOON AS I OPEN THE DOOR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Apr 2016
Oct 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A CONSTANT ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE TACHOMETER WAS FAULTY AND DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Aug 2013
Oct 2008

ON OCT.16,2008 I WAS EXPERIENCING HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER I BRING IT TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AFTER THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AND THE THROTTLE IS BAD AND NEED TO REPLACED AND INFORM ME THERE WAS SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT I CALL BMW DEALER SPEAK TO THEN ABOUT IT BUT THEY SAID THERE NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE BULLETIN WAS OVER I, IT COST ME $1,200 TO FIT THE PROBLEM 2001 X5 3.0 60,000 MI. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2008
Nov 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT NIGHT, THERE WAS A LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THERE WERE NO FURTHER INCIDENTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2006
Nov 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A DARK RURAL ROAD, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL LIGHTS AND POWER. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. AFTER 25 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO FOR INTERMITTENT START PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FAMILY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2006
Jun 2006

AT 40K MILES 4.4 X 5 HAD ELECTRICAL FAILURE, ALL DASH LIGHTS AND DIGITAL GAUGES WENT OUT WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON. DROVE WITH ONLY SPEEDOMETER AND NON DIGITAL GAUGES WORKING. CHECKED FUSES AND CHANGED A FEW BUT COULD NOT GET THEM TO WORK. CHARGED FOR SERVICE TO REPAIR 200. DIGITAL GAUGES ARE STILL NOT ALL LIT. ONLY PARTIAL DIGITS FOR TIME AND ODOMETER READING. THESE GAUGES SHOULD WORK UNTIL AT LEAST 100,000 MILES ON ANY CAR. I AM CONSIDERING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AS I FEEL ROBBED AND CHEATED TO BY BMW ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2004
Mar 2005 Fire

DT: CONTACT STATD BMW X5 2001 CAUGHT ON FIRE ON JULY 21, 2005. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS AT HOT, THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, THE TACHOMETER WAS OVER 4 AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA WHILE HE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROX. 30 MPH. AS THE SMOKE GOT WORSE, HE PULLED OFF AND THE SMOKE BECAME VERY WHITE AND DENSE AND THEN IGNITED INTO A FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. DID COME OUT. THE FIRE DID ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THIS HE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR HEATING UP. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2005
Dec 2003

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SUCH AS RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AND VEHICLE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THIER NOT STOPPING, LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAST, STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T EXTEND FULLY, DURING WINTER MONTHS THE FRONT AND REAR THERMOSTAT DO NOT WORK. DOOR HANDLES FREEZES. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jun 2001
Aug 2003 Fire

CONSUMER STATED HER VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT FIRE TWICE, AND IT LOCKED HER INSIDE. SHE ALSO STATED THAT HER AUX. FAN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRES. SHE STATED THE FAN WAS CHANGED 4 TIMES. IT WAS TOLD TO HER AND HER HUSBAND THAT THESE WERE ELECTRICAL FIRES. SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CUSTOMER SVC REP OF BMW, AND THEIR SVC REP THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO TRY TO FIX HER VEHICLE. *PH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Aug 2003
Jan 2003

THE WIRE HARNESS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2003
Jun 2002

FAILS TO START AFTTER MULTIPLE STOPS AND HOT ENGINE ON SEVERAL OCCATIONS EVEN AFTER TWO REPAIR AT SEATTLE BMW DEALER. FAILURE LAST FROM 2 -40 MINUTES WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START. TAILGATE REMOTE LOCATED "ON KEY" OPENS TAILGATE AT TOUCH ATTEMPT TO START OR BUNP ON KEY. LETTER TO BMW DATED 1/6/02*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: May 2002
Dec 2001

ENGINE WILL STALL AT LOW SPEEDS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY, BECAUSE HAS TO STOP CAR TO START IT AGAIN. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2000
Oct 2000

BMW HAS A STALLING PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2001 3.0 LITER ENGINES ESPECIALY IN THE X5 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. SUPPOSEDLY THERE IS A MODIFICATION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM (WHICH OUR VEHICLE HAS HAD) BUT OUR VEHICLE STILL STALLS. I KNOW WE ARE NOT THE ONLY OWNERS WHO HAVE MADE THIS COMPLAINT. MAYBE A RECALL IS IN ORDER!*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2001 BMW X5, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2000

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2001 BMW X5 has 14 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.