2006 BMW X5 Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 (NA) BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V479000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
CCV (CRANK CASE VENTILATION) SYSTEM FROZE LEADING TO VCG (VALVE COVER GASKET) FAILURE. BMW ISSUED A SIB FOR THIS IN 2009 SO THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REVISED THE PARTS FOR COLD WEATHER CLIMATES. UNFORTUNATELY I AM WAY OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS IS OUT OF POCKET AT $1000++. THIS WAS/IS A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE I HAD THE COLD WEATHER CCV AND IT STILL FAILED. THEY BLAME IT ON NOT GETTING THE VEHICLE UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE DUE TO SHORT TRIPS! RIDICULOUS ON WHAT WAS A $54K CAR WHEN NEW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, BURNING OIL COULD BE SMELLED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS COVERED IN MOTOR OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK CASE RELEASE VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. IN ADDITION, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE CYLINDERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A VERY COLD DAY (0 DEGREES) IN CHICAGO, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE TRUCK TOTALLY STOPPED RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRANCKCASE BREATHER BOX/OIL SEPARATOR STOPPED WORKING CAUSING OIL TO SPEW EVERYWHERE WITHIN MY EXHAUST. THIS ALSO RUINED MY SPARK PLUGS. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT IN THE X5, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL RELATED TO THIS. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AS SOON AS THE MANUFACTURER OR EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES AND IT IS RELATED TO COLD WEATHER. *TR
THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON THEREFORE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY CHANGES ON THE CAR EXCEPT THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WHERE IT CONSUMED MORE THAN USUAL. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE OIL VAPOR SEPARATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR DID NOT DIE ON ME. THEY ARE CHARGING 1400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AS I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET, THIS PART HAS BEEN FAILING FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT DRIVE THEIR CAR FAR ENOUGH. THE CONDENSATION COAGULATES IN THE OIL PASSAGES. ONE OF THOSE PASSAGES IS THE TUBE FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR WHICH GOES BACK INTO THE OIL PAN. OVER TIME, THE REPEATED DRIVING ON SHORT TRIPS CAUSES THE COAGULATED OIL AND CONDENSATION TO BUILD UP INSIDE THE PASSAGE WHICH RUNS FROM THE OIL SEPARATOR TO THE OIL PAN. WHEN ENOUGH CONDENSATION GATHERS IN THE OIL SEPARATOR AFTER THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF IN TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING - HYDROLOCK MAY BE CAUSED BY OIL INGESTION. DUE TO THIS, THE SUV CAN JUST STOP ANYWHERE, I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES THAT MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DID NOT HAVE TO COMPROMISE MY SAFETY. I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID, THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A DEFECT. *LN
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2006 BMW X5 has 6 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.