2017 BMW X5 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I am writing to formally document two significant incidents involving the complete failure of the high-pressure fuel system in my BMW vehicle, VIN [XXX] , which have raised concerns about the reliability of this component. On [XXX], while navigating city street traffic, my vehicle, with 57,376 miles, experienced a total loss of power, resulting in the vehicle stalling in the left lane. The vehicle was towed to an authorized BMW dealership, where the entire high-pressure fuel system was diagnosed and replaced under warranty. As the second owner of this vehicle, I acquired it from my neighbor, the original owner. Upon reviewing the complete service records provided by the previous owner, I discovered that a nearly identical issue occurred at 39,066 miles. The service documentation states, "Client reports that while driving, the vehicle lost power and stalled." At that time, the high-pressure fuel system was also fully replaced. Further investigation revealed that BMW issued a safety recall notice between these two incidents, acknowledging potential failures in the high-pressure fuel pumps. However, the recall indicated that no remedy was available at the time. I've attached all the service records for both incidents and BMW North America's letter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle’s gas tank has a leak on top the cabin fills with the smell of gasoline. After a smoke test was done, the test showed a leak coming from the top of the tank between the tank and the inlet for gasoline refill.

Fuel Tank Ventilation failed in my 2017 BMW X5 XDrive 40E at around 93k miles (ODO). The problem has been confirmed by the dealer and this is creating fuel odor and undesired gases to be leaked out of the system

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V586000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL ) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph when attempting to accelerate the vehicle when the vehicle suddenly lost power and the fuel pump failed. The contact was able to maneuver and coast the vehicle to the side of the road. They then had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The contact stated that when the vehicle was towed they learned that the gear shifter was locked in position. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000. Vin tool confirms parts distribution disconnect.

On July 30, 2021, my 2017 BMW X5 35d, which had only about 49,000 miles on it and which had been serviced only six weeks before, died without warning. My son and I could have been killed. The car went into Park and had to be towed on a flatbed to the dealer. After 5 days of no word, the dealer falsely accused me of putting gasoline in my diesel vehicle. The dealer eventually determined that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed, which caused exactly the problem listed in BMW's July 29, 2021 recall notice to its dealers: it caused metal fragments to contaminate the entire fuel system. BMW initially advised me that it had no "recall remedy," but when it did, it would replace the fuel pump but would not repair the nearly $13,000 in damage to the fuel system that the fuel pump failure caused. BMW eventually relented and advised it will complete all repairs caused by the fuel pump failure. But it has declined to reimburse me for the "overage" charges I've incurred in towing the vehicle to the dealer and in connection with the rental vehicle they obtained for me. And of course, not a single apology for the harrowing experience that could have resulted in our deaths, nor for the considerable inconvenience caused by this defect that BMW has known about for years.

RECALL 18V755000 EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION MODULE COOLER LEAKS AND MIXES WITH DIESEL SOOT CAUSING MELTING OF THE THIS SPECIFIC RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. NUMEROUS CALLS HAVE BEEN MADE TO BMW TO SEE THE STATUS OF THE REPAIR, BUT THEY CANNOT/WIIL NOT/DO NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. I THINK THAT 6 MONTHS IS SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE A PART AVAILABLE FOR A SAFETY RECALL. WHEN WE SPEAK TO BMW THEY ARE NOT FORTHCOMING AT ALL ON ANY TIMELINE. QUITE FRANKLY, 8 MONTHS WITH AN OPEN SAFETY RECALL IS NOT OK BY ANY MEASURE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT A REASONABLE TIMELINE WOULD BE. BUT I WOULD THINK 3 MONTHS MAX MAKES SENSE. THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY MY VEHICLE. IT IS A VEHICLE I AM ATTEMPTING TO ASSUME THE LEASE ON. BMW WILL NOT ALLOW THE TRANSACTION TO OCCUR SINSE THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL. BUT THEY ARE LESS THAN HELPFUL. CURRENT LESSOR TRULY WANTS TO LET ME ASSUME THE LEASE. I AM HOPEFUL THERE CAN BE A SOLUTION EFFECTED HERE.

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. SHE HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY, AND ONTO A SIDE STREET. SHE WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-START AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO NEUTRAL, SO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD TO USE SKID BLOCKS. BMW INSPECTED AND FOUND THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND CONTAMINATED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WITH SWARF. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE IN A DANGEROUS POSITION AS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING.

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET, VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ROLLING INTO A PARKING LOT. WOULD NOT RE-START AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO NEUTRAL FOLLOWING EMERGENCY PARK RELEASE PROCEDURE. BMW INSPECTED AND FOUND CATASTROPHIC FUEL PUMP FAILURE THAT SENT PARTICLES INTO FUEL SYSTEM AND INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE IS A 3.5D DIESEL MODEL. OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SAME ISSUE AND RE-OCCURRING AFTER WARRANTY REPAIR. THIS LEAVES THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE IN A DANGEROUS POSITION AS VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING.