2019 BMW X5 Electrical System Problems

60 complaints about Electrical System

60
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Electrical System Complaints (60)

Jan 5, 2026

Car randomly wouldn’t start and was getting error starter message on message center

Dec 26, 2025

The emergency call system and hands free microphone does not work due to the telematic control unit getting wet as a result of the shark fin antenna leaking. As a result I cannot rely on communication through this system in the event of an emergency which was one of the features that lead me to the decision to buy this car. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer. The first warning lamp brought to the attention of the dealer in February.

Dec 2, 2025

while stopped in traffic on a freeway in fast lane, the vehicle was in the "stop/go" mode. When I pressed the accelerator, the engine failed to start. On multiple attempts engine would not start and I could smell electrical burn. The CHP was on site and we attempted to push the car to the side and out of the fast lane. However, since the engine would not start, there was no way to shift the car into Neutral gear. This is a design flaw and could lead a serious injury of fatality if the drive is stuck on the freeway and unable to move car. Even with Tow Truck, the car had to be dragged onto the truck bed. This is related to recall no. 25V-644. The recall should be elevated to "critical" status.

Nov 20, 2025

The shark fin is leaking and can’t be in rain or drive in rain bc it can cause wires to catch fire or shorten out. I have two babies that are at risk every time I drive this car. It’s my only way to go and BMW won’t fix it and I can’t afford to fix it bc it’s over 3 thousand dollars.

Nov 14, 2025

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.

Nov 9, 2025

My shark fin has water damage and can’t drive or be in rain and this is the only car I have to take my young kids back and forth to school and do my grocery shopping or whatever I need

Nov 9, 2025

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 .

Nov 4, 2025

Water leaked into the Electric panel that controls the emergency call system & creates a malfunction.

Nov 4, 2025

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

Oct 30, 2025

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 20: Jerking or Shuddering from Driveline xDrive Transfer Case ATX13-X (faulty factory oil specification). •SIB 11 03 17: N20/N26 Engine Timing Chain and Oil-Pump Drive Chain Warranty Extension (pattern of oil-pump failures in prior engines). •SIB B01 13 23: Front Center Console Cupholder Liquid Ingress (electrical faults from liquid intrusion in 2019–2022 G05 X5). •SIB 65 12 22: 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.

Oct 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while attempting to cold-start the vehicle, the contact needed several attempts to start the vehicle. The contact stated that several times, the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that while making several attempts to start the vehicle, the message "System Overheated - Restarting Engine Possible After Cooling" was displayed on the instrument cluster, and the contact had to wait 120 seconds before further attempts to restart the vehicle were possible. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed by the dealer that there was a recall for the failure, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V644000 (Electrical System), and the VIN was covered under the recall. However, the VIN tool showed no recall related to the VIN. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

Oct 8, 2025

I noticed one of my daytime running lights on the driver’s side laser headlight had turned yellow, instead of white like the others. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they said that the LED module that powers that daytime running light has overheated and caused the light tube to burn and melt. The dealership advised that the passenger side is also slowly starting to do the same thing. The repair the dealership recommended is to replace both headlights, at a cost of almost $18k! I’ve seen numerous BMWs on the roads with this same issue, and this should be addressed by BMW as a design flaw. If these modules are burning plastic pieces inside the housing, they could start a fire if they get hot enough.

Oct 5, 2025

Emergency Call System Failure!! My 2019 BMW x5 xdrive M50 has the failure from the Telematic Control Module like thousands of other people. This needs to be a recall and shouldn’t have to pay $1500-3000 out of pocket for something that is a manufacture problem. Apparently water gets in the shark fin area and causing the module to fail!

Sep 26, 2025

Car started hesitating to start then messaged popped up on screen saying my system was overheating I had to pay for a new starter.

Sep 10, 2025

Recently purchased a 2019 BMW X5 xdrive40i with 77k miles, after only owning for 3 weeks after a heavy rain storm. My dash lit up with “Emergency call system malfunction”, upon review online it seems to be a common issue with these BMW models and no recall has been issued. The sos malfunction causes the vehicle not to function properly and unable to use the integrated idrive head unit system. It also dials emergency services on its own and won’t let me end call. After taking it to bmw dealership they found the telematics module battery to be low and suggested replacing. Previous owner had similar issue back in January of 2023 and the shark fin antenna by the roof was replaced , resealed and TCB telematics unit replaced. So only after 2 weeks of replacing the TCB battery, same issue appeared again after a heavy rain storm. I took it back to bmw for diagnose and they had to have one of there engineers test it and found out the actual sos button ecu system unit to have a short causing the sos malfunction and it dialing emergency services on its own. Vehicle is not driveable and has been at bmw they are trying to charge me additional $1,547.58 plus taxes and fees for the repair. I feel as if this is a defect on bmw and should be addressed and issued as an recall for there customers.

Aug 9, 2025

starter failed at 48k miles. This is a known issue of starters failing early and a recall should be done for all impacted cars. Currently there is only a subset that are recalled for software program update to prevent burning out the starter, but the starter itself is failing, and recall should be issued for replacing the starter [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jul 6, 2025

I purchased a used BMW from a local dealership, unaware that the vehicle had unresolved safety and mechanical issues. Over time, I began experiencing repeated problems including: •Power loss and hesitation while driving •Malfunctioning engine and drivetrain components •Electrical system glitches including dashboard warnings that would disappear before I could document them The car has been in and out of shops for diagnostics, and no lasting fix has been found. These defects have created safety concerns for me and my children, as I transport them daily. The vehicle feels unsafe to operate. I believe I may have been sold a lemon and am now pursuing legal remedies, including this formal safety complaint to report the issue.

Jun 4, 2025

My car said it overheated and would not start. After about 4 hours it did start and I took it to the dealer. They are saying that the battery and starter need replacement. I read that there was a recall for this exact reason on some specific VINs for my car model and year. Even though mine doesn't fall under that category it seems like the same issue that was recalled for others. Doing some online searches it seems this issue has happened to quite a few people.

May 23, 2025

I received a recall on my vehicle for an electrical update and was out of town when it malfunctioned. The vehicle would not start on the first try. Tried again and it immediately overheated, with smoke and a burning smell coming from the hood. It was towed to the dealership, and the starter and battery ended up needing to be replaced. I believe the failure of these parts was caused by the software issue that the recall was for. The dealership refused to compensate for the replacement of the battery and starter, claiming that it was not under the recall. When I reached out to corporate, they also refused to help. The car was at the dealership for a month, and the total cost of repairs was $2,200.

May 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed alternator. The contact was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,302.

Mileage: 49,302

May 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to start immediately. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the starter motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.

May 9, 2025

The vehicle's electrical system experienced a starter malfunction, which led to a complete failure of the starter. As a result, the car would not start, ultimately causing the battery to fail as well. This failure posed a serious safety risk. I could have been left stranded in the middle of traffic, increasing the risk of a collision that could have caused injury to myself and others. If the malfunction had occurred in a remote location, I could have been left stranded, placing me in a potentially dangerous situation. The issue was confirmed by the dealership. Although there is an active NHTSA recall related to this exact problem, my vehicle’s VIN was not included. However, it should have been—my vehicle was manufactured during the affected production period and experienced the same failure described in the recall. As a result, I had to pay out of pocket for these substantial repairs. The manufacturer failed to include my VIN in the recall, despite clear evidence that my vehicle was subject to the same defect. The manufacturer inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the failure involved both the starter and the battery; however, I was required to pay out of pocket for the replacement of both components. There were no warning lights, error messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure—the vehicle simply stopped functioning without notice. Further research revealed that many other owners have reported the same starter malfunction, frequently resulting in battery failure and the need to replace both components. Although the manufacturer is aware of this widespread issue, they have not issued a comprehensive recall for all affected vehicles. Had they done so, this failure—and the associated safety risks, inconvenience, and significant repair costs—could have been avoided.

May 7, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,100.

Mileage: 80,100

Apr 14, 2025

I have a 2019 BMW X5 that experienced engine failure and required a new battery and starter to be installed. I feel certain that it is related to a recall on some 2019/2020 models but my vin is not included. [XXX] I received a fault warning for drivetrain malfunction. I took the car to the bmw dealership and was told it was an upper radiator blind failure and had it replaced. The dealership performed a software update per recall SIB 120524. The mileage was 36,981. While visiting family in New Orleans[XXX] @ [XXX] in the afternoon, on Decatur (heart of French Quarter) the car died in the middle of rush hour traffic. Fault came up that said ”engine overheat will attempt restart in 180 sec.” Car would not start and had to be towed to local BMW. Highly stressful as I was with my daughter. We had people honking horns, screaming at us, police threatening to ticket us, etc. ordeal lasted 2 hrs until tow arrived. After 4 days in the BMW shop I was advised a new battery was needed. No indication the starter was checked at this time. Mileage was 40,168. The next day [XXX] when driving home to Dallas I pull over to get gas in Natchitoches, La. I fill up and try to start car and failure notice shows up ”engine overheat will attempt restart in 180 sec”. Same thing as before new battery installed. The car did not restart even after an hr of waiting. Would not take a jump so we had to be towed to Shreveport(1 1/2 hrs away) to closest BMW dealership. I was traveling with My son and was beyond grateful at the kindness of the tow driver as he took us to get food and a hotel that was safe after delivering the car to the dealership. The next afternoon the Shreveport dealership determined that the starter failed and it had to be replaced. Mileage was 40,423. I feel I am due repayment for the tows and repairs on what I feel are recall related. I have contacted all 3 dealerships and North America BMW to get the run around. No one wants to take accountability! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

Mar 31, 2025

Vehicle didn’t move after coming to a full stop at a traffic light. And it displayed a message stating the starter has overheated and that it needed to cool down. The timer for the cooldown period kept on increasing up to 180 seconds and consequent attempts to start the vehicle after the cooldown period didn’t help.

Mar 22, 2025

Starter stopped working. VEHICLES Body Style : 2019-2020 BMW X5 (X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i) SUV Descriptive Information : Power Train : GAS Production Dates : Approximately 68,105 vehicles have been manufactured with an engine starter of a certain production configuration. Basis for recall population determination: Vehicle assembly information and supplier production records were used to determine the specific dates of potentially affected vehicles. Recall component difference to non-recall component: Potentially affected vehicles have an engine starter with a certain production configuration. AUG 01, 2018 - MAY 31, 2020 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential

Mar 20, 2025

Emergency call malfunction light came on. System is an important vehicle safety features. Vehicle taken to dealership for inspection. No visual damage present on vehicle however water ingress from roof shark fin is causing damage to electrical components, TCB and emergency call function. Shark fin antenna cover determined to be causing water ingress after inspection by BMW dealership. Per their recommendation, further water ingress could damage additional electrical components, some critical and therefore immediate need to replace TCB, Aerial antenna, and emergency battery. Vehicle warranty not covering this type of issue. Cost of repair estimated at $2500.

Mar 13, 2025

I have a 2019 BMW x5. My starter failed and I got a notification at the same time through my BMW app that there was a safety recall "RE: Recall 24V-576: Engine Starter – B12 05 24". The recall instructs the dealer that the Correction is "DME software update that will prevent the engine starter from being overloaded". This is all fine. It then gives the instruction "Note: Some vehicles may also be affected by the following technical campaign: 0012240600 Check and, if necessary, replace starter motor Please ensure that, if possible, both technical actions are processed at the same time." My issue is that the initial Recall is the clear issue causing the starter failure and they have acknowledged this in the technical campaign following. However, my vehicle's VIN is not included in the technical campaign that instructs them to replace the starter even though it was their negligence which caused the failure which they have acknowledged. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? No I paid to have the starter replaced. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Me and my vehicle were left stranded, sometimes In the road due to auto start, multiple times. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, by the dealer. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, inspected by the dealer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No there were no warnings.

Jan 18, 2025

Subject: Complaint Regarding Water Intrusion and Electrical Failures in 2019 BMW X5 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a recurring and potentially hazardous issue with my 2019 BMW X5. The issue involves water intrusion through the shark fin antenna, which has caused significant electrical malfunctions in my vehicle. Description of the Problem Water appears to be leaking into the vehicle through the shark fin antenna located on the roof. This has resulted in: 1.Failure of the infotainment system (screen not functioning). 2.Inability to start the car (starter not activating). 3.Turn signals operating without the typical cabin clicking sound. This issue has left the vehicle inoperable on multiple occasions and poses a safety risk, as critical systems such as the emergency call function and vehicle ignition are affected. Impact on Safety •A malfunctioning starter prevents the vehicle from being driven, potentially leaving me stranded in unsafe locations. •Turn signal failures reduce the audible warning, increasing the risk of accidents. •Water-damaged electrical components could lead to further issues, such as shorts or fires. Research and Observations After researching, I found that other BMW owners have reported similar issues involving water intrusion through the shark fin antenna, leading to widespread electrical problems. This suggests a potential design or manufacturing defect. Request for Action I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate this issue to determine whether it constitutes a safety defect requiring a recall or service bulletin from BMW. Vehicle Information •Make/Model: BMW X5 •Year: 2019 •VIN: [XXX] •Mileage at Time of Failure: 72,000 •start Date of Incident(s): [XXX] Supporting Documentation I am happy to provide photos, repair bills, or any other supporting evidence upon request. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jan 7, 2025

I am writing to file a complaint against BMW for the replacement of the starter in my 2019 BMW X5 (VIN # [XXX] ) which I had to pay for out of pocket in March 2024. My vehicle failed to start after repeated attempts. After a call to the dealership they told me I would have to have it towed to the dealership at my own expense at a total of $266 for them to assess. The dealership confirmed that the starter needed replacement which cost me an additional $1736.78 out of pocket. After receiving a recall notice from BMW, I learned that this issue is related to a known safety defect with the starter which can lead to electrical overload, overheating, and in rare cases a fire risk. Given that I had to replace the faulty starter before the recall was issued, I am requesting reimbursement for the costs I incurred -$2002.78 which includes the towing charges and starter replacement. I reached out to Joseph Battle (Service Advisor) at BMW of Nashville, and he informed me that reimbursement is not possible only a software upgrade. This response is unacceptable, as I should not have to bear the cost for a safety issue BMW has since acknowledged. I kindly request reimbursement for the full amount of $2002.78. Please review the attached invoices and recall notice. I look forward to your prompt response and resolution of this matter. [XXX] and [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Dec 26, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000(Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was discovered that the recall software update remedy could not be completed due to the telemarket control module failing and needing to be replaced prior to the recall remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 60,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 60,000

Nov 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. While the contact's wife was stopped and sitting in the drive-thru, the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle failed to start as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred while his minor children were inside the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

Mileage: 68,000

Nov 14, 2024

The contact owns 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with the engine Auto Start/Stop system. The contact stated while at a complete stop and releasing the brake pedal, the engine failed to restart automatically. The contact stated that upon depressing the Push to Start button, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling) which the contact related to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted for reimbursement and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was inspected, and the dealer confirmed that the independent mechanic had installed the correct part; however, the dealer later informed the contact that the manufacturer had denied the claim for reimbursement. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

Nov 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System; Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that after the repair was performed, the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The contact was eventually able to start the vehicle and the vehicle was driven to the dealer. A diagnostic test was performed, and it was determined that the starter was weak and needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to the manufacturer but was offered no assistance. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

Nov 4, 2024

The contact's husband owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated while her husband was at a complete stop at the red traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling), which the contact related to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was completed. Additionally, the dealer was contacted for reimbursement regarding the expenses sustained due to a failure related to the safety recall, but did not provide assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,433.

Oct 16, 2024

“shark fin” GPS antenna because unglued allowing water into the electrical system in the roof. This caused a malfunction that disabled the emergency call functions, GPS location service for emergency calls and GPS functions. The issue is the TCB component due to faulty waterproofing. It also makes hands free calling impossible which makes following hands free laws more difficult. Upon investigation and BMW’s admission, it is a very common problem for 2019 X5s unrelated to any driving conditions etc.

Oct 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMX X5. The contact stated while parked, the vehicle stalled; there was an abnormal odor coming from the outside of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated; however, the "Engine Overheating" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure still occurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer to get a diagnosis; the contact received a diagnosis stating that the starter motor needed to be replaced. The contact did research and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,397.

Mileage: 65,397

Oct 4, 2024

Reference recall No. 24V-576, I believe the issue reported in the recall is related to the 'Auto Start' feature of the vehicle. As a result of this failure, the safety issue can be much serious than what is stated in recall. In addition to the electrical overload of the starter, leading to risk of fire, the vehicle will not start, unable to shift out of Park therefore, potential of stranding the vehicle and the passengers in the middle of the road. The following occurred on [XXX]. at 2:30pm, we( my wife, 2 daughters and I) were traveling [XXX] in Tracy, in the fast lane in our 2019 X5. Auto Start feature was active, when I pressed on the gas pedal, engine suddenly turned off. The car would not start. There was no warning or any error message. We were stuck in the middle of the fast lane in heavy traffic and cars were passing on the both sides, making it impossible to be even get out and walk to safety. I tried to restart the car multiple times with success. We felt in danger of being struck by another vehicle. Luckily, the CHP was a few minutes behind us and stopped to help us. We tried to put the vehicle in Neutral so it can be pushed out to the side and not block traffic. I called the East Bay BMW and the Road Assistance for help with putting the vehicle in Neutral but I was told it can’t be done. The CHP (2 officers) and I tried to put the car in neutral but without any success. I with EastBay BMW and was told that noting can be done to put the vehicle in Neutral. The only way to shift the car in Neutral is from under the car and requires a mechanic . There was electrical burning smell coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the EastBay Dealership in Pleasanton, CA. Upon inspection, the Dealer stated the issue is due to bad battery and it caused the starter to overload as I attempted to start the car. I was told that none of it's covered by warranty and I had to pay for the repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 5

Aug 21, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the starter had failed, causing the battery failure. The contact was informed that the starter and battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired, the contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling); which the contact related to the failure however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact called the dealer, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.

Mileage: 67,000

Aug 16, 2024 Fire

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that when attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start and a burning odor was present. The starter had begun smoking. The smoke had settled itself. The fire department was not at the scene. No police report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle had been towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the starter failed causing the starter to catch fire internally and needed to be replaced. The starter was replaced. After having the vehicle repaired the contact did some research and discovered that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer was then contacted a second time and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

Aug 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, there was a burning odor on the inside and outside of the vehicle while the vehicle was occupied. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling). No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with starter failure. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and the dealer confirmed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in the recall; however, the contact had not yet received the recall notification letter. The failure mileage was 43,699.

Mileage: 43,699

Aug 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle suddenly shut off and failed to restart. During the failure, the message "System Overheated" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the starter motor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The starter motor was replaced, and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V576000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 41,000.

Mileage: 41,000

Jul 12, 2024

The emergency call system malfunction displayed. Upon taking vehicle to a BMW dealer for inspection, I was informed that the antenna needed to be replaced for $2000.00 to fix the problem. I did research and found that other owners of the same make and model as well as prior and later models have had the same issue. The shark fin antenna allows water ingress into the components which causes internal damage, this could possibly lead to other electrical problems that could present while the vehicle is in motion. What if an owner gets into an accident and the SOS/emergency call is unable to deploy due to this faulty antenna leakage.

Apr 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle was communicating with the SOS department while no incident had occurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that a water leak in the rear antenna of the vehicle had caused the electronic malfunction. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 44,500.

Mileage: 44,500

Mar 14, 2024

After receiving a very expensive repair quote, I looked on here and read multiple complaints of emergency call system malfunction causing gps not to work/ malfunction due to leaking in the shark fin. This is a major safety concern due to poor design and build quality of the vehicle.

Jan 31, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The dealer stated that a software in the key fob and the vehicle needed to be updated. The contacted had not been notified of the update. The dealer informed the contact that had the vehicle had been brought to the dealer for the last oil change, the contact would have been informed of the necessary software update. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Jan 18, 2024

On the date below, a warning banner and chime signaled that our car's emergency communication system was not functional. Soon after, we noticed that the navigation system was "lost"; ie, showing our car in a different state, sometimes in water, incorrect displays of speed limits being shown, etc. Vehicle was evaluated at a BMW dealership, and the primary defective part was found to be the "sharkfin" on the roof. Water entered the roof structure (not the interior of the car) via this sharkfin, and resulted in damage to the TCB, which reportedly controls many of the car's more-advanced electrical functions. Due to unfortunate clauses in warrantees on the car--both BMW certified pre-owned coverage, and also a 3rd party service contract that was purchased at the time of purchase, from the BMW dealer, as a bumper-to-bumper "platinum" supplement to the certified pre-owned warranty, are currently in effect for this car--this defect is NOT covered. Cost to repair all involvedf parts is approximately $5,000. As a consequence of this expense, it has not been repaired, and likely will not be in the near future. A Google search about this issue yielded numerous identical incidents involving this same model/year of BMW. Several owners wondered if a recall was needed, since it is clearly a manufacturer defect with clear-cut and repeated ramifications, is very costly to repair (so is likely to NOT be repaired, in many instances), and is subject to a loophole in warranty coverage. My impression from this internet search is that other systems in the car might soon stop working. I believe it is a safety issue, now, given the failure of the emergency communication function controlled by the TCB, and might become more of an issue in the future, when/if additional functions fail.

Nov 13, 2023

Car will not start until many attempts are made. Walking up to the car with key in hand causes alarm to go off. Car remote fails to unlock the door and must be unlocked manually but alarm still does not turn off. Time and date reset to the wrong time and date after turning off car and turning it back on.

Nov 12, 2023

Seems I have read multiple complaints of emergency call system malfunction causing gps not to work/ malfunction due to leaking in the shark fin. This is a major safety concern due to poor design and build quality of the vehicle. This concern should be up most important that this area is recalled, replaced, and sealed to ensure safety for all.

Oct 19, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the automatic engine shut off was activated but after releasing the brake pedal, the transmission erroneously shifted to neutral, and the engine did not restart. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions while in traffic. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Mileage: 55,000

Sep 7, 2023

TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED AND HAS WATER INGRESS. THIS CAUSES THE ONBOARD EMERGENCY SOS SYSTEM TO FAIL AND NOT WORK, MAKE FALSE CALLS AND RISK A DRIVER ABILITY TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY CALL OR FOR THE VEHICLE TO CALL FOR HELP. THIS ALSO POSES A RISK IN THAT WATER SEEPS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CARS SHELL THROUGH THE ANTENNA. CREATING RUST, MOLD AND DECAY. WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, HEAD LINER AND EVENTUALLY PASSENGERS THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. THE CAR EVENTUALLY HAS TO BE GARAGED OR COVERED AT ALL TIMES IN EVENT OF RAIN OR SNOW. THIS HAS BEEN SEEN WIRH OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR MAKE, MODEL, YEAR SERIES. UNFORTUNATELY, MORE PEOPLE HAS YET TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE IF THEOR VEHICLE IS ALWAYS GARAGED OR COVERED

Sep 1, 2023

Recently, the display behind the steering wheel has turned off twice while driving on the highway. This display contains the speedometer, meaning there was no way to gauge vehicle speed while driving. The problem is random; no warnings were shown, but keeping the car off for a couple of hours before turning it back on has brought the display back temporarily.

Jul 26, 2023

BMW "did not" issue a recall notice for this known issue for my VIN. They were aware of this issue and corrected it based on the latest software update 11/2022.56. The problem is older software versions can cause the battery to completely drain even when the engine is not running and make you deserted anywhere, which is a safety issue. Also, since the battery can be fully drained, your booster brakes also will not work during the start of the engine, which can again cause risk when starting. BMW did not advise customers regarding this safety issue. In my case, My battery was completely drained, and I had to replace my battery. Details of the defect from the latest software update release notes are mentioned below. The concern is why BMW did not issue a recall notice to customers like me. I hope NHTSA can take the necessary action on this and issue a proper recall notice. "Recall of automatic transmission/ EGSsoftware:(USA/CANADA) The current software version of your vehicle may mean that the electronic transmission control continues to consume energy after parking the vehicle and may result in the total discharge of the 12 V vehicle battery. A Vehicle start can no longer be ensured in this case. This malfunction is rectified by the upgrade 11/2022.56. The corresponding special defect code is 0024720100" (Photo attached)

Jun 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the horn and turn signals were inoperable. Additionally, the windshield wipers remained on constantly and failed to deactivate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Mileage: 100,000

May 18, 2023 Crash

I was turning left on a residential street when the steering wheel locked, the brakes would not work to stop the car from going straight and the engine would not turn off when I attempted to stop the engine once realizing that everything was failing. The electrical panel went black and I collided with a residential home. Airbags deployed, EMS, fire and Police were called to the scene and the Tow truck driver noted that all systems had failed and the car basically shut off all functionality. They had to manually push the vehicle onto the flatbed tow truck. I am concerned as this issue was a safety concern while I was driving the car and it seemed all systems failed.

Mar 16, 2021

VEHICLE HAS HAD THE MAIN DRIVER GAUGES/DASH CLUSTER RANDOMLY TURN OFF WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING, MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY NOW FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WITH INSTANCES HAPPENING AT ALL SORTS OF SPEEDS AND ON LOCAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY TO RECOVER THE ELECTRONIC DASH CLUSTER UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS LEFT TO FULLY SHUT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED. BMW SERVICE AS WELL AS BMWNA HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST IN 8+ SERVICE VISITS AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY WHAT'S A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD, AS IT HAS LED TO MULTIPLE NEAR ACCIDENTS NOW. THIS STARTED IN JANUARY 2020, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RELATIVELY NEW (<2000 MILES) AND PERSISTS TO THIS DAY (12K MILES).

Mileage: 1,500

Jun 23, 2020

2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE A RATTLING SOUND COMES UP WHEN I START THE VEHICLE I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICING AND I'M TOLD THEY DON'T FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. FINALLY, MY DASHBOARD GOES BLUE AFTER LONG DRIVES. AGAIN, THIS WAS REPORTED AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN AND I'M TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *TR

Mar 2, 2020

I AM WRITING TO ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN MY MATTER OF MY 2019 BMW X5 I40 SUV, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN REPAIRED 6 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, ELECTRICAL, AND SUSPENSION FAILURES SERVICED AT 3 DIFFERENT BMW COLORADO DEALERSHIPS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH LEASE JUNE 2019, AND CONTINUOUSLY REPORTED & EXPERIENCED FAILURES/ISSUES BY OWNER, NUMEROUS PASSENGERS, INCLUDING MULTIPLE BMW SERVICE MANAGERS: ENGINE BUTTONS NOT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY, OR NOT TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL POWER. AFTER HIGH ACCELERATION ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE WOULD TERMINATE AND THEREBY HAVING TO QUICKLY PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THIS HAD TO BE DONE RAPIDLY DUE TO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WOULD REPEAT ISSUE ON RURAL ROADWAY STOPS, BUT NOT AS OFTEN ON INTERSTATE ABOVE 60MPH. GPS HAD SOFTWARE MALFUNCTIONS AFTER BEING REPAIRED 2X FOR ELECTRICAL STABILITY ISSUES THIS CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION THEN CORRECTED AT AN ALTERNATIVE BMW DEALERSHIP. SIDE ASSIST ALERTS AND NOTIFICATIONS WERE CONTINUING TO FAIL AFTER 4-5 ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY. KEY FAB WOULD FAIL TO COMMUNICATE AND FAIL TO LOCK VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX BY BMW. VEHICLE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING WOULD NOT MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY WITH VARIOUS COMPONENT RESPONSE FOR BACK DOORS, TRUNK/TAILGATE FAILURE TO RESPOND MOST IMPORTANTLY VEHICLE POWER OVERALL. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE HAS SUSPENSION ISSUES, STILL A CONCERN THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER BMW REPAIR SHOPS BEING LIFTED BY PRESSURIZED COMPONENTS; OR WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY DELIVERED OFF THE TRUCK FROM MANUFACTURER TO DEALERSHIP? THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE & HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE PURCHASED. THIS IS CONSIDERED A LEMON PER THE COLORADO LEMON LAWS, IN ADDITION PER THE NUMEROUS BMW SERVICE MANAGERS WHO HAVE REPAIRED THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.

Nov 21, 2019

INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT EXPLANATION THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED USING NORMAL PROCEDURE EVEN THOUGH THE KEY FOB IS ON THE DRIVER'S PERSON. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2019, THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD FIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT SHOULD THE VEHICLE FAIL TO START NORMALLY, RETRIEVE THE FOB; LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE USING THE KEY FOB AND THEN START THE VEHICLE USING THE FOB WHICH (DEALERSHIP LANGUAGE HERE) HAS BEEN "AWAKENED." AS A SEMI DISABLED 73 YEAR OLD MALE THIS NECESSITATES THAT I EXIT THE VEHICLE AND, IN STANDING POSITION, CREATE THE ABILITY TO REMOVE THE KEY FOB FROM MY FRONT PANT POCKET IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE TO "AWAKEN" THE KEY FOB FOR PURPOSES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE. I CAN THINK OF ANY NUMBER OF SITUATIONS IN WHICH THIS COULD CREATE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION AND AM THEREFORE SUBMITTING THE PROBLEM TO NTSB FOR REVIEW.

Mileage: 100

Mar 7, 2019

WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT OUTSIDE AND THE COLD THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNRESPONSIVE TO TURNING. THE DRIVER ASSIST IS ALMOST NO. FUNCTIONAL TURNS ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. SHUTTING DOWN THE BLIND SPOT AWARENESS AS WELL AS FRONT COLLISION AUTO BRAKING

Mileage: 200