2024 BMW X5 Power Train Problems

2024 BMW X5 with 22k miles, leasing the vehicle. Had the vehicle in the dealer, Herb Chambers BMW of Boston a few months ago to fix a brake recall and change the oil. Dealer said they fixed both, and also said they needed the vehicle all day to fix the brakes, so they got me an Uber and then dropped off the vehicle when it was completed. Fast forward to today, October 2, 2025. Drive train warning came up when driving the vehicle, told to find a safe place to stop, within 10 seconds the vehicle lost most of engine power. Was able to stop in a safe location, contacted roadside assistance, numerous warnings came up on screen. Roadside assistance said to start and stop the vehicle and this cleared the message, said that vehicle was safe to drive, it was probably just a sensor issue that put the vehicle into some type of safe mode (what a horrible thing to do, an enormously unsafe as the operator should determine this). Two days later, another drive train warning and the vehicle on it's own moved the transmission into neutral while driving at 30mph. This issue with going into neutral on it's own, I found out through speaking with my wife, that this happened a couple of week prior as well. I called road side assistance and had the vehicle towed, called the dealer to get a loaner as this vehicle is not safe to drive in it's current condition. After this issue, I looked my vehicle up by VIN and saw that the brake recall wasn't fixed yet to my surprise. When I spoke to the dealer today as the vehicle was being towed there with this drive train issue, I said were my brakes for this recall fixed, they said the software issue was fixed, but not the mechanical issue. I said please fix this brake recall while in there looking at this drive train issue. Vehicle is clearly not safe to drive in this condition, and you can use your imagination if this happened while driving at highway speeds or various other scenarios, not good at all.

The drive train failed on the car and left the car without power as the transmission disengaged and was revving in drive mode. This happened when I was making a right turn. Oncoming traffic had to dodge us making it a very dangerous situation. The shoulder was narrow so half of the car in the number one lane. The car had been back into the dealership many time for similar issue but this time the car actual hard warning signs flash on the screen and loss complete power and maneuverability. A few different lights came on the dash. Prior to the car completely shutting down, the car would down shift really hard and the computer says the car was trying to go in reverse. I’ve loss all confidence in this car and feel unsafe getting back into it.

I purchased this BMW X5 xDrive50e vehicle from BMW showroom in kalamazoo, MI as a pre-owned vehicle. It looks like this particular vehicle had already reported an drivetrain issue based on the NHTSA complaint: [XXX] Looks like Drivetrain malfunction issue is a recurring one in BMW X5 50e and hit with the same issue on [XXX]. Here, i want to file a complaint regarding a safety issues with this 2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e, which currently has 14,065 miles. Vehicle started showing 2 Error messages. (1) Drivetrain Malfunctions Error stating that driving is not possible and asking to call the roadside assistance. (2) Regenerative braking of the vehicle is disturbed. It is possible to continue driving and asking to schedule a service appointment. On seeing these messages, called the BMW SoS line and informed them about the issue and towed the vehicle to the nearest service center. After running the diagnostics on the vehicle, Service center confirmed that EGS diagnostics test is inconclusive and mechatronics parts require a replacement. Service center stated that some of the parts are available within the country and few has to be shipped from Germany. Currently, vehicle is in service center waiting for the parts to get replaced. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2024 July summer time, the compressor started same issue as the temperature increased. All of a sudden, the car was started showing major “drivetrain error” and “high voltage battery error”. I have taken the car again back to the same dealership and this time the car was starting to show major system failures. I have kept BMW in the email loop and at the first instance itself I have called out that cooling issues can cause battery issues, and it happened exactly like that after 7 months. Car was with the dealership from 07/22/2024 mileage: 7896 to 07/24/2024. Dealership said this was just a software issue even though there were errors related to high voltage, after 3 days, dealership simply updated the software and cleared all the issue and related the car stating that everything fixed. I have attached the service appointment letter for this issue. It looks like they wanted me to cover the 12 months after delivery so that they can be safe with lemon law, and it proved true with next incident. After the 3 months, a terrific incident happened on [XXX] Mileage:10,561. I was taking my [XXX] daughter for a doctor’s appointment along with my [XXX} daughter and my wife. It was a short trip less than 5 miles from my home. While in the state highway, while driving ,all of a sudden the car lost all of its power car had 12 miles of electric range and 227 miles of gas range, I have photo proof from this time either from electric motor and from the gasoline engine and stalled and stopped in the middle of the road with the EXACT SAME problem on “drive train error” mentioned above serviced on 07/22/2024. There was a truck behind us and the driver had to sudden break not to rear end us. The situation was terrific, and I cannot explain it through letters here. My wife and my [XXX] panicked, and they had to went through the trauma. I was thrown into a situation by BMW and the since I purchased a costly brand-new car for my family and trusting BMW,still in dealer INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

I am filing this complaint regarding serious safety issues with my 2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e, which currently has approximately 12,000 miles. 1. Drivetrain Malfunctions and Assembly Error: The vehicle experienced three instances of drivetrain malfunctions within an eight-day period, causing it to go into limp mode unexpectedly while driving. The issue was identified as a misrouted wiring harness, which has since been repaired. I was informed by the BMW technician that a service bulletin addressing this issue was released 6 months prior to the production of my vehicle. Despite BMW’s knowledge of this recurring problem, the vehicle was assembled incorrectly, creating a significant safety hazard. This failure to address known issues during production resulted in potential disaster, compromising my safety and that of others on the road. 2. Unresolved Safety Recall – Regenerative ABS Braking System: The vehicle is subject to an ongoing recall for the regenerative ABS braking system, with no available remedy at this time. The lack of resolution for this critical safety component raises further safety concerns. 3. Connectivity Issues: The eSIM car connect hotspot has been inoperable, and BMW has acknowledged the problem, suggesting that I wait for potential updates. This impacts navigation and other safety-related features. Safety Concerns: These combined issues indicate that I was sold a vehicle with known safety defects that were not properly addressed at the manufacturing stage. As a consumer, I require a reliable and safe vehicle, which the 2024 BMW X5 xDrive50e has failed to provide. The fact that BMW was aware of this recurring issue through a bulletin prior to my vehicle’s production adds to the urgency of resolving these problems. Resolution Attempts: I have worked with the local BMW dealership to repair the wiring harness, but the unresolved ABS recall and connectivity issues persist. BMW has not provided a clear timeline for resolving the safety recall.

Drive train malfunction during driving. It has been repaired twice.

My 2024 BMW X5 50e has stranded me three times now due to "Drivetrain Malfunction". Each time my safety has been at extreme risk due to driving on busy streets and interstate in Atlanta. Fortunately, today I had not made it to the interstate or I would have been in a the worst possible situation with my X5 locking down and shutting off with no notice. Given my long commute, I can no longer take the risk of driving the X5 50e. BMW NA should be held responsible and no one's safety should be at risk that BMW has put us in given this problem seems to be a common occurrence.

The bell housing of the car is currently emitting a whistling / rusty tricycle sound at low RPMS (1500-2200 rpms / 30 miles per hour or under). I have had the car in for service. During the last visit, BMW kept it for 30 days and only compared it to the sound of other cars. In being able to duplicate the sound, they stated that the sound is normal. BMW reached its conclusion without conducting any physical inspection of the bell housing and its related components to see why the parts are making the noise. They have no idea as to why the car is generating the noise. My shop foreman wrote the following to my advisor to share with me: "..I narrowed down the noise. Noise is possibly mechanical and coming from bell housing area. Created Tsara case and provided information to BMW and video to see what are the next steps we are going to be taking. I would like to remove the transmission and inspect toque converter and flywheel but need there authorization." But again, because BMW was able to duplicate the noise in other cars, they will not authorize any work to determine the true nature of the sound. In doing so, they cannot, in my opinion, say whether this is a safety issue or not. Imagine traveling at a high speed on the freeway and the power train fails! My foreman remains committed to determining the root cause of the problem. As this is the first year with the hybrid engine, BMW should be required to determine the true nature of the sound and determine if it is a safety concern. A physical inspection of the components is a must!

Four Check Engine lights and a Drivetrain Malfunction related to the high voltage hybrid system including problems with the battery cooling, continuing to charge instead of stopping at 100%, and high voltage faults. Coolant smell in the ventilation system in the cabin as well as hot electrical smell after charging and from the regenerative system on a long descent in the mountains. Has been happening multiple times and taken to the dealer multiple times over the past 10 months. The dealer has only replaced a part one time (the evaporative container), but typically just resets the system and sends it home. I have reported this to BMW NA and asked for a buyback, but so far it has been denied.

I purchased a new BMW x5 50e in September 2023. It currently has 1601 miles. As I was getting onto the freeway onramp on 3/7/24, I felt the SUV losing power and got an error message (actually 2). The first message indicated the "High-voltage system," telling me I could continue driving but should have the system checked. The second message stated a "Drive train malfunction" and indicated roadside assistance was not needed. The error messages provided incorrect guidance as I lost all power to drive the SUV. I could drift the SUV over to the shoulder of the onramp. Fortunately, I had not fully gotten onto the freeway, or I could have been hit when the SUV lost power. The car had no power and would not drive. There was no warning of malfunction prior to the sudden loss of power and the simultaneous appearance of the warning message - one followed by another. I tried restarting the SUV, but it would immediately shift back to Park. It was not drivable, and I had to have it towed by AAA to the dealership. The malfunction has the potential to result in a catastrophic outcome. Upon researching the issue online, I found there are several other BMW owners with the same issue; some have been unable to have the problem fixed. The BMW dealer was not yet able to determine the underlying problems and deny this is a known issue (although it is). They told me they have contacted BMW NA and are waiting to hear back. I was told they did not have a loaner and they had done me a favor by putting my car ahead of others. They will not return my calls (only text messages) and cannot give me information about the problem or timeframe I will go without a car. I read others had similar issues and must have their car repurchased by BMW NA. This seems to be a problem BMW is aware of. I do not know if I can ever feel safe in this SUV - there will always be the concern of the SUV running out of power on the freeway or in isolated areas.

Powertrain high voltage error. Check engine light. The car has been to the dealership twice.

2nd time receiving a DriveTrain and High Voltage warning.

Drivetrain malfunction error that disabled the vehicle. Software update done by dealer, but dealer is unsure if that is the repair. Many other owners of the 50e are having issues. All are related to the high voltage battery system. Car will not operate when error occurs. BMW has refused to publish a TSB.

We are 900 miles from home driving on the interstate, and received an error message saying that there was a drive train malfunction and we had to stop the car immediately. We were in the middle of nowhere, but able to pull over and turn the car off, and contacted roadside assistance. We were unable to start the car again. We were told there was a major malfunction of the drive train power supply and we could not operate the vehicle until it had been inspected at a service center 2 hours away. This vehicle is brand new with less than 2000 miles on it, and this is the second issue we have encountered with it. We had another sensor error pop up 3 days after purchase, and had to take this car into the dealership for 10 days. We have actually been driving this car for less than 2 weeks. This is completely unacceptable and dangerous. The car is unsafe to drive and we have no way of getting back to our home state. Roadside assistance has been unable to locate a tow truck to take us to the nearest town, and we are still sitting on the side of a dark road.