2004 Bmw X5 — Known Issues & Recalls

Your car started smoking from underneath and from the air vents while driving with the air conditioning on. The smoke turned into a fire, requiring the fire department to extinguish it. The owner suspects this may be related to a blower motor issue, similar to recalls issued for 2001-2003 model years, though recalls for this vehicle were verified as current.

Water is leaking into your X5's rear trunk area during rain, pooling around the radio amplifier and other electrical components. Your radio and speakers are producing crackling sounds and won't work properly, even when the ignition is off. You've disconnected the battery to prevent further damage. The fix will involve finding and sealing the leak source, then drying out and potentially replacing the water-damaged electrical components.

Your BMW X5 was struck on the driver's side while traveling at 15 mph, but the airbags failed to deploy during the collision. You sustained injuries to your right shoulder, back, and neck that required medical attention, and the vehicle was destroyed. The airbags should have inflated to protect you during this side-impact crash.

You were in a crash at 30 mph when another vehicle ran a red light and hit your X5. Your airbags failed to deploy during the collision, and you sustained injuries to your neck and back that required medical treatment. The vehicle was totaled. The airbag system should have activated to help protect you in this type of crash.

Your car won't start or crank when you turn the key, and you're seeing an SOS light on the dashboard. The battery is draining even when the car is off. This suggests an electrical system problem that's preventing normal starting and draining your battery.

You noticed a burnt mark on your front passenger seat about three weeks ago. When you turned on the seat heater this morning, smoke and a burning smell came from that spot. It appears the heating element in the seat is malfunctioning and caused the burn mark. The seat heater element will likely need to be replaced or the entire seat may need repair.

You noticed a burning smell inside your car while driving and discovered a hole burned into the driver's seat—your jacket was also burned. The dealer found that the seat heater malfunctioned and its heating elements failed. The fix will require replacing the faulty seat heater assembly.

Your driver's seat heater burned through the seat cushion, creating a hole. You felt intense heat coming through the seat before the damage was discovered. The seat will need to be replaced to fix this issue.

Your front passenger seat belt isn't functioning properly. This is a safety concern that should be inspected and repaired promptly to ensure the passenger is properly restrained in case of an accident.

While driving at 55 mph on the freeway, your engine suddenly shut down and the vehicle jerked severely. A "Fail Safe" warning appeared on your dashboard, and you had to pull over to the shoulder. The dealership diagnosed that your engine and valve pump need to be replaced. Repairing this issue will require a complete engine replacement and valve pump installation.

Your passenger seat airbag warning light has been on since you bought the vehicle, and you believe it's caused by a faulty seat occupancy sensor. You're concerned that the airbag may not deploy in a crash if your wife is sitting in that seat, and you've checked that your vehicle either wasn't included in the recall or the recall has expired. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the seat occupancy sensor mat under the passenger seat.

Your car jumps or jerks when you start the engine and has transmission problems where it doesn't shift smoothly while driving. The car continues to jump between gears and speeds don't respond properly. You've been in at least one accident because of this jumping behavior and are concerned about safety. The transmission and engine control system may need diagnostic testing and repair to identify why the car is lurching unexpectedly.

The protective insulation covering wires in your lighting system has deteriorated and is flaking off, exposing bare copper wires that are short-circuiting and causing your headlights to stop working. This deterioration affects 5 separate lighting components and creates a potential fire hazard since bare wires can overheat. The fix will likely involve replacing the damaged wiring harness and possibly the affected lighting components.

The wiring in your headlight assembly has deteriorated and is rotting, exposing bare wires that could potentially cause an electrical fire. After the dealer wrapped the wires with electrical tape for over $500, your high beam failed on the passenger side just 3 months later, and the dealer quoted $2,599 to replace it. The fix will likely involve replacing the corroded wiring harness and headlight assembly components.

Your engine revs unpredictably when the car is parked in neutral or park. While driving, the engine speeds up on its own and RPMs climb without you pressing the gas pedal. At traffic lights or in heavy traffic, your car lurches forward even though you're applying the brakes. This likely involves diagnosing the fuel injection system, idle control valve, or throttle body to stop the unwanted acceleration.

Your steering wheel feels unusually tight and stiff, making it difficult to turn and maneuver your car. This could indicate an issue with your power steering system or related components that need inspection and service.

Your passenger side seat belt warning light and airbag warning light stay on continuously. This could indicate a problem with the seat belt sensor, airbag system, or their electrical connections. You should have a diagnostic scan performed to identify which component is triggering the warnings, as the airbag system requires proper function for safety.

Your rear tires wore down to almost bald after only 10,384 miles, despite being new Bridgestone run-flat tires installed in June 2017. You experienced slipping and sliding sensations while driving, even in dry conditions. The front tires appear to have worn much more slowly than the rear tires. The issue likely involves either a suspension or alignment problem causing uneven tire wear, or a defect with the rear tires themselves, which may require tire replacement and a wheel alignment check.

Your engine stalled unexpectedly when you tried to start your vehicle, and warning lights for oil service and battery appeared on your dashboard. The engine didn't start again after stalling. This could indicate a battery, electrical, or engine issue that needs diagnosis. A mechanic will need to test your battery, check the electrical connections, and scan the engine computer to identify the root cause.

While driving at 35 mph, your X5 suddenly made a loud noise from the front end and shook violently without any warning. A mechanic diagnosed that the driveshaft unit in the powertrain needed to be replaced. BMW determined your vehicle wasn't covered under a recall and wouldn't repair it. Replacing the driveshaft unit will be necessary to restore normal operation.