2004 Bmw X5 Transmission Problems

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.

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.

THE BMW X5 IS VERY POORLY MADE AND BMW DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ANY ISSUES OR CARE. MY 2004 BMW X5 HAS THE KNOWN JERKING AT LOW SPEEDS,TURNS WHICH FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE [XXX] END. I ALSO WAS GOING TO WORK AND LOST ALL MY COOLANT, THE WATER PUMP AND COOLANT PIPE NEED REPLACED/REPAIRED WHICH IS NOT A CHEAP JOB..IT IS MORE THAN THE VALUE/COST OF THIS VEHICLE(IF DONE AT A BMW DEALER). THESE ISSUES ARE KNOWN AND VERY COMMON. BMW SHOULD ISSUE RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS OR GIVE ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIRS INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY MAKING EXCUSES AND GIVING REASONS ON WHY THEY WILL NOT HELP! I HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO ANYTHING I CAN TO GET ASSISTANCE FOR MY REPAIRS AND HOPEFULLY MANY OTHERS. BMW DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR BUYERS, UNLESS IT IS A NEW VEHICLE AND YOU DO ALL YOUR DEALINGS WITH A BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH I FEEL IS UNFAIR,CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE ANY GOOD MECHANIC INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TRAVEL TO AND/OR PAY BMW OUTRAGEOUS FEES FOR REPAIRS. IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE THESE ISSUES AND RUN OUT OF COOLANT(ANYWHERE ANYWAY FROM HOME) OR TO CONSTANTLY HAVE THE MASSIVE JERK WITH THE TRANSMISSION. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE RECALLS AND STAND BEHIND THE TRANNY,COOLANT PIPE,AND WATER PUMP ISSUES AND FAILURES. THE BMW IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY, THEY ARE MADE POORLY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, AND HAVE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. BMW SAYS THE "INTERNET AND PEOPLE SAY ALOT OF THINGS BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN ITS A PROBLEM" AND AS I SAID TO THEM...WHEN MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES THEN YES, IT IS A REAL PROBLEM!!!! IT IS NOT LIKE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE OR RECALLS ON MINOR OR NORMAL REPAIRS AND MAINTENENCE!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,300. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE'S GEAR DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO DISPLAY WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE GEAR CIRCUIT RANGE FAILED AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,160.

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS PARKING; 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, WHEN I AM PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE HAS LUNGED FORWARD. 2 OF THOSE 4 TIMES, I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD SHIFTED FROM REVERSE, TO DRIVE, AND JUST TAKEN MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. THE DEALER HAS CONTINUED TO SAY THAT THINGS ARE OK AND NORMAL. THEY ARE NOT NORMAL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE OTHER SHIFTING ISSUES BELOW: --35MPH (5TH TO 6TH HESITATION) 5-6 HARD SHIFT (SPORT MODE GOING 45-55 MPH) SLOW TO ENGAGE REVERSE -- GEAR SHIFTING IN GENERAL IS JUST SLOPPY (THE LOANER THAT THE DEALER PROVIDED, SHIFTED GREAT). *TR

1. DID A 3 POINT TURN AND THEN PULLED ONTO A 45 MPH ROAD WAY 2. FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP AND I SKIDDED TO A STOP, EVEN AFTER I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. 3. FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE, WAS REPLACE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM 4. FORTUNATELY THE PERSON FOLLOWING ME WAS NOT TAILGATING SO NO ACCIDENT. *TR

MY BMX 5 (2004) STALLS OCCASIONALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. THE SERVICE CENTER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE. I'M USUALLY EXITING A PARKING LOT OR SCHOOL WHEN IT OCCURS AND ESTIMATED SPEED IS BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH. THERE ARE NO SENSORS OR WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE OR AFTER THE INCIDENT AND A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER REVEALED NO SENSORS OR INDICATORS ACTIVATED. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS FOR BMW X 5 2004 MODELS THAT WERE RELATED TO STALLING BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I'M CONCERNED THE PROBLEM WILL RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR

HAD MY CAR 2004 545I (78,250 MILES) SERVICED AT BMW DEALERSHIP IN LONG ISLAND FOR A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING AT FLUID. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AND TEST DROVE BEFORE I PICKED IT UP BUT ALSO DENOTED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ATTRIBUTED TO VACUUM PUMP/VANOS SEALS WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AS I WAS DRIVING IT BACK TO NJ FROM LONG ISLAND DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A TRANSMISSION 'KICK/JERK/SURGE' AS CAR DECELERATED SEVERAL TIMES. DROVE THE CAR TO THE MARKET ON SUNDAY (7/25/2010) AND ON THE WAY BACK WARNING ENGINE MALFUNCTION STATING 'ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT'. EMAILED THE BMW SA IN LONG ISLAND THAT REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PAN/AT FLUID AND HE FELT IT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO OIL LEAK AND BAD VACUUM PUMP/SEALS AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT ASAP. MY LOCAL BMW SA IN NJ JUST EMAILED ME TODAY (7/28/2010) STATING: "LOOKS LIKE THE TRANS IS BAD WAITING FOR BMWNA TO GET BACK TO US WE SENT THEM ALL THE FAULTS SORRY FOR THE BAD NEWS" REPORTS OF THESE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION 'SURGE' IS NOT ISOLATED TO 2004 545I MODEL BUT TO MANY 5-SERIES UP TO 2008 AS NOTED IN THE FOLLOWING FORUM: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=401524 THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOT ON A LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT ON A CORPORATE, WITH GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, LEVEL AS IT POSES SERIOUS RISKS TO ALL DRIVERS. *TR

1. I IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 BMW 545I WHICH I HAVE. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE, WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN BELOW (IN SECTION 2 AS REQUESTED), ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I FOUND THAT IN SOME INSTANCES, BMW CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE, HOWEVER IN MANY INSTANCES, THEY DID NOT (IN SECTION 3, AS REQUESTED). 2. "THE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR & THEN BETWEEN 35-40MPH AT A VERY LOW 1200RPM OR SO I WOULD GET THE SURGING OR SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS A VERY LIGHT REPETITIVE HESITATION. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE ELECTRONICS WERE TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER IT SHOULD STAY IN 5TH OR SHIFT BACK TO 4TH BECAUSE OF LOW RPM'S. IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH AN EXTREMELY LIGHT ACCELERATOR PRESSURE. IF YOU GAVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS IT WOULD GO AWAY. A COUPLE TIMES I'D GET A REALLY HARSH SURGE ALMOST LIKE THE "SLAM". THE MANNER THAT THE CAR BEHAVES CAN REALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH THE SURGE IN THE TRANSMISSION, & THE DISTRACTION THAT IT CAUSES TO THE DRIVER. IT HAS BECOME A DISTRACTION TO ME, BEING THE DRIVER, & ALSO NOTICED BY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN THEY FEEL THE CAR SURGE, & THEIR IS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP, & DESCRIBED THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR (REPRESENTATIVE) STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, AS THEY HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AS WELL. HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO DO A SOFTWARE UPGRADE, OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK, & WAS TOLD THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS UPGRADED, & TO TAKE THE VEHICLE AND SEE HOW IT DROVE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, & THE ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. THE REPAIR INVOICE SAYS THE SOFTWARE WAS NOT UPDATED. IT ALREADY HAD THE LATEST VERSION. I TOOK THE CAR BACK, AND THEY STATED THE OPERATION OF THE CAR IS NORMAL. IT IS NOT NORMAL. YOU MAY REFERENCE HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=401524 FOR OTHER WHO HAVE HAD THE ISSUE. THE MECHATRONICS UNIT WAS REPLACED ON SOME, AND ALWAYS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN TAKING OFF FROM AN ALMOST STOPPED POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD VIOLENTLY. THIS HAS LAUNCHED ME INTO INTERSECTIONS AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST REAR-END SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS OF DAILY DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AT A COST TO ME(VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY) EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED; AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. ADDITIONALLY, PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN REGARDS TO A BURNING ODOR AND A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,100.

CAR SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY LUNGES FORWARD FROM A STOP, SLOW SPEEDS OR WHEN AT LOW RPMS. IT OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY AND IT FEELS AS IF BEING REAR ENDED.

I OWN A 2004 BMW X5, I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM SAM SWOPE BMW IN LOUISVILLE KY # 502-499-5080 THE CAR WAS CERTIFIED AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH 37,000 MILES ON IT. I ALSO PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRANTY AS WELL. MY COMPLAINT IS THE TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNSAFE, AT TIMES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP OR ROLL IT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY I HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS BMW. THE FIRST TIME IT DID IT THE DEALER SAID THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED I PAID OVER $150.00 TO HAVE THIS DONE THEY SAID IT WOULD FIX IT. FOR AWHILE I THOUGHT IT HAD TAKEN CARE OF IT BUT SEVERAL MONTHS LATER IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. AFTER MORE COMPLAINTS TO BMW DEALER THEY DID ANOTHER SOFTWARE UPDATE AND CHARGED ME AGAIN. THIS TIME IT SEEMED LIKE THEY RESTARTED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR. BMW CLAIMS THAT IT IS NOT SHOWING ANY MALFUNCTIONS IN THE COMPUTER THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WHY DO THEY KEEP SAYING I NEED TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE AND KEEP CHARGING ME FOR THIS, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOES THIS IT ALL MOST LIKE SOME HAS HIT YOU FROM THE REAR. THE CAR HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS CONTINUED TO THIS, I HAVE ACTUALLY ALTERED THE WAY I TAKE OFF FROM A STAND STILL TO AVOIDING THIS FROM HAPPENING. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE IF YOU LOOK ON LINE AT EDMUNDS CARS. *TR

DEAR SIR OR MADAM- PLEASE SEE THE EMAIL BELOW WHICH I SENT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REGARDING RECURRING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH OUR X5. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO GET BMW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. ___________________ DEAR SIR OR MADAM- PLEASE LET THIS EMAIL SERVE AS A FORMAL COMPLAINT FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 2004 X5 4.4. I HAVE LOST BOTH MY PATIENCE AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR X5 AND FEEL THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN (2 1/2 AND 16 MONTHS) IS AT RISK AS THIS IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE THEY ARE TRANSPORTED IN. ALL OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS EXPERIENCE A HEAD JERKING WHICH IN ITSELF IS UNSAFE. IN REVIEWING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS REGARDING THE 2004 X5 4.4 TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT BMW IS FULLY AWARE OF AND HAS FAILED TO FIX. OUR X5 HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS "SLIPPING" AND IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED EACH TIME IT SLIPS. THE X5 HAS BEEN IN TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS AT STERLING BMW AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. STERLING HAS REPROGRAMMED THE DME AND REBUILT IT WITH NO SUCCESS. IT IS GOING IN FOR A THIRD TIME TODAY FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND I EXPECT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. ACCORDING TO EVERYTHING I HAVE READ, THE X5 NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY, WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND WE WILL EXERCISE OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW. I WILL ALSO BE NOTIFYING THE NHTSA TODAY AND FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THEM OVER THIS ISSUE AS THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. STERLING BMW HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO DEAL WITH AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA NEEDS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE ARE NOT NEW TO THE BMW FAMILY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. SINCERELY, [NAME REMOVED] MANAGING DIRECTOR DEUTSCHE BANK. *NM FSB

TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN WHILE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES SAYING TRANSMISSION HAS SHUT DOWN. *AK