2009 Bmw X5 Steering Problems
6 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (6)
Your car is backfiring and stalling while driving due to a defective PCV crankcase valve that's causing excessive pressure inside the engine. This pressure has blown out a gasket, creating an oil leak that dripped onto the serpentine and AC belts, causing them to slip off and your power steering to lock up while you were driving. You're also hearing a whistling noise from the engine. The fix will likely involve replacing the PCV valve, blown gasket, leaking seals, and serpentine/AC belts.
Parts you may need:
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AFTER SITTING IDLE IN THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES I DECIDED TO DRIVE OFF, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO LOCK AND A BURNING SMELL CAME FROM THE AC, AFTER TURNING OFF THE AC THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED NORMAL BUT WHEN TURNING IT BACK ON THE SMELL CAME AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED.
THE ENGINE IDLER PULLEY BOLT BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE IOST ALL POWER STEERING. ALTERNATOR WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH WARNING MESSAGE "CHARGING MALFUNCTION". THE BOLT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACE IN 2012.
VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO RECALL 12V550000 DUE TO IDLER PULLEY BOLT WHICH CAN BREAK, CAUSING ACCESSORY DRIVE BET TO DISLODGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, ETC. THIS VEHICLE'S IDLER PULLEY AND BOLT WERE REPLACED AS PART OF THE RECALL 2.5 YEARS AND 35,000 MILES AGO, BUT EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME FAILURE, AGAIN, LAST MONTH. BMW USA AND THE LOCAL DEALER WERE CONTACTED, BOTH REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE, STATING THAT THE REPAIR IS ONLY VALID FOR TWO YEARS. THE NEW IDLER PULLEY BOLT THAT WAS INSTALLED SHEARED OFF AT ITS MOUNTING POINT, JUST AS THE ORIGINAL BOLT THAT WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL DID. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME FAILURE AS THE ORIGINAL - WORSE, AS THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN UNDER 3 YEARS AND 40,000 MILES, IT APPEARS THAT THE "FIX" IS WORSE AND MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE ORIGINALLY RECALLED PART. IN MY VEHICLE, THE PULLEY BOLT SNAPPED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET, CAUSING A "BANG" NOISE AND THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING.
POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK WHEN DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X5 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN COMPLETING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE STEERING BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.*TR