bmw 5-series Problems

bmw 5-series 2011 Complaints

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

i bought a 2011 bmw 535i 3 weeks ago. upon driving on local streets, the car stopped abruptly from 30mph to 0mph. my car has under 2000 miles on it. stuck in the middle of an intersection, with "fuel pump malfunction", and "engine malfunction" on the onboard dash. i hit my head on the steering wheel when this occurred. i was also carrying a 5 gallon square container of water that was capped and sealed in the trunk. during the abrupt stop of the car, about 1/2 a gallon of water spilled into the trunk. after being towed to shelly bmw and talking to them the next day, they said it was my fault and that the water shorted out the components in the trunk. #1. the water spilled into the trunk after the car abruptly stopped. #2. i was almost rear-ended by the cars behind me when the car went from 30mph to 0mph. the car did not stall and slowly come to a stop....it basically locked up and stopped....causing me to hit my head on the steering wheel. shelly bmw is now telling me that i have to pay $2600 to repair/replace the modules that are damaged. #3. this incident occurred on july 26, 2010. #4. irvine police department was dispatched to the site to make sure that i was not hit from other cars as i sat in the middle of an intersection for 1.5 hours waiting for a tow truck. i am considering seeking legal advice. this issue is also filed with bmw north america in which i am still waiting for them to contact me.

Reported in: FOUNTAIN VALLEY CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C5XBC

STEERING

ever since i've owned this vehicle, i noticed it pulls to the right. it constantly pulls to the right and the dealer has no fix yet.

Reported in: LAS VEGAS NV || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C51BC

STEERING

i purchased my 2011 bmw 535i on 06/23/10. the car had less than 1 mile on the odometer. as i pulled off the dealer?s lot, i noticed that the car had a hard pull to the right. the service department took it in the next day to fix it. their equipment showed that the vehicle was within alignment specifications, but went ahead and did an alignment anyway (actually 4 of them) in an effort to resolve the problem. they attempted another solutions (tire swaps, etc.), but they were unable to fix the problem. the contacted bmw north america and spoke with technical representatives there who confirmed that the problem was a known issue with the electric steering that was new to this model but that they had "no fix at this time". i met with a regional bmw tech rep at my dealership almost a month later. he told me bmw was working feverishly to get the problem resolved - that they considered it a safety issue and a number one priority. at the time, it was believed that a software fix would be ready in 10-14 days. it's almost been a month now. i can tell you, it is scary to drive this car. just from doing some reading and exchanging information in bmw owner forums, there are a multitude of these cars out there with this problem. bmw isn't talking direct to the consumers about this or putting out any information at all. i just want it fixed and safe - it's been almost 3 months since the car was delivered to me and released for sale to the north american market.

Reported in: RICHMOND TX || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C56BC

STEERING

tl*the contact owns a 2011 bmw 535i. while driving approximately 60 mph the vehicle began pulling to the right. he stated that he had to steer to the left in order to keep the vehicle straight. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that they were aware of the problem. the dealer also advised him that the manufacturer told them that it was not a alignment problem or a tire problem but a software problem. the dealer stated that there was nothing they could do until the manufacturer was able to find a remedy for the failure. the failure was constant. the failure mileage was 100 and the current mileage was 700.

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C5XBC

STEERING

2011 bmw 535i has a tendency to drift to the right when being driven.

Reported in: PARRISH FL || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C54BC

STEERING

Reported in: RANCHO CUCAMONGA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C54BC

STEERING

brand new 2011 bmw 550i, car pulls hard to the right, car is difficult to control at high speeds, problem is constant, cars honk at me sometimes when driving next to me because the car swerves back and forth uncontrollably. took to bmw and they confirmed problem but said they have no fix. they told me to keep driving the car until they figure out how to fix it. it is the only car i have and is a danger to the road! this car should not be driven but bmw will not take it back so i am stuck driving this dangerous car on the road risking my life and others at bmw expense.

Reported in: RANCHO CUCAMONGA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C54BC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

the first time it happened, my wife drove our 2011 bmw 535i to work and the fuel gauge was reading half tank. it's only approx. 20 miles to work round trip to our house but when she came back home the fuel gauge was almost empty and flashing warning light fuel refill is showing. i drove the car for the past few days and i noticed that the fuel gauge indicator seemed to be staying all the time at half tank reading. i drove it this morning to our family physician and to the mall and i still noticed the fuel gauge indicator is not moving and was reading half tank. when i went to the local grocery store to buy bottled water, i decided to leave the car idle and the engine on. when i drove it again, that's when i noticed the fuel gauge needle moved slowly but steadily from half tank reading to almost 1/4 tank. then my wife drove the same vehicle again to work with the fuel gauge reading 1/4 tank. 10 minutes later she called back by phone because flashing warning lights was showing that the car needs to refueled and she said the fuel gauge is reading almost empty.

Reported in: FRESNO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C58BC

STEERING

car pulls to the right. does not steer linear. it is hard to determine where the car is going with this pull. it drives like this all the time. it is especially difficult in wet weather. it has been like this since i purchased it new. the dealer has tried rotating tires and rotating strut towers, but no resolve. the dealer told me it's a steering software problem in which they have no fix for.

Reported in: BROOMFIELD CO || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C59BC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i purchased 2011 model bmw 535i in august 2010. there are 3 cigarette lighter power outlets inside the car and electricity is supplying all the time regardless of whether vehicle is being locked or not. if i use accessories like gps, charger, coffer warmer etc. and left in the locked vehicle under summer sun could really be a fire hazard. i have contacted to bmw customer relations and local service asking to rewire to stop power supply while engine is stopped or/and vehicle is locked but they refused to fix the problem. i have another complaint regarding the steering like other owners which is that vehicle is pulling to the right all the time at all speed. i'd like to request nhtsa to order bmw to fix those problems asap as a recall!

Reported in: MACOMB IL || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C55BC

STEERING

Reported in: MACOMB IL || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C55BC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

i took delivery of a new 2011 535i on 7/11/10. the car was built on 6/1/10. on 9/5/10 (odometer reading less than 2000 miles), i was driving on local streets at approximately 30 mph when the car reported an engine malfunction error and the car shutdown. i pushed the gas pedal and there was no response and steering locked up. the car was pushed to the side of the road and then towed to the bmw dealership. initial analysis from the bmw dealership was that the error recorded (fault stored for valvetronic system. deviation too great. frequency 1 logistics 38.) did not point to a specific component failure. the error did indicate that a certain software level should be loaded in the car, but the bmw dealership said i already had the correct software level loaded. they reloaded the software level anyway. the bmw dealership kept the car for a few days of testing and driving, but could not recreate the problem. after 3 days, the bmw dealership said that they noticed that i actually did not originally have the latest software patch level installed in my car. so, the only fix provided by bmw for my engine malfunction and shutdown was loading a new software patch level (program i level new f010-10-06-512), the previous software level loaded in my car at the plant was program i level plant f010-10-06-511. it should be noted, while the car was at the bmw dealership, they did install the fix for the fuel tank sensor recall (bulletin 121410). but, the fuel tank sensor problem was not related to the engine malfunction problem i experienced, because i had an actual half tank of fuel in the car at the time of my engine failure.

Reported in: PASADENA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C58BC

EQUIPMENT

2011 bmw 335i convertible. navigation system constantly almost always takes you to the wrong place. this is very dangerous in that it can take me to very dangerous and deadly places. bmw should be made to make the navigation system work accurately or replace the system with one that works. it fails to find locations which are even in their own provided "points of interest"!!! this navigation system is too dangerous for us to use. we don't want to risk our lives in miami, fl and all other unknown places which you may enter into the equipment. after all that is what the navigation system is for - to find places you don't know where they are!! i have contacted my miami dealer (south bmw motors) and ig burton bmw dealer in milford, de. ig burton said they fixed it but it was not fixed and i notified them immediately. neither dealer cares about this problem, it seems. thank you for making bmw correct this dangerous situation with their equipment.

Reported in: BETHANY BEACH DE || Crash: N || VIN #: WBADX7C51BE

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl*the contact owns a 2011 bmw 528i. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate whenever he attempted to slow down or immediately after the accelerator pedal was engaged. the dealer was informed about the failure and stated that it was normal; however, shifting into sport mode would prevent the failure from occurring. the failure occurred every time the vehicle was driven. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 500 and the current mileage was 1575.

Reported in: CAMERILLO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C55BC

STEERING

vehicle ran off of right edge of road due to steering pulling to the right. right wheels/tires suffered $2400 damage. tires/wheels replace, alignment done and car still pulls to the right. this is a defect from bmw - numerous us owners are experiencing problems with steering on 2011 bmw 5 series cars (see other nhtsa reports).

Reported in: STERLING VA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C55BC

SUSPENSION:FRONT

tl*the contact owns a 2011 bmw 550i. while driving approximately 40 mph, the contact heard a rattling noise coming from the passenger side front end of the vehicle. the steering wheel began to vibrate. the failure occurred whenever encountering a slight imperfection in the road. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing where they were unable to determine the cause of the front end suspension failure. the technician test drove a similar model year vehicle which exhibited the identical failure. the vehicle was at the dealer for a month and remained there for further investigation. the failure mileage was 1,100.

Reported in: STONEHAM MA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C56BC

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw 550i. the contact stated that shortly after purchasing the vehicle and driving at various speeds he noticed that the vehicle would pull to the right abnormally. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer in which they inspected the vehicle and made repairs by performing an alignment and other unknown repairs. the failure persisted. in addition, the steering wheel was exhibiting an abnormal grinding when turning in either direction. he then took the vehicle back into the dealer and they replaced the front torsion bar but to no avail. the manufacturer was contacted and they informed the contact that if he was unsatisfied with the vehicle then he should turn it back in to the dealer. the failure mileage was approximately 50.

Reported in: LOS ANGELOS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C50BC

STEERING

my 2011 bmw 528i pulled hard to the right the day i drove it off the dealer's lot. the car remains in the dealer's shop. it has had two wheel alignments and a software download. i have driven it after the work was performed and it continues to want to pull right. the vehicle has 375 miles on it.

Reported in: NORTH OAKS MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

bmw 2011 535i - vehicle pulls to right immediately after letting hand of steering wheel. i purchased the vehicle on 12/31/2011 new and it has been in the shop since 1/2/11. it was released to me today with the problem not being fixed. issue is a safety issue as it can pull vehicle into lane with out driver turning wheel.

Reported in: FOWLER CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C56BC

STEERING

my 2011 bmw 550i sedan has had steering wheel grinding sensations and loud noises when i turn the wheel at low speeds. sometimes there is a "thud" coming from the steering component also. bmw states there are no fixes for this and that it is not a safety issue. this is indeed a safety issue since the steering wheel and the steering wheel area indeed has a problem. the service dealerships is stating it is a valve block problem which has a current backorder of 2 weeks. however, people who have replaced the valve block is still having the same steering wheel problems with their vehicles. i have included a link to a bmw forum that has about 1 in 3 owners experiencing this problem- http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495019&page=18 if there is a steering wheel failure at higher speeds, it can potentially lead to huge catastrophies.

Reported in: IRVINE CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C53BC

SUSPENSION:FRONT

the vehicle makes a grinding noise at low speeds on right turns. this happens both in cold and warm weather and is heard about 80-90% of the time. i took the car back to the dealer to assess the issue, however they were unable to reproduce the noise or identify any problems.

Reported in: ST. LOUIS MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i have a new bmw 550i with sport package and 19" wheels. this car is trying to kill me. the car steers wherever it wants to. i have had it to the dealer since day one and they refuse to acknowledge any problem. they have changed the software and the steering column to appease me, but to no avail. this car will pull you toward the guard rail and only a frantic, panic, save my life move can keep the car from crashing. i fear for my life when i drive this car. i have never and i repeat never driven such a horrible car.maybe when i a am killed in this car bmw will pay for my funeral. this is the biggest cover up in the history of cars. they have lack of conscience that is inconceivable that they are torturing new owners of this car who paid good if not blood money to own one and now desperately want help to fix or get rid of this car. i want out. i am talking to lawyers and maybe this is the only language bmw understands. class action suit seems logical. i am contacting media and anyone else i can.i tried to trade this car in at several dealers. both of these dealers sent me a letter stating that they would not take my car in trade after test driving it. they said it was defective and unsafe. they want no part of it. in all of my life i have never heard of anything like this. a new car costing 75k and they won't take it in trade with 6000 miles. never have i heard of this. so, good luck with your piece of crap f10 550i and i hope you live through it.

Reported in: MADISON WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

side wall bubbles on goodyear eagle ls2 run on flats supplied with 2011 bmw 550xi sport package when driving over small potholes or road imperfections

Reported in: NEW CITY NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C54BC

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

i bought a 2011 bmw 535i on november 30, 2010. on december 4, 2010, i experienced car trouble. the engine malfunction, and reduce power warning lights came on. the car shutdown completely, but not before shaking very sharply. this all occurred in about 15 seconds, while i was driving. bmw response was "safe mode". on december 9, 2010 the vehicle was being repaired again for the same issues, they replaced a fuel sensor. on december 30, 2010, the car was being serviced again, they replaced the high and low fuel pumps. after being driven home by the service manger of bmw just to insure that the car was fixed, it broke down again on him on december 31, 2010. they replaced the low pressure fuel pump again, the second time in two days. they returned the vehicle to me on january 13, 2011. on march 17, 2010 the vehicle was being serviced again for long crank time, and for not start sometimes at all. i am also a previous owner of recalled 335, which i traded for this vehicle. out of the five times that this vehicle has been service, two of those times it broke down while in traffic coming to a complete stop, once while on a freeway. this vehicle is dangerous. i would ask that the nhtsa take this matter seriously. there are many more complaints like this on bimmerfest.com, and also the internet. bmw will not resolve this issue. they are playing with my family's life, other bmw owners, and other motorist that occupy the roads with bmw customers. this vehicle is a hazard. this problem has been occurring for almost five years now. my opinion as a multiple bmw owner is that bmw is operating with malice at this point. please you all are our only hope!

Reported in: MAUMELLE AR || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C54BC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: MAUMELLE AR || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C54BC

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

was parking 2011 bmw 550 automatic.car suddenly took off and hit very hard on stone wall.all airbags deployed including lower passenger windows.car electric system failed.lots of damage to car. also taken car to dealer before due to pullingof car on right while drivig and on applying brakes.

Reported in: DULUTH GA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C56BC

POWER TRAIN

brand new 2011 bmw 528i is pulling to the right and having hesitation and jerkiness issues.

Reported in: DEL MAR CA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C50BC

STEERING

two safety issues with my 2011 bmw 535i: 1- steering: the steering wheel pulls to the right. it also cannot be controlled if any wind is blowing. i have to slow down just to keep it centered. 2- transmission: the throttle is initially non-responsive from stop or low speeds, then suddenly it jerks to the front, almost hitting the car infront of me.

Reported in: RIYADH 00 || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Reported in: RIYADH 00 || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

driving my commute, that i previously had traveled on low profile tires in my previous bmw for 3 years without incident, i got a bubbled sidewall on my brand new goodyear run flat tire. upon doing some research i found out these bmw oem tires were failing all over the us. it seems the tires were only spec'd on the sport package with the all wheel drive option. the tires are unavailable do to i assume the large amount of failures. bmw put a size on the car that in the oem spec doesn't exist by any other tire manufacture. the fix was to give me 2 summer tread tires until the oem tires were available. although bmw never recommends mixing summer and all season rubber.

Reported in: YORKTOWN HGTS NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C58BC

TIRES

goodyear ls2 run flat tire developed a bubble after only 170 miles.

Reported in: JERICHO NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C54BC

TIRES

blister in tire. this is one of four blisters.

Reported in: TRUMBULL CT || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU7C59BC

TIRES

replaced 3 tires of bmw 19inch rft. bubbles on all tires. 6k miles. we need a recall here before injury occurs.

Reported in: MELVILLE NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

bmw goodyear issues run-flat tires installed on 5 series cars are defective. the tires cause bubbles in the side wall even over minor bumps. replacement is required to avoid serious injury. tires are goodyear ls2 245/40/19.

Reported in: STAMFORD CT || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C56BC

TIRES

major issues with a specific tire. new 5 series from bmw, if get 19" wheels come with substandard tires - goodyear eagle ls2 run flats. they bubble and fail at an alarmingly high rate. lost one tire within a month of purchase. got rid of them before they could cause me any more problems.

Reported in: NB 00 || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

drove car for only 350 miles from new. left front tire developed sidewall blister. no significant impact. noticed damage after returning home from short trip.

Reported in: TUXEDO PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i purchased my 2011 550i in january of 2011. two weeks after actually getting the car on the road i noticed the vehicle veers to the right. i took the car back in and the dealership stated they performed an alignment. car still pulls to the right in addition to now i have a loud whining noise at 2000 rpms. the chief mechanic has had my car for two weeks now and cannot identify the problem. additionally, there was a lot of loud creeking noises coming from my rooftop liner. the entire had to be replaced to resolve the issue according to the dealership but i don't have my car back yet due to the whining issue being unresolved. the veering right issue seems most common among all complaints and is why i decided to log a complaint.

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE

Reported in: CHICAGO IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

2011 bmw 550i xdrive with m-sport package has goodyear eagle ls-2 245/40r19 98v tires. the right front tire developed 3 minor bubbles on sidewall and the left front developed one major bubble and 2 small bubbles on sidewall within 3,500 miles and both tires need to be replaced. i've driven on the same roads for over ten years and never had any issues with other tires, but within 6 months of owning this car, i have had serious problems with these tires. these tires are clearly defective and should be recalled.

Reported in: NEW YORK NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw 550xi equipped with goodyear eagle ls-2 245/40/19 tires. the contact stated the vehicle was parked when he noticed a bubble on the sidewall of the front passenger side tire. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the failure was not diagnosed, but the tire was replaced. approximately one month later, the replacement tire blew while driving approximately 20 mph over a road bump. upon examining the tire, the contact noticed another bubble on the sidewall. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were in the process of replacing the tire. the manufacturer offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 726. updated 07-06/11 *bf

Reported in: GLADWINE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C54BC

TIRES

air bubbles on goodyear eagle ls2 (made in germany) run flat tire 245/40r19 94y installed on bmw 535xi. ! tire replaced following a bubble immediately after driving through a small pothole. very delicate tires, concerned about safety.

Reported in: SAINT LOUIS MO || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU7C53BC

TIRES

i have a 2011 bmw 550i xdrive and have had four of my tires go bust within the last few months. the car has less than 10600 miles on the clock. the tires are goodyear eagle 245/40 vr19 'run flat' tires. on four different occasions i have hit relatively minor potholes. the run flats do not burst, but bubble appear on the side and eventually they deflate. after that happens they are inoperable unless you drive below 30 miles an hour. hence i have replaced four tires so far at a cost of nearly $2000. (receipts available). i have spoken to bmw north america,who installs these tires, after much haggling they finally agreed to reimburse me for half my cost. however i am really nervous driving the car now, as the slightest imperfection on road surface creates a major tire problem.there have been multiple complaints to bmw (see website 'bimmerfest' (a bmw enthusiast website). they know they have a problem but are trying to deal with on a one by one basis. because the car comes with run flat tires only, there is no spare tire. hence if you replace with regular tire, you have no backup if you get into trouble. i am hoping that you would investigate and hopefully persuade bmw to recall these tires and replace with better tires. when i speak with bmw of north america they respond and say that these are goodyear tires, and not manufactured by bmw hence they try and transfer the blame to goodyear. bmw sold this vehicle with these tires, they chose them. i suspect to safe money on putting a spare or donut wheel in the car. in my mind they are responsible. please investigate these expensive and defective product, thank you.

Reported in: CHAPPAQUA NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C50BC

TIRES

minor pothole hit twice with < 1000 miles on odometer, second tire now with side wall bubble. due to back order for tires, no available replacement. this is a common problem and sidewall issues are a danger for blowout. needs to be addressed!

Reported in: TUXEDO PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C54BC

TIRES

i owned a 2011 535i bmw with sport package and i purchased it on october 2010 within 9 months from date of purchase 4 of the tires which was goodyear excellence rft - 2 x 245/40 r19 94y (front), 2 x 275/35 r19 96y (rear) they were all need to be replaced. first one was a puncture and the rest of the other three there were bubble(s) on it.

Reported in: WESTHAMPTON BEACH NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C50BC

TIRES

sidewall bubble on right front goodyear run flat excellence 245/40r19 94y. dot ne66 jf1r 1510 only 8400 miles! vehicle is 2011 bmw 550i which has been driven gently.

Reported in: COLORADO SPRINGS CO || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C55BC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

there are 3 major issues. 1. vehicle tends to veer to the right. feeling is quite like a vehicle that hasn't been aligned for a while. 2. the most dangerous. upon acceleration and/or at low speed, the vehicle randomly jerks forward without any notice- making it too late for the driver to slam the brakes. if your vehicle is standing three feet behind another vehicle in stop and go traffic, you can easily crash and rear end into the car in front of you. and of course, you will be sued for not keeping your distance. this can easily cause some serious injuries. 3. vehicle wobbles as if the tires were not balanced. there are clearly unknown defects that can not be located. took it to the local bmw dealer, they keep ascribing it to "normal" characteristics and they keep informing me that bmws are built that way, they are now sportier. however, to any new owner, it is now deadlier. the local bmw dealer also state unless they vehicle doesn't inform them about the issue they can't do anything. its more like, until someone doesn't sue them is when they will do something about it. bmw seriously needs to look into this issue immediately before a class action lawsuit begins against them.

Reported in: SAINT JOHNS FL || Crash: Y || VIN #: WBAFR1C5XBC

STEERING

Reported in: SAINT JOHNS FL || Crash: Y || VIN #: WBAFR1C5XBC

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: SAINT JOHNS FL || Crash: Y || VIN #: WBAFR1C5XBC

TIRES

in the past 5 months of owning my bmw 535xi, i had to change my goodyear eagle ls2 size 245/40r19 run flats 3 times because of bubble on the side wall. there are a large number of bmw 535xi owners reporting similar problems with this tire on the internet. continuing to drive the car with a sidewall bubble poses a significant safety risk. therefore, the tire needed to be replaced.

Reported in: PRINCETON NJ || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

after purchasing a new 2011 bmw 528i (vehicle) i noticed an acceleration lag starting out from a dead stop. it has become a safety concern, especially when trying to turn onto a street from a stop sign. it crawls into the roadway when moderate pressure is applied to the gas pedal. if oncoming traffic is close this results in having to stomp on the gas pedal causing the car to jerk ahead at an unexpected rate of speed. i have had a few close calls because of this issue. took car to dealer. they stated they reset the "learning" program that is supposed to adapt to the way one drives. this did nothing to fix the problem. after telling the dealer about this problem again, their response was that the vehicle was "operating as designed" and told me that they "all do it". since there were no trouble codes on the computer of the vehicle they said nothing is wrong with the car. this is unacceptable and i feel this will eventually result in an accident at some point when immediate and linear acceleration is needed at a critical moment.

Reported in: VILLAS NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C5XBC

STEERING

there are two major problems with my 2011 528i august10 build. the first is the pulling to the right that the car has had since day one. i took it to the service department and they were completely oblivious to the problem. after some persistence they decided to check the car out. the struts were rotated and software updated and now "drives straight". the car drives straight for maybe 25 feet before the car starts tugging hard right everytime. i took the car back to the shop and they said that there was nothing more they can do and it is all "within tolerance". this is a potentially very dangerous issue that needs to be seriously addressed. the second issue is the initial lag in acceleration when pressing the gas pedal. when at a dead stop or cruising at highway speeds, you have to floor the car to finally get it to decide which gear to start in. this acceleration lag can be a couple of seconds and when pulling out in traffic a couple of seconds can mean alot. i hope bmw addresses these issues or i will be forced to sell my car and never look back.

Reported in: MACON GA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C5XBC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Reported in: MACON GA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C5XBC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

bmw 528i when starting out from a stop,the car creeps out slowly and when more pressure is applied to the gas pedal it jumps forward very fast and unexpectedly. this is very dangerous in traffic and could easily cause a crash. this happens randomly and unexpected. when coming on to the freeway the transmission will not down shift as needed. this delay has almost caused a crash for me. when coming to a stop the transmission will not down shift as needed and causes a bumping feeling like someone ran into the back of the car. all these symptoms happen randomly and unexpected. very dangerous.bmw knows of these problems and has fixed them in the 535 model. bmw does not care about the 528i model. the dealer says there is nothing more he can do with the car till bmw comes up with a programming change. please help!

Reported in: SEWELL NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C57BC

POWER TRAIN

bmw 528i throttle lag/tip in/delayed acceleration from a standing stop;constant problem;have been told by bmw dealer that this is normal.it is very annoying and am fearful it could lead to safety issue.this is a brand new 2011 model with less than 500 miles on odometer.

Reported in: DANVILLE VA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C52BC

POWER TRAIN

tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw 528i. while stopped at a stop sign the contact depressed the accelerator, and the vehicle would not accelerate. the contact continued applying pressure to the accelerator pedal until the vehicle accelerated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle had not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 50. dealer rep stated that this is a known issue, but no fix has been published by bmw. updated 09/29/2011 *ln

Reported in: ARLINGTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C52BD

TIRES

2011 bmw 550i xdrive 6000 miles. 2.5 inch bubble on left front sidewall. *tt

Reported in: ALBANY NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

2011 bmw 535i 12,000 miles. multiple bubbles on left front sidewall. tire have been replace two times. goodyear excellence 24540 r19

Reported in: PONCE PR || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C55BC

POWER TRAIN

car does not respond to tip-in of accelerator from standstill. as you press harder to get intended acceleration, car lurches forward dramatically and unsafely. vehicle is extremely difficult to drive smoothly, especially in close, stop-and-go traffic. contacted local dealership (the bmw store in cincinnati, oh) on 9/5/11 and they are aware of the problem, but bmw is currently only providing a software patch for the 535 model. i was advised to keep driving the vehicle until bmw issues a software patch for the 528, but the dealer was not aware of any upcoming fix. i am concerned that bmw has fixed the problem for the 535, but not the 528, and that a potential fix is uncertain. this is a major driveability and safety issue.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR1C51BD

WHEELS

original vehicle equipment on vehicles equipped with sport package or m-package; tire size: 245/40/19 failure of multiple tires manufactured by good year. tire brand: ls2 run flat, all season tires. two front tires formed "bubbles" on the outside; as a result vehicle vibrates at higher speeds. defective tires also caused slight bends on two wheels (one front one rear). vehicle always driven very carefully and on good surfaces. no significant impact on the tire has occurred.

Reported in: NORTH SALEM NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

Reported in: NORTH SALEM NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

the car has acceleration issues when not only adding additional speed while driving but when beginning to accelerate from a stop sign or traffic light, as well. the car hesitates when accelerating and there is often a lag in accelerating while the car is stopped or at a low speed, creating a safety concern. not only is there a safety issue, but it is not how a $51,000 luxury sedan should drive -- it is rather rough and annoying to drive the car. the car also idles at an extremely low speed or no speed when the car is started after sitting for a longer period of time. in this case, i have to apply a decent amount of pressure on the accelerator even to back out of my garage.

Reported in: PARADISE VALLEY AZ || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: PARADISE VALLEY AZ || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

i have a 2011 bmw x5 with the bridgestone dueler h/l 400 255/50r19 107 h. the tires are 8 months old and has driven almost 14000 km. today one of my tires cracked on a side while i was driving the car at the intersection. i almost got into car accident because of it. when i got home i've checked all my tires and found out that another tire has a bump on a side that will soon crack or blew-out on me. i don't think that it's normal that 2 out of 4 tires are damaged after only 14000 km. *kb

Reported in: TORONTO 00 || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES:SIDEWALL

Reported in: TORONTO 00 || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

original tires on bmw 550i xdrive with m sport package have failed due to bubbles in the sidewalls. these are good year eagle ls-2 runflats, 245/40r19 98 v. i have had front right tire replaced twice, and front left tire now awaiting 3rd replacement. bubbles occur after tire takes any small impact in the road, such as driving over a manhole that is not quite up to the level of the pavement, or hitting a small pothole. on this particular model, there are no other tire replacements approved, and the current tire replacement is on backorder. this is a serious safety hazard to drive on tires that can potentially blow out the sidewall while driving at high speed. i feel there needs to be a national recall on these tires, which would then obligate bmw to use a different tire line. thank you. *tt

Reported in: LUDLOW MA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C52BC

TIRES

repeated sidewall bubbles on my goodyear eagle ls 2 tires, 245/40 r19, and need for replacement, both front tires in two seperate incidents, with less than 7,000 miles on the car, after hitting minor bumps in the road. they are unreliable and dangerous. *tt

Reported in: SUDBURY MA || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw 5 series. while driving approximately 10 mph, the contact approached a stop sign and depressed the brake pedal when the vehicle suddenly accelerated abnormally. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the failure occurred due to driver error. the failure recurred three times. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. an engineer was sent to inspect the vehicle and performed software updates. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 3,000.

Reported in: EAGAN MN || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C55BC

TIRES

my 2011 bmw 550xi has goodyear eagle ls 2 run flats, 245/40. i took delivery of the car in june 2011 and have had repeated bubbles on the front tires. four tires have been replaced to date. i have never had an issue with tires for the last 20 years. the bmw dealer is not able to say whether it is dangerous to drive on tires with bubbles. *kb

Reported in: NEW YORK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C59BC

TIRES:SIDEWALL

Reported in: NEW YORK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C59BC

TIRES

creation of bubble in sidewall of goodyear run flat 19inch all season tire.

Reported in: SOUTH ORANGE NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C56BC

TIRES

run-flat tires bmw sports package tire bulge sidewall - unacceptable the bmw dealer wants to charge close to $500 for replacement! we are taking the complaint to the local goodyear dealer to see if they will offer a replacement. i would like to have all new tires. it appears this is going to be an ongoing problem with these tires. i think a recall is appropriate.

Reported in: SPRINGFIELD IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

tires are extremely susceptible to bubbles in the sidewall caused by routing driving. i've replaced two tires in less than 6 months on a new vehicle with less than 12,000 miles. (bmw 550i x-drive).

Reported in: NEW ALBANY OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw 550i with goodyear eagle ls-2 tires, line sizes p245/40/r19. the contact stated that both of the front tires developed bubbles. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the tires were unsafe to drive on and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the tires were replaced. the vin and dot numbers were not available. the failure mileage was 5,500 and the current mileage was 12,000.

Reported in: COLUMBUS OR || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

goodyear eagle ls-2 tire failure- bubble in sidewall with less than 3,000 miles on it. *js

Reported in: SOUTHINGTON CT || Crash: N || VIN #:

TIRES

last april i purchased a bmw 550ix. in march of this year while on the freeway i developed a flat tire. i was able to run the vehicle 40 miles to my home with the tire flat but had to flatbed the vehicle to my car repair store to replace the tire. that tire had a bubbled sidewall at the time of the flat although i cannot say that the bubbled sidewall was where the tire failed. i had the tire replaced for around $500 and the mechanic made no mention to me about the bubbled sidewall issue with this tire although, as it turns out, he was aware of the problem. at the time of repair of the above flat, my mechanic informed me that the passenger-side front tire also had a bubbled sidewall necessitating replacement of that tire in order to pass my state vehicle inspection. since the repair in late march 2012, i noticed that the passenger-side front tire has a bubbled sidewall. i might add that no potholes have been hit, do road debris has been struck. so two and possibly three of four of the original tires on this vehicle, which is just now over 1 year old, have failed sidewalls necessitating replacement. the mileage on the vehicle is around 13,000 miles. *js

Reported in: WEXFORD PA || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFU9C55BC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

just parked the vehicle, turned off the vehicle and smelled something burning. exited the vehicle, observed smoke from under the hood, opened the hood and observed flames from the left side of the engine, mostly on the top left of the engine now. called the fire department who extinguished the flames, and had the car towed to the dealer. the vehicle is now in their lot waiting for their investigators to look at the vehicle. the first comment out of the dealership, maybe an animal built a nest in the engine area. this vehicle only had 3000 miles on it, purchased in june of 2011, and is garage kept.

Reported in: HOFFMAN ESTATES IL || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR9C51BC

TIRES

goodyear eagle ls tires sidewall bubbles after driving just a few thousand miles. this is the second tire with a defect that was not caused by any impact.

Reported in: HARTFORD CT || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

as i waited for my wife in my apartment parking space, my rear windshield shattered completely with a loud bang. i was completely taken by surprise and frightened by the noise. i was lucky not to be in motion at the time of the shattering. no foreign objects impacted my vehicle or the rear windshield.

Reported in: DORAL FL || Crash: N || VIN #: WBAFR7C50BC

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