2003 BMW X5: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 3, 2023 · Electrical · IL · fire

My 2003 BMW X5 was parked outside of my house, turned off and not driven for hours and burst into flames consuming the whole dashboard, fire department said that fire was due to some electrical problem with car, very scary please help could of killed my family the incident was recorded on home surveillance footage, but I cannot upload because of size

Filed Jan 27, 2022 · Seats · PA · fire

LH - Driver side seat caught fire and melted through seat material and melted onto my coat. there are burn marks / holes through the seat due to the heater malfunction/ short. My coat was also ruined with plastic melted onto it from the seat.

Filed Mar 13, 2020 · Body, Electrical · 199,000 miles · AZ · fire · 1 injury

This morning 03/13/2020 at aprox. 2:30am my bmw x5 2003 was engulfed in flames for no reason and my two german shepherds hey you and my baby diesel were inside,and how one made it out and the baby didnt, I busted windows cause I heard him crying ,,,,I couldnt get him I tried to I tried oh my god my poor baby , I was injured and scared for life with that. My car was off and parked in front of a friends house on a side street, all a loss. No pictures taken ,several police and fire dept. Came.

Filed Dec 26, 2019 · Engine · 180,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw x5. While attempting to drive the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke under the hood. When he opened the hood, he noticed flames around the motor. The contact quickly extinguished the fire. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called bmw of dallas (6200 lemmon ave, dallas, tx 75209, (972) 763-5528) and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Filed Jul 16, 2019 · 168,000 miles · TX · fire

Parked vehicle, notice smoke coming from underneath hood, turned into fire, heard 'boom,' vehicle exploded, houston fire dept responded and will have report of this incident

Filed Sep 7, 2017 · Body, Engine · 95,000 miles · NY · fire

Driving slowly down street, saw smoke coming from front right under hood, puled over to side, flames visible coming from hood, within 15 minutes, entire front on fire, fire department came within 5-10 minutes, major fire, total loss. All this took about 30 minutes. Fortunately, no injuries.

Filed Apr 15, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 100,000 miles · MS · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw x5. While driving approximately 65 MPH, there was the smell of plastic burning and the vehicle would not accelerate. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The engine stalled without warning. Moments later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The vehicle was burned down to the frame. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a body shop. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 150,000 miles · RI · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw x5. The contact stated that the front passenger side caught fire while parked in a residential garage. The manufacturer investigated the failure and concluded that cause of the fire was not due a manufacturing defect. A police report was filed of the incident. The contact stated that the battery was replaced twice and the computer system was replaced three times prior to the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 150,000. Updated 2/15/13 *cn the consumer believed the fire was due to an electrical failure. Updated 02/02/513

Filed Mar 4, 2011 · Seats · 69,500 miles · CO · fire

While driving vehicle observed smoke coming out from the left side of driver seat. Slowly felt the heat sensation growing stronger in the area. Almost in a panic, and at great risk to myself and others on the road, tried to navigate through traffic on the busy street, to the right hand turn lane, while trying to avoid what was obviously growing into a fire in the seat. Had to avoid sitting in that area of the seat, while keeping the seat belt on in case there was a crash. Finally made it to a parking lot and jumped out. There was a hole in the leather seat that was smoldering. The seat heater had burned a hole through the leather seat. Tried to find something to douse it out with before it spread to other parts of the seat. Also, discovered that my pants were still smoldering on the rear left leg towards the hip area. There were two holes burned into the pants from contact with the burning seat. Called the dealer and scheduled a service appointment. Called bmw na, who said they were not aware of any other such incidents and they would have to wait for the diagnosis from the dealer. Their attitude also seemed very laissez-faire about the whole thing, seemingly not to care since I wasn't reporting any injuries. Just the fact that my seat was on fire and I barely avoided getting in a crash and getting burned, while my pants actually did get burned! Meanwhile researched the incident and found one case reported on this very the federal safety agency website, several others on the x5 on various forums and a documented recall on the 5 series for a similar issue with the seat heater. Now bmw wants to cover only the cost of the parts and not even the labor to get it installed? Forget about my pants, or the time/effort and stress all this has caused, that I didn't even ask to be compensated for. The federal safety agency - why has there not been a recall on the bmw x5 for this issue as yet? Is it necessary to wait until someone is killed in an accident due to this or gets burned?

Filed Feb 8, 2011 · Engine · 74,200 miles · IL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw x5. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH there was smoke coming from under the hood and exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that the oil separator was leaking and drained onto the exhaust pipe and engine abnormally, causing the failure. The contact stated that the failure would only occur in cold temperatures. The oil separator was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 74,200.

Filed Mar 10, 2009 · Engine · 48,000 miles · AK

The engine seized without warning. At the time the engine stalled; light, white smoke came from the exhaust. The car and engine seemed to operate fine for about 20 minutes prior. No warning lights came up or smoke came from the exhaust during the 20 minutes of driving. Regular engine and oil changes were previously done. The mechanic is saying a new engine is required.

Filed Mar 4, 2009 · Visibility · 51,000 miles · NY

I was driving to work when I got a foul burning smell in the car. I had the heat and defoggers cranking so I lowered the fan speed thinking it was coming in from outside when I noticed smoke forming on the floor of by the passenger seat. At that time I came to a stop light and the car shut off. I was on a busy road and it was very cold out. I tried to crank it and nothing. The second attempt sounded as if someone threw something into a fan. I was towed and advised by the mechanic that the oil separator went causing the spark plugs to fill with oil causing the motor to shut down. Bmw advised the mechanic that this is a recurring problem and they have a kit to upgrade the whole mechanism. I was reading edmund blogs and a number of people have had this problem costing anywhere from $1300 - $6000 depending on the damage. I had missed work the day before due to a snow storm. I could have been in a serious accident if I had been caught in bad weather or on the highway which I take to work. This is going to be an expensive fix and bmw is aware of the problem. Why isn't it a recall? What has to happen before it is? What are my options in trying to recover my expenses. The car has all of 51000 miles on it.