2011 BMW X5: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 21, 2025 · Electrical · MA

The comfort access door handle, got so hot it started to melt the plastic exterior handle and produce a lot of smoke would have caught fire if i didn't turn off car and disconnect electrical signal to the cas handle

Filed Jun 24, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · IL · fire

Our car get on fire from begin low on oil, we stopped on the side and went on another car to get oil at the gas station and Suddenly star on fire and our entire car truck burned. Luckily we were able to get out off the car on time.

Filed Jan 17, 2020 · 138,000 miles · AL

Burning smell coming from faulty/leaky egr cooler. Egr cooler is leaking internally and mixing with soot and being expelled onto front timing cover. Noticed smell after last service 11/29/19. Took to dealership to investigate 1/13/2020. After further research this is a known issue (recalled) with bmw diesels manufactured 2010 -2017 in the USA and also europe and korea. The manufacturer dates need to be extend as this is a problem with vehicles outside the current recall dates.

Filed Sep 30, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 82,000 miles · WY · fire

Upon starting my car at a friend's house, I heard a brief electrical buzzing noise that then stopped. It sounded like the radiator fan, but the fan wasn't moving. I drove my car approximately 15 miles home and parked it. About 2.5 hours later, from inside my home, I heard the sound of what seemed to be a small explosion. I looked outside and my car's engine compartment was engulfed in flames. It had parked, unused with the motor off for more than two hours on a cool day with temperatures in the 40s with no warning indicators lights or messages. I later learned bmw had issued a recall for electrical fires, however, I never receiveda recall notice. Press reports note that more than 90 such fires have been reported to your agency, and I can still find no documentation on your website of this problem.

Filed Jul 12, 2019 · Engine · 140,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw x5. Approximately ten minutes after the contact parked the vehicle in the garage, the fire alarm activated. After returning to the garage, the contact noticed flames and smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames. The fire department was called to the scene and a fire report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Jan 23, 2019 · Engine · 131,000 miles · GA

Burning smell inside car cabin. Immediate loss of power during acceleration. Engine stops abruptly coast to the side of the road and restart. Today is the second time, the first time happened two weeks ago

Filed Sep 18, 2018 · Engine · PA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw x5. The contact heard an abnormal noise and noticed smoke coming through the vents inside the vehicle. The contact also smelled a strong burning odor. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v336000 (engine and engine cooling), but the contact was not notified. While driving, the idler pulley bolt fractured. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 18v248000 (engine and engine cooling) and 17v683000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was unable to be driven due to the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed May 29, 2018 · Electrical · 106,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2011 bmw x5. After parking the vehicle overnight, the contact discovered flames and smoke inside the cabin of the vehicle the following morning. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed destroyed. The cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer (jmk bmw in springfield, new jersey) were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.

Filed Dec 10, 2017 · Electrical · 78,000 miles · FL

Wires inside the comfort access door handles have apparently shorted out and are causing the driver side rear door handle to be very hot to the touch (measured at 134 deg f). Pembroke pines bmw and bmw na were notified in november. They advised that I would have pay $700 to have it replaced since it was out of warranty. Later they offered a 20% discount. An internet search revealed it is a common problem. I am concerned that the short may eventually cause the wires or other materials in the door to catch on fire. I measured and photographed the door handle and adjacent area. The door was 84.8 degrees f while the door handle was 134 degrees f.

Filed May 26, 2017 · 50,000 miles · CA · fire

Vehicle was parked in garage at home and randomly burst into flames at approximately 2am. Fire caused over $800,000 in damage and home took well over a year to repair. Insurance and fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire could not have been anything in the garage with the exception of the car, but I have yet to receive any type of formal report and it has been over three years.

Filed Jan 28, 2016 · Engine · 69,716 miles · AR · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw x5. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle was overheating causing smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine cooling pressure needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v521000 (engine, engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,716.

Filed Jun 16, 2015 · Steering, Transmission · 63,000 miles · TX

Traveling south on inside lane of 121 near grapevine, my x5 suddenly made a really loud noises from the front left side, started losing power, liquid was spewing behind me and smoke coming out from underneath. I pulled over and saw oil gushing from the bottom of my 2011 x5. I had my 8 month old infant and my wife in the car, had to rush them out of the infant seat to ensure car does not catch on fire. Spend 2 hours waiting for tow and in the end it ended up being an front driveshaft breaking puncturing an oil pan and cutting few hoses and lines. There is an active recall on that bmw for that exact issue...updated 07/30/15 *bf updated 10/23/2017