2012 BMW X5: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 3, 2026 · CA · fire

My car was sitting on the driveway and spontaneously caught on fire. It has not been driven for the last week or two. Nobody was home, when it caught on fire. Our neighbors called 911

Filed Jan 29, 2023 · Steering · CA · fire

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Repair shop repaired the pulley because i couldn't steer the vehicle correctly. It would jerk me on the road. Vehicle is available for inspection but is already repaired by local shop. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I could drive but couldn't steer intermittently. Scary!! i couldn't make a full turns and there was a rough spot in the steering sometimes. Eventually it locked up an couldn't leave parking spot. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. But i already got it repaired. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not that i know of. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. I only smelled burning rubber or electrical components. Smoke from engine bay and screeching sounds. Worst part is it was intermittent which gives the driver a false sense of security to drive but almost crashed because down the road couldn't steer.

Filed May 5, 2022 · Engine · CT · fire

2012 bmw x5. Consumer writes in regard to illuminated check engine light. The consumer stated the vehicle experienced an engine fire. The vehicle was parked in the garage, at the home of the consumer. The home was damaged. The vehicle was not included in recall 21v907000. The vehicle had various engine issure prior to the failure. The failures included a fluid, on multiple occasions the check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle experienced a burning smell. The enfine failures were due to faulty nox sensors, oil filter gasket and filter cap needed to be replaced, faulty scr active tank, defective door handle causing low voltage, glow plug failure, and faulty metering unit.

Filed Feb 14, 2022 · Body, Electrical · PA · fire

Passenger external front and rear door handle assembly caught on fire and melted the rubber grommet. BMW said it was the comfort sensor fuse that should have blown but it did not. The rubber grommet holding the door handle melted. I had to buy two door handles that cost $250 each to replace the ones that burnt out.

Filed Jan 26, 2022 · Electrical · FL · fire

Passenger interior Door handle assembly caught on fire and melted the rubber grommet. BMW said it was the comfort sensor fuse should have blown but did not. I saw blue smoke while driving from the passenger door mirror blowing out of the door handle like a volcano for 2 ft sideways. The rubber grommet holding the door handle melting completely down the outside door exterior. BMW fixed the sensor but my entire electrical system has been a disaster since. the passenger seat air bag warning, the parking brake, sensors working intermittent in the vehicle. There is a problem there should be a recall on the entire electrical system.

Filed Jul 20, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 120,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 bmw x5. The contact stated that while he was asleep, he had awakened to a loud popping sound coming from outside. The contact looked outside and saw his vehicle was on fire right which was parked in an rv park right next to his camper. The contact immediately called the authorities who were able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire. A fire report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and awaits an inspection. The contact stated that he had no safety related issues with the vehicle prior to the failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jan 2, 2019 · Engine · 89,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 bmw x5. While driving 65 MPH, the engine malfunction and reduce speed warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to pull the vehicle off the roadway and it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent facility. A fire report was filed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

Filed Jun 13, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 72,000 miles · AL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 bmw x5. The contact was alerted to an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle while it was parked at her home. Upon inspection, the contact's husband noticed that the vehicle was filled with smoke. Ten minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the flames. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not towed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. There were no injuries. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

Filed Oct 9, 2014 · Electrical · 14,000 miles · VA · fire

Car was parked in driveway, not running or turned on. Horn and wipers started going off. Went outside to vehicle, tried to disable. Smoke started coming out from behind the dashboard (passenger side). Could smell electrical short. Smoke followed by flames, entire dash area caught on fire, by the time fire department arrived and put it out.