Four Check Engine lights and a Drivetrain Malfunction related to the high voltage hybrid system including problems with the battery cooling, continuing to charge instead of stopping at 100%, and high voltage faults. Coolant smell in the ventilation system in the cabin as well as hot electrical smell after charging and from the regenerative system on a long descent in the mountains. Has been happening multiple times and taken to the dealer multiple times over the past 10 months. The dealer has only replaced a part one time (the evaporative container), but typically just resets the system and sends it home. I have reported this to BMW NA and asked for a buyback, but so far it has been denied.
2024 BMW X5 transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 16 of 16, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I purchased a new BMW x5 50e in September 2023. It currently has 1601 miles. As I was getting onto the freeway onramp on 3/7/24, I felt the SUV losing power and got an error message (actually 2). The first message indicated the "High-voltage system," telling me I could continue driving but should have the system checked. The second message stated a "Drive train malfunction" and indicated roadside assistance was not needed. The error messages provided incorrect guidance as I lost all power to drive the SUV. I could drift the SUV over to the shoulder of the onramp. Fortunately, I had not fully gotten onto the freeway, or I could have been hit when the SUV lost power. The car had no power and would not drive. There was no warning of malfunction prior to the sudden loss of power and the simultaneous appearance of the warning message - one followed by another. I tried restarting the SUV, but it would immediately shift back to Park. It was not drivable, and I had to have it towed by AAA to the dealership. The malfunction has the potential to result in a catastrophic outcome. Upon researching the issue online, I found there are several other BMW owners with the same issue; some have been unable to have the problem fixed. The BMW dealer was not yet able to determine the underlying problems and deny this is a known issue (although it is). They told me they have contacted BMW NA and are waiting to hear back. I was told they did not have a loaner and they had done me a favor by putting my car ahead of others. They will not return my calls (only text messages) and cannot give me information about the problem or timeframe I will go without a car. I read others had similar issues and must have their car repurchased by BMW NA. This seems to be a problem BMW is aware of. I do not know if I can ever feel safe in this SUV - there will always be the concern of the SUV running out of power on the freeway or in isolated areas.
2nd time receiving a DriveTrain and High Voltage warning.
Powertrain high voltage error. Check engine light. The car has been to the dealership twice.
Drivetrain malfunction error that disabled the vehicle. Software update done by dealer, but dealer is unsure if that is the repair. Many other owners of the 50e are having issues. All are related to the high voltage battery system. Car will not operate when error occurs. BMW has refused to publish a TSB.
We are 900 miles from home driving on the interstate, and received an error message saying that there was a drive train malfunction and we had to stop the car immediately. We were in the middle of nowhere, but able to pull over and turn the car off, and contacted roadside assistance. We were unable to start the car again. We were told there was a major malfunction of the drive train power supply and we could not operate the vehicle until it had been inspected at a service center 2 hours away. This vehicle is brand new with less than 2000 miles on it, and this is the second issue we have encountered with it. We had another sensor error pop up 3 days after purchase, and had to take this car into the dealership for 10 days. We have actually been driving this car for less than 2 weeks. This is completely unacceptable and dangerous. The car is unsafe to drive and we have no way of getting back to our home state. Roadside assistance has been unable to locate a tow truck to take us to the nearest town, and we are still sitting on the side of a dark road.
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