NHTSA Complaint #11074370 — 2009 BMW X5

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UP TO 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. WHEN VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, ALL SYSTEMS ARE COMPLETELY OFF INCLUDING POWER STEERING, ANTILOCK BRAKING, THE ENGINE ITSELF, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, LIGHTS - EVERYTHING COMPLETELY POWERLESS. THE CAR WILL THEN NOT START FOR 10-15 MINUTES, BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY NO ERRORS LOGGED IN THE COMPUTER. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THIS HAPPENED WAS ON A FREEWAY AT 60-70MPH CRUISING SPEED. NO SOUNDS OR WARNINGS THE X5 IMMEDIATELY SHUTS OFF. WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR SEVERE INJURY/DEATH THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES OVER A 14 MONTH PERIOD, EVEN AFTER 2 BMW CERTIFIED FIXES. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, WE BROUGHT IT DIRECTLY TO BMW NORTHWEST IN FIFE WA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, TALKED WITH BMW US HEADQUARTERS - THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT WE PAY $800 TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM CLEANED, AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS LIKELY DEBRIS IN THE FUEL LINES. WE CONSENTED TO THE FIX AND PAID FOR THE REPAIR. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK IT HAPPENED 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES. ONCE AGAIN ON A FREEWAY GOING 60 MPH, ANOTHER TIME ON A SIDE STREET GOING 30 MPH. WE THEN TOOK IT BACK TO BMW NORTHWEST, THEY FOUND THAT THERE WERE 3 PARTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT HAD NOT BEEN 'RECALLED' BUT WERE UNDER SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY. CLAIMED IT WAS A FREE $3500+ REPAIR, WE TOOK IT HOME AFTER THE 'FIX'. 3 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED 1 TIME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 MPH. TOOK IT BACK TO BMW NW AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY ARE CLAIMING 3 FUEL INJECTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED (BUT THEY RECOMMEND ALL 6, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED NOT TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE). THEY WANT TO 'ELIMINATE' THE POSSIBILITY WITH THE SAID FIX BUT BELIEVE THAT IS LIKELY NOT THE CAUSE AND THE ROOT IS ELECTRICAL ISSUES.