2016 BMW X5 Electrical System Problems

The component that failed appears to be the hybrid propulsion and charging system, including the high-voltage battery management system and/or integrated charging electronics. The vehicle will not accept a charge from any home or public charging source. The high-voltage battery was replaced approximately one year ago; however, the charging failure persists. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. In addition to the charging failure, the vehicle displayed drivetrain malfunction and start/stop malfunction warnings. While driving on the highway at normal speed, the vehicle lost power and stopped, creating a hazardous situation in active traffic. This sudden loss of propulsion placed my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk, as surrounding vehicles were traveling at highway speeds. Prior to the failure, warning messages appeared intermittently, including charging system faults and start/stop malfunction alerts. These warnings began approximately one year ago around the time the charging issue started. The vehicle was previously serviced and the high-voltage battery was replaced; however, the underlying issue was not corrected. The root cause is UNKNOWN, but the symptoms suggest a failure within the hybrid control system, charging module, DC-DC converter, or related electrical components. The failure has been persistent and unresolved. I am concerned that defects within the hybrid propulsion system may lead to additional sudden loss of power events.

Because of this water intrusion, the following safety systems have malfunctioned or failed: • ABS and DSC (stability control) warnings • Chassis stabilization warning • Frontal collision and pedestrian warning malfunction • Airbag system warning • Loss of audible warning tones • MOST bus communication failure • Electrical modules intermittently shutting down or throwing codes These failures affect braking, stability control, crash avoidance, and driver alerts, creating a significant safety risk while driving. This is not normal wear or maintenance. Many BMW owners have reported the same issue: clogged or poorly designed sunroof drains that route water directly into areas containing critical electronics. Once water reaches these modules, it causes electrical shorts and safety system failures that require expensive repairs. BMW dealerships typically diagnose this as “water damage,” but the location of the drains and the placement of the electronics indicate a design flaw that allows a simple drain issue to disable major safety systems. I am filing this complaint because the water intrusion should not be able to cause total failure of ABS, DSC, collision warning, and airbag-related systems. This is a safety-related design defect, not wear and tear. I request NHTSA review and investigate BMW sunroof drain failures and their impact on essential vehicle safety functions.

My water pump recall involves an electrical short circuits, that has disrupted other nearby electrical components, like the temperature sensor. • The water pump short-circuit is causing an oil leak directly that is putting a strain the engine and turbo system. • Additionally, a faulty water pump or sensor allowed unnoticed overheating, further stressing the turbocharger seals and leading to dangerous oil leaks oil continues to leak into the turbo system, damaging my turbocharger, exhaust system, and even the catalytic converter • Temperature Sensor Failure: Overheating can cause catastrophic damage to the engine, including warping the head or blowing a gasket. • Electrical Short Circuit: The recall issue is directly responsible for electrical malfunctions that are masking underlying problems, like overheating.

Subject: Consequential Damage and Failure of Remedy regarding Recall 24V-608 Incident Description: "I am reporting a failure of the manufacturer to provide an effective remedy for Safety Recall 24V-608 (Electric Water Pump) and subsequent consequential damage to the High-Voltage battery system. In September 2023, at approximately 78,000 miles, this vehicle exhibited 'Drivetrain Malfunctions' including Fault Code 0x222626 (EME: internal fault - active short circuit requested) and 0x22271C (Overvoltage in intermediate circuit). The BMW dealer (Fields BMW) failed to diagnose the root cause and instructed me to 'keep driving'. Since the release of Recall 24V-608, it is clear these 2023 faults were early indicators of the coolant pump short-circuiting. This persistent electrical instability has now resulted in a permanent failure of Cell Supervision Circuit #3, causing the high-voltage contactors to open and leaving the vehicle disabled. The dealer is currently attempting to charge for diagnostics and battery removal. I am asserting that the lack of a timely remedy for the coolant pump (which was only recently shielded per the recall) caused a power surge that 'fried' the internal battery circuitry. This is a safety issue as the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of propulsion while in motion. I request that NHTSA investigate BMW’s refusal to cover battery failures caused by the electrical interference of the recalled coolant pump."

The electronic A/C compressor destroys itself internally on BMW hybrid and electric vehicles and should be considered defective. The A/C compressor is used to cool the cabin as well as the high voltage battery packs, and is considered an emissions component warranties for 7 years or 70,000 miles. Without a functioning A/C system the vehicle cannot charge or use the high voltage batteries. If the electric A/C compressor fails it could cause the high voltage battery system to overheat and risk of fire. I just had it replaced at 75,508 miles before it completely failed and there are plenty of other owners of BMW hybrid or electric vehicles experiencing the same.

Service Repair light is on indicating there is an issue but when you go to check there is no issue showing. I checked into the BMW service In Southampton with a complaint that the time on the dashboard wasn’t synching for daylight time savings. They said they’ll troubleshoot it. They did a hard reset with the battery and gave me the car back with service light on which wasn’t on when I drove into the service. I had the car serviced for 60k miles and they said this is a typical issue with 2016 BMW with electrical malfunction and it would cost anywhere from $200-$2500 to fix it. Now I am unable to get alerts on my vehicle. This is a big safety issue for me and my family as well as other vehicles on the road if anything goes wrong with the car, I won’t know what is the issue.

BMW NA is aware of this problem with the sunroof leaking water on the dashboard and damaging the electrical of the car. BMW NA is colluding with the dealers to inform customers they are clogged to charge them money for a clog that is non existent. The sun roof are not clogged as BMW NA and the dealers are saying I have video of the unclogged drain tubes and have caught the dealers all lying that they are clogged. I have video of this and can reproduce this collusion again again with the dealers lying.

Auxiliary cooling fan failed but engine light did not turn on causing EME fault. Cooling fan had to be replaced and overheated my engine.

Since 12v battery is down towing truck driver tried to jump start the car, there is no way to move the car, he failed to start car so move manually for towing to BMW service center. they reported EME(controller computer) Board damage, and BMW guessed jump start could damage, so insurance appraiser came to review and rejected this because BMW said there is no way to prove this, and then they charged EME B/D that is very expensive($9500) this is second time 12v Battery fail, it always make additional problem and make the car be unstable, I think this is design electrical issue

MY 2016 BMW X5 E40 STALLED AND LOST ALL PROPULSION POWER MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE SUBSEQUENT TIMES AT AROUND 25 MPH, FORCING ME TO DRIVE THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TRY TO RESTART IT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND AND NO WARNING LIGHT GIVEN PRIOR TO THE STALLS, IT SIMPLY JUST LOST ALL PROPULSION POWER. WE WERE TRAVELING UPHILL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WERE FORTUNATE TO NOT BE IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER THE STALL A WARNING INDICATOR MESSAGE INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC START/STOP MALFUNCTIONED. THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATOR AT ALL, AND THE PROBLEM WILL RANDOMLY REPEAT ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING. PROPULSION DOESN'T SLOWLY STOP, IT CUTS OUT COMPLETELY WITH NO WARNING. THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE INTERNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT.

WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF SUDDEN, DASHBOARD BECOMES BLANK. I BROUGHT THIS POINT TO BMW BELLEVUE DEALER. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE IDENTIFIED. HOWEVER, IT OCCURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN A YEAR. SINCE I WAS DRIVING 35-SPEED LIMIT ROAD, I PULLED THE VEHICLE AND STOPPED THE ENGINER AND THEN RESTART. THE ISSUE DISAPPREAD. I'M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT WHEN I'M DRIVING AT HIGHWAYS OR AT HIGH SPEED.