2016 BMW X5 Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2016 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal banging sound. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled into a parking lot and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed and determined that front drive shaft and u-joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

AIR COMPRESSOR ABSORBS MOISTURE AND PREVENTS VALVES FROM OPENING AND INFLATING AIRBAGS AROUND 4 YEARS OR 60-70K MILES. THIS BREAKS DOWN TO ABOUT A $3200 REPAIR FROM THE DEALERSHIP OR AROUND $2400 FROM AN AUTHORIZED BMW MECHANIC. BOTH PLACES HAVE INFORMED THAT THEY ARE SEEING A TON OF THESE REPAIRS THIS YEAR. FOR AN AIR COMPRESSOR TO BE BLOCKED, AND THE SILICA GEL COMPLETELY ABSORBED WITH MOISTURE ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THE SIGNS OF THIS MALFUNCTION ARE THAT THE REAR END WILL SAG AND NOT PROPERLY INFLATE (IF AT ALL). SOMETIMES IT WOULD DEFLATE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE THE WHEELS TO SLAM AGAINST THE CHASSIS, RISKING MUCH MORE SEVERE AND PERMANENT DAMAGE. IN SHORT, THE VEHICLA CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE ISSUE IS REPAIRED, AND CAN BE LIFE THREATENING IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY OURS WENT OUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE WAY TO THE STORE AND WE WEREN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GETTING THROWN ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE FEELING IS LIKE EXTREME AIR TURBULENCE BOUNCING YOU UP AND DOWN. MY CHILD ALMOST VOMITED FROM THE BOUNCING. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING HAPPENING WITH THE F15 X5'S AND BMW NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS.

REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED ON A DRIVEWAY, AND WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT (COLLISION, BUMP, POTHOLE, ETC). THERE WAS A LOUD BAG AND BOTH COMPRESSION SPRING COMPLETELY DEFLATED, THE CAR ESSENTIALLY DROPPED TO THE AXIL, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE AND UNCONTROLLABLE BOUNCING. UPON MECHANICAL INSPECTION A FUSE HAD BLOWN BUT ALL COMPONENTS OF THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WERE INTACT EXCEPT FOR A VERY SMALL PINHOLE LEAK IN THE RIGHT REAR AIR SHOCK. THERE WAS NO WARNING! NO WARNING LIGHTS, INDICATORS OR SENSOR ACTIVATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OR FOLLOWING THE FAILURE. I'M CONCERNED THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY, DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SUSPENSION AND SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING, WHATSOEVER, IT COULD HAPPEN ANY TIME, EVEN A HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH I FEAR COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH THE CAR WAS 4 YEAR AND 3 MONTHS AND 54K MILES IN SERVICE.