Ron Stultz Home Page  Ron Stultz Published Book Section Ron Stultz Unpublished Writings Section  Ron Stultz Doodles Section  Ron Stultz YouTube Channel Section  Ron Stultz Shared Grateful Dead Music Sets

Ron Stultz

Ron Stultz Shared Knowledge Section  Provides links to other X5 pages

"BMW X5 - Transmission Failure Program"

Summary: A "Transmission Failure Program" display can either be because you are actually experiencing a transmission failure OR it is possible that a nearly dead battery is the cause of the display.

 

Background:

BMW X5, 4.4l, model year 2000, 129,700 miles

 

Transmission Failure Program:

If you are driving the X5 and there is a sudden jolt, the transmission will not move out of 2nd gear and you see "Transmission Failure Program" come up in the dash display, you probably have experienced a real transmission failure and you have my condolences. At about 70,000 miles, my X5 transmission failed. When the dealer told me it would cost $7000, parts and labor, I was infuriated. 70,000 miles? At 64 years of age and having owned many cars over my life time and I have never, ever, experienced a transmission failure of any type and some of my cars have had > 150,000 miles on them when I sold them.  At 70,000 miles, have never towed any kind of trailer nor have I raced my X5. It took a while but finally BMW North America agreed to split the cost with me. Not great, but what choice did I have?

If you start the X5 and you suddenly see "Transmission Failure Program" in the dash display, it may be just that your battery is low. Because I have been battling a mysterious battery drain, there have been mornings when there was just enough battery to start the car but when I went to move it, I got the "Transmission Failure Program" message. When this has happened, I have shut down the engine and tried a restart only to find the battery is now totally dead. With a full charge, the X5 will start fine and no "Transmission Failure Program" message.