2011 BMW X5 SAV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other X5 SAV years
- About as many complaints as other years 3rd of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW X5 SAV. That ranks 3rd out of 13 X5 SAV model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (10 complaints, 42%), typically at around 82,000 miles. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 24owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 BMW X5 SAV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 42% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 29% | 73,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 29% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 13% | 78,240 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 13% | 69,532 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 8% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 8% | 67,250 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% | 88,722 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 4% | 47,100 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 4% | 78,240 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 BMW X5 SAV recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
Risk: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel; steering:hydraulic power assist system
Problem: BMW is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 X5 xDrive 35d SAV diesel vehicles manufactured September 1, 2008, through November 15, 2012. The engine belt idler pulley bolt could loosen and break over time.
Risk: If the engine belt idler pulley bolt breaks, the vehicle may unexpectedly lose power-assisted steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and tighten the idler pulley bolt. The recall began on January 15, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Idler Pulley Bolt Failure (RQ18001) — opened Apr 18, 2018, closed Dec 1, 2018, led to recall 18V336000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Engine clicks when accelerating or deceleration
The coolant lines needed completely replaced causing the engine to start barreling smoke after about 400-500 ft. Looked like it was on fire there was so much smoke. Got repaired at bmw of westlake in ohio. They told me there was nothing i could do to have prevented it.
I would like to report a vanos issue the camshaft bolts loosen and break and it could be catastrophic. My bolts loosened and i caught it in time but if i didn't know any better i could've had a complete engine failure. My code originally came up as camshaft sticking. When the problem originated i…
During hard acceleration of the car while getting on the free way ramp, the car went into limp mode. The engine performance was degraded and i had to pull on the side of the road to restart the car. The car was taken to bmw of bellevue next week after initial diagnosis of a dme internal fault by a…
The service adviser at the bmw dealership mentioned that the dmtl pump in my vehicle has failed. I found the below document regarding the dmtl pump. Https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2012/sb-10051299-3508.pdf can you please check this and let me know of my options? Thanks [xxx] information redacted…
Other BMW X5 SAV years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 X5 SAV | 13 | 1 |
| 2012 X5 SAV | 21 | 4 |
| 2011 | 24 | 3 |
| 2010 X5 SAV | 19 | 5 |
| 2009 X5 SAV | 19 | 4 |
| 2008 X5 SAV | 20 | 3 |
| 2007 X5 SAV | 59 | 5 |
| 2006 X5 SAV | 27 | 0 |
| 2004 X5 SAV | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 X5 SAV | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 X5 SAV | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 X5 SAV | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 X5 SAV | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW X5 SAV problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW X5 SAV?
Owners most often report engine, fuel/propulsion system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 BMW X5 SAV?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 BMW X5 SAV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other X5 SAV model years, the 2011 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.