CarRecallWatchThe 2011 BMW X5 has 14 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 263 complaints with NHTSA, including 5 crashes, 15 fires, 4 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (110 reports).
2011 BMW X5 recalls
Loose VANOS Bolts Can Cause Engine Stall and Crash Risk
The aluminum bolts that hold the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may break.
Passenger air bag may explode and spray metal fragments
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in these BMW vehicles uses a propellant that can degrade over time after long exposure to high humidity, high temperatures, and repeated temperature changes.
Driver Airbag Inflator May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments
The driver-side frontal airbag inflator in certain vehicles contains an ammonium nitrate propellant that was not properly dried.
Passenger airbag may explode and spray metal shrapnel
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in certain BMW X5 and X6 vehicles can degrade over time from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
Loose Engine Pulley Bolt Can Cause Sudden Steering Loss
The engine idler pulley bolt on certain diesel X5 vehicles can loosen over time and break.
Electric water pump can overheat and cause a fire
The electric auxiliary water pump in these vehicles may fail, causing its circuit board to overheat.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Certain BMW X5 and X6 vehicles from 2007 through 2013 have a passenger frontal airbag inflator that can degrade over time from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
PCV Valve Heater Can Short and Cause a Fire
The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Water and debris can wear out front driveshaft joint
Water and debris can enter the universal joint on the front driveshaft, causing excessive wear.
Fuel Pump Wires Can Melt, Causing Leaks or Stalls
Some vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps with wire contacts that may not be crimped tightly enough.
Passenger airbag may rupture in a crash, risking injury
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in certain BMW X5 and X6 vehicles may rupture when the airbags deploy in a crash.
Front driveshaft joint can fail, causing loss of traction
The front driveshaft universal joint on these vehicles may not seal out water and debris.
Most common 2011 BMW X5 problems
Problem areas named in the 263 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 110 |
| Air Bags | 70 |
| Power Train | 58 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 36 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
What owners report
There's currently an open recall for a number of BMW engines involving aluminum bolts in the vanos assembly that shear, strip, and break off completely. The open recall is somehow excluding some vehicles with the same exact problem like my 2011 BMW X5 xdrive35i N55 E70 with the inline 6. Currently my vanos bolts are already sheared off and sitting in my oil pan. My vehicle started misfiring and acting strange while I was traveling at 75mph, luckily I made it into a gas station and had to have it towed from there because it wouldn't start again and hasn't since. BMW knows about these hazardous bolts and chose to not repair some of them directly endangering drivers and their families. My local
The comfort access door handle, got so hot it started to melt the plastic exterior handle and produce a lot of smoke would have caught fire if i didn't turn off car and disconnect electrical signal to the cas handle
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
EGR failure where the diesel emissions come into the cabin via the hvac system Dealer said the EGR cooler needs to be replaced. This is a know problem and recall on the 2012 and 2013. This makes the fumes to the driver when first driving the car in the morning dangerous as carbon monoxide and diesel exhaust enter the car. My friend has an exact similar problem and this issue is known on all the BMW boards
Was driving vehicle home from work and during the drive the engine without warning died while driving and vehicle put in neutral. Vehicle stopped in the middle of parkway on right lane, tried to restart vehicle multiple times and unsuccessful. Pulled codes and found that fuel pressure codes present and fuel pressure while cranking is 2.5-4 bar. Spec 600-800 bar while starting. Vehicle was towed to a safe place.
2011 BMW X5 questions
Does the 2011 BMW X5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls for the 2011 BMW X5: Loose VANOS Bolts Can Cause Engine Stall and Crash Risk; Passenger air bag may explode and spray metal fragments; Driver Airbag Inflator May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments; Passenger airbag may explode and spray metal shrapnel; Loose Engine Pulley Bolt Can Cause Sudden Steering Loss. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW X5?
Based on 263 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (110), Air Bags (70), Power Train (58).
How do I check if a recall on my 2011 BMW X5 has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.