Model year record

2011 BMW 5 Series recalls & problems

The 2011 BMW 5 Series has 4 safety recalls and 81 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is tires (30 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints81filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingOct 20, 2023

Engine

Recall 23V707000157,796 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
Risk: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Engine and engine coolingApr 10, 2012

Engine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger

Recall 12V1610002,846 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2012 6-SERIES CONVERTIBLE, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Engine and engine coolingOct 20, 2011

Engine › Other fuel types › Turbo/supercharger

Recall 11V52100032,084 vehicles

Problem: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 7-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 X5 SAV, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Fuel system, otherJul 22, 2010

Storage › Fuel gauge system

Recall 10V3310006,080 vehicles

Problem: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2010 AND 2011 5-SERIES AND 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 12 THROUGH JULY 1, 2010. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WITHIN THE FUEL TANK CAN BECOME WEDGED AGAINST THE TANK.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD DISPLAY A LARGER AMOUNT OF FUEL THAN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. AS A RESULT, IF THE TANK BECAME EMPTY, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Tires	30	0	0	0	3,350 mi
Steering	20	1	0	1	72 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission	10	1	0	1	200 mi
Electrical system	6	1	2	0	37,846 mi
Engine and engine cooling	4	0	0	0	2,984 mi
Vehicle speed control	3	0	0	0	500 mi
Unknown or other	3	1	0	1	26,000 mi
Wheels	3	0	0	0	78,800 mi
Engine	3	0	0	0	64,000 mi
Fuel system, other	2	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasoline	2	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling
The contact owns aÂ 2011 BMW 5 Series. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as a camshaft failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number- 14V176000 ( Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000. The VIN was not available.
Mar 17, 2023 · 67,000 miles
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Fan/motor
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 5-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN WHICH THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO FUNCTION FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER. DUE TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. BMW OF WILMINGTON (4920 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403, (910) 392-2700) STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TESTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. VOLVO CARS NEW BERN (3405 DOCTOR M.L.K. JR BLVD, NEW BERN, NC 28562, (252) 638-6161) DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE…
Jun 13, 2019 · 38,000 miles
Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING WITH AC ON SMOKE STARTED COMING HEAVILY FOR THE INTERIOR AC VENTS. A VERY TOXIC SMOKE, WITH ELECTRICAL SMELL. I NOTICED THE BMW 3 SERIES HAS A RECALL ON ELECTRICAL BLOWER PROBLEM. I THINK MY CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE.
Mar 20, 2019 · 37,846 miles
Engine
WHILE MAKE TURNS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AXEL MAKES POPPING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS VIOLENTLY. TOOK TO SHOP THEY SAID NOTHING FOUND WRONG WITH CAR. CV AXEL REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.ALSO NOT EVEN 10K MILES THE CAR WENT THRU 2 BELT TENSIONER CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO SNAP/TEAR.
Dec 28, 2017 · 89,000 miles
Electrical system
MY AC FAN MOTOR HAS STARTED TO MAKE A WEIRD NOISE WHEN YOU LIFT THE FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY
Mar 1, 2018
Steering
A FEW DAYS BACK MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE LIKE ONE OF THE RUBBERS HAVE GONE BAD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 55K MILES ON IT AND IS MAJORLY GARAGE KEPT. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS OF THE SAME ISSUE. YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE AT: HTTP://F30.BIMMERPOST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=838504 YOU CAN HEAR THE SQUEAK IF THE CAR IS DRIVING OR IS STATIC.
Mar 26, 2018
Engine
POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION PCV VALVE HEATER THIS IS A RECALL BMW STATES REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE YET.
Sep 22, 2017 · 64,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 16V-746 WAS ISSUED 13 OCT 2016. TO DATE BMW HAS YET TO TO NOTIFY US TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECT - NEARLY 6 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. WE BELIEVE THIS AN UNACCEPTABLY LONG WAIT FOR WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ACTION FROM NHTSA OR OTHER FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO COMPEL BMW TO ACCELERATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECALL ORDER. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO DIE IN A FIERY MADE FOR TV NEWS ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY??? FIX MY CAR!!
Oct 13, 2016

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.