Model year record

2011 BMW X5 Sav recalls & problems

The 2011 BMW X5 Sav has 3 safety recalls and 24 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (10 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints24filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsFeb 5, 2016

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 16V071000840,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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 coolingApr 10, 2014

Engine

Recall 14V176000156,137 vehicles

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 coolingNov 27, 2012

Engine › Diesel

Recall 12V55000029,800 vehicles

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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Components: Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel; Steering › Hydraulic power assist system

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	Typical mileage*
Engine	10	82,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	7	73,500 mi
Power train	7	79,000 mi
Unknown or other	3	—
Air bags	3	—
Electrical system	2	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	2	—
Vehicle speed control	2	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	—
Seats	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Engine
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.
Feb 28, 2018 · 82,000 miles
Engine
ENGINE CLICKS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATION
Oct 30, 2018 · 93,000 miles
Engine
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 WAS TRAVELING ON A MAIN CITY ROAD AND MY CAR WENT INTO REDUCED POWER MODE.
Mar 28, 2018 · 125,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
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 SIGNATURE INDEPENDENT KIRKLAND. BMW OF BELLEVUE REPLACED AIR MASS FILTER AND OIL FILLER CAP. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ISSUE HAPPENING AGAIN DURING REGULAR DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A VACUUM HOSE LEAK. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR SHORT, BMW OF NORTH…
Dec 16, 2017 · 74,500 miles
Unknown or other
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 PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Oct 26, 2017 · 44,063 miles
Engine
X5 XDRIVE 35I SAV; WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL STREET AND HIGHWAY CONDITIONS, VEHICLE SPEED AND ENGINE RPM HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE AND DECREASE IT'S SPEED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY AS YOU MAY LOSE POWER, OR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE WHILE TRYING TO EXECUTE A DRIVING MANEUVER, CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO BMW DEALERSHIP (ZT MOTORS) FOR DIAGNOSTICS. SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP INDICATED A LOW FUEL PRESSURE AT THE INLET. THIS WOULD TELL ME THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS NOT DELIVERING THE CORRECT FUEL FLOW/PRESSURE TO THE…
Sep 15, 2017 · 93,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
MY VEHICLE IS HAVING A RECALL REGARDING THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP SINCE OCTOBER 2016 BMW OF SAN DIEGO HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT PART IN A TIMELY MANNER AND BMW OF EL CAJON HAS JUST PROVIDED THE NECESSARY PART FOR MY PERSONAL VEHICLE I HAVE WAITED ALMOST A YEAR FOR A PART TO BE PROVIDED FOR MY VEHICLE. MOREOVER, THE CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES IN IGNITION AND STALLING DUE TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND POSSIBLY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE DERIVED FROM THIS SPECIFIC RECALL. OTHER ISSUES REGARDING THE ENGINE COULD BE IN QUESTION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE RARELY SHUTS BY ITSELF WHEN STARTING THE IGNITION, ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM INVOLVING COLD STARTS IN MOST BMW VEHICLES AND MY CAR…
Sep 18, 2017 · 74,000 miles
Engine
DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON VACATION AND THE ENGINE WOULD STUDDER AND STALL ON THE HIGHWAY AND AN ERROR PROMPTED ON THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD THAT DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" REDUCED POWER. OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD CUT OFF WHILE ON THE ROAD AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT IT HAS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL IT SHOWED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS SOME PROBLEMATIC MODELS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON BOTH LOCAL ROADS AND THE HIGHWAY. IN ONE OCCASION, I NEEDED TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET IT TO A SAFE LOCATION.
Aug 26, 2017

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

NHTSA defect investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021
Idler Pulley Bolt FailureClosedLed to recall 18V336000
In a May 23, 2018 letter, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a safety defect that may result in the loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2009 through 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d vehicles (Recall 18V-336). The recall, which affects approximately 33,214 vehicles built from March 12, 2008 through June 27, 2013, corrects the remedy and expands the scope of a prior BMW recall (12V-550) which addressed idle pulley bolt failure in approximately 29,800 MY 2009 through 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d vehicles built from September 1, 2008 through November 15, 2012. BMW's analysis indicates that due to a number of contributing factors it is possible that the bolt's pre-stressing force could drop to an extent that it results in the bolt becoming loosened over time. A loosening of the bolt could cause additional bending stress…
RQ18001 · opened Apr 18, 2018 · closed Dec 1, 2018