2011 Bmw 5 SERIES
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Bmw 5 SERIES has 96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is tires problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: side wall bubbles on goodyear eagle ls2 run on flats supplied with 2011 bmw 550xi sport package when driving over small potholes or road imperfections. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
96
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TIRES
30 complaints- • SIDE WALL BUBBLES ON GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 RUN ON FLATS SUPPLIED WITH 2011 BMW 550XI SPORT PACKAGE WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL POTHOLES OR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS
- • DRIVING MY COMMUTE, THAT I PREVIOUSLY HAD TRAVELED ON LOW PROFILE TIRES IN MY PREVIOUS BMW FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT INCIDENT, I GOT A BUBBLED SIDEWALL ON MY BRAND NEW GOODYEAR RUN FLAT TIRE. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THESE BMW OEM TIRES WERE FAILING ALL OVER THE US. IT SEEMS THE TIRES WERE ONL
- • GOODYEAR LS2 RUN FLAT TIRE DEVELOPED A BUBBLE AFTER ONLY 170 MILES. *TR
“SIDE WALL BUBBLES ON GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 RUN ON FLATS SUPPLIED WITH 2011 BMW 550XI SPORT PACKAGE WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL POTHOLES OR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
20 complaints- • EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, I NOTICED IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND THE DEALER HAS NO FIX YET. *TR
- • I PURCHASED MY 2011 BMW 535I ON 06/23/10. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 1 MILE ON THE ODOMETER. AS I PULLED OFF THE DEALER?S LOT, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD A HARD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY TO FIX IT. THEIR EQUIPMENT SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECIF
- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 535I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD TO STEER TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER
“EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, I NOTICED IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND THE DEALER HAS NO FIX YET. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
10 complaints- • BRAND NEW 2011 BMW 528I IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND HAVING HESITATION AND JERKINESS ISSUES. *TR
- • TWO SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2011 BMW 535I: 1- STEERING: THE STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT ALSO CANNOT BE CONTROLLED IF ANY WIND IS BLOWING. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN JUST TO KEEP IT CENTERED. 2- TRANSMISSION: THE THROTTLE IS INITIALLY NON-RESPONSIVE FROM STOP OR LOW SPEEDS, THEN SUDDENLY IT JE
- • THERE ARE 3 MAJOR ISSUES. 1. VEHICLE TENDS TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. FEELING IS QUITE LIKE A VEHICLE THAT HASN'T BEEN ALIGNED FOR A WHILE. 2. THE MOST DANGEROUS. UPON ACCELERATION AND/OR AT LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY JERKS FORWARD WITHOUT ANY NOTICE- MAKING IT TOO LATE FOR THE DRIVER TO SLAM T
“BRAND NEW 2011 BMW 528I IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND HAVING HESITATION AND JERKINESS ISSUES. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
7 complaints- • I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2011 535I ON 7/11/10. THE CAR WAS BUILT ON 6/1/10. ON 9/5/10 (ODOMETER READING LESS THAN 2000 MILES), I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CAR REPORTED AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ERROR AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPO
- • I BOUGHT A 2011 BMW 535I ON NOVEMBER 30, 2010. ON DECEMBER 4, 2010, I EXPERIENCED CAR TROUBLE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND REDUCE POWER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY, BUT NOT BEFORE SHAKING VERY SHARPLY. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BMW RESPONSE W
- • THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES WHEN NOT ONLY ADDING ADDITIONAL SPEED WHILE DRIVING BUT WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, AS WELL. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND THERE IS OFTEN A LAG IN ACCELERATING WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED OR AT A LOW SPEED, CREATING A SAFETY
“I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2011 535I ON 7/11/10. THE CAR WAS BUILT ON 6/1/10. ON 9/5/10 (ODOMETER READING LESS THAN 2000 MILES), I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CAR REPORTED AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ERROR AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
6 complaints- • I PURCHASED 2011 MODEL BMW 535I IN AUGUST 2010. THERE ARE 3 CIGARETTE LIGHTER POWER OUTLETS INSIDE THE CAR AND ELECTRICITY IS SUPPLYING ALL THE TIME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER VEHICLE IS BEING LOCKED OR NOT. IF I USE ACCESSORIES LIKE GPS, CHARGER, COFFER WARMER ETC. AND LEFT IN THE LOCKED VEHICLE UNDER
- • JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. EXITED THE VEHICLE, OBSERVED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FLAMES FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, MOSTLY ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE ENGINE NOW. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FLA
- • INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. OTHER VEHICLE GOING SOUTHBOUND CROSSED OVER MEDIAN STRIP OF HIGHWAY, HIT THREE CARS GOING NORTHBOUND, MINE WAS THIRD CAR TO BE STRUCK. OFFENDING CAR DID A 360 IN FRONT OF ME, I SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 AND HE MOVED INTO ME. I STRUCK HIS REAR PASSENGER SIDE CORNER. I HAD FRONT END
“I PURCHASED 2011 MODEL BMW 535I IN AUGUST 2010. THERE ARE 3 CIGARETTE LIGHTER POWER OUTLETS INSIDE THE CAR AND ELECTRICITY IS SUPPLYING ALL THE TIME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER VEHICLE IS BEING LOCKED OR NOT. IF I USE ACCESSORIES LIKE GPS, CHARGER, COFFER WARMER ETC. AND LEFT IN THE LOCKED VEHICLE UNDER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 96 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TIRES: SIDE WALL BUBBLES ON GOODYEAR EAGLE LS2 RUN ON FLATS SUPPLIED WITH 2011 BMW 550XI SPORT PACKAGE WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL POTHOLES OR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, I NOTICED IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND THE DEALER HAS NO FIX YET. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: BRAND NEW 2011 BMW 528I IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND HAVING HESITATION AND JERKINESS ISSUES. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2011 535I ON 7/11/10. THE CAR WAS BUILT ON 6/1/10. ON 9/5/10 (ODOMETER READING LESS THAN 2000 MILES), I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CAR REPORTED AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ERROR AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw 5 SERIES — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 96
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Bmw 5 SERIES