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Bmw

2011 Bmw X5 SAV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw X5 SAV has 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: on december 26, 2012, while driving north at a high speed in heavy traffic in the second lane on a four lane segment of highway 11 kenoelehua highway at its merging junction with the highway 130 keaau bypass road, an engine partial malfunction occurred causing deceleration and a complete engine shut.

38

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

11 complaints
29%
  • ON DECEMBER 26, 2012, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND LANE ON A FOUR LANE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY 11 KENOELEHUA HIGHWAY AT ITS MERGING JUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAY 130 KEAAU BYPASS ROAD, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT
  • THIS COMPLAINT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE RECALL LISTED BELOW. EVEN THOUGH THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED IN APRIL, NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. THE VERY THING THE RECALL WAS TRYING TO PREVENT, HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: APR 10, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 I WAS
  • THIS COMPLAINT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE RECALL LISTED BELOW. EVEN THOUGH THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED IN APRIL, NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. THE VERY THING THE RECALL WAS TRYING TO PREVENT, HAPPENED TO ME AND MY FAMILY. REPORT RECEIPT DATE: APR 10, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 I WAS
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

ON DECEMBER 26, 2012, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND LANE ON A FOUR LANE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY 11 KENOELEHUA HIGHWAY AT ITS MERGING JUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAY 130 KEAAU BYPASS ROAD, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

7 complaints
18%
  • ON DECEMBER 26, 2012, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND LANE ON A FOUR LANE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY 11 KENOELEHUA HIGHWAY AT ITS MERGING JUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAY 130 KEAAU BYPASS ROAD, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT
  • THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ALONG WITH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SENSOR AND INJECTOR HAS FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAKING IT AN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
  • THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. UPON MERGING ON TO A HIGHWAY THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS OCCURRED: BACKFIRING, LOSS OF POWER, MISFIRES, AND REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN NOMINAL FUEL PRESSURE IN THE FUEL RAIL. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS REP
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

ON DECEMBER 26, 2012, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND LANE ON A FOUR LANE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY 11 KENOELEHUA HIGHWAY AT ITS MERGING JUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAY 130 KEAAU BYPASS ROAD, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints
18%
  • MY VEHICLES PURCHASED LAST YEAR FROM BMW LOCAL DEALER {JACKIE COOPER IMPORTS] IS EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED ENGINES .THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP OVERHEATED. THIS LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT . BMW WAS SUPPOSED TO NOTI
  • WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH EB ON INTERSTATE 10, BILOXI, MS AREA, A SUDDEN RUMBLING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD POP AND SEVERE BANGING AND VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOSS POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO MANEUVER THROUGH MODERATE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC IN DANGEROUS COND
  • AT 84,500 MILES, DURING FRONT DRIVESHAFT RECALL SERVICE, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED TRANSFER CASE. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE VIBRATION DURING ACCELERATION, AND TURNING.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

MY VEHICLES PURCHASED LAST YEAR FROM BMW LOCAL DEALER {JACKIE COOPER IMPORTS] IS EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED ENGINES .THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP OVERHEATED. THIS LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT . BMW WAS SUPPOSED TO NOTI

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints
8%
  • IN 5 YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR 4 TIMES. THE FIRST THREE TIMES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE LAST ONE I HAD TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-POCKET.
  • WATER PUMP I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I GOT THE SIGNAL TO DRIVE SLOW OR MODERATE BECAUSE THE ENGINE IT'S GETTING HOT I PULLED OVER TURN OFF THE CAR GOT OUTSIDE TO SMOKE A CIGARETTE AND I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING MORE LIKE WIRE BURNING
  • 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] INFORMATI
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

IN 5 YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR 4 TIMES. THE FIRST THREE TIMES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE LAST ONE I HAD TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-POCKET.

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

3 complaints
8%
  • DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG RECALL IN FEBRUARY AND WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PART. 6 MONTHS IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
  • I RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016 FOR MY DRIVERS FRONT AIR BAG, RECEIVED ANOTHER ONE JULY 2016 FOR PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG. WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER ONE'S I WILL RECEIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED. ALL I HEAR IS BY SUMMER, THEN BY MID SUMMER NOW, THEY DON'T KNOW. BUT THEY SUGGEST I
  • WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED: RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION! FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. ALSO DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT CONTROL NOT WORKING.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG RECALL IN FEBRUARY AND WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PART. 6 MONTHS IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 38 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ENGINE: ON DECEMBER 26, 2012, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND LANE ON A FOUR LANE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY 11 KENOELEHUA HIGHWAY AT ITS MERGING JUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAY 130 KEAAU BYPASS ROAD, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • FUEL SYSTEM: ON DECEMBER 26, 2012, WHILE DRIVING NORTH AT A HIGH SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE SECOND LANE ON A FOUR LANE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY 11 KENOELEHUA HIGHWAY AT ITS MERGING JUNCTION WITH THE HIGHWAY 130 KEAAU BYPASS ROAD, AN ENGINE PARTIAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED CAUSING DECELERATION AND A COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • TRANSMISSION: MY VEHICLES PURCHASED LAST YEAR FROM BMW LOCAL DEALER {JACKIE COOPER IMPORTS] IS EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED ENGINES .THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP OVERHEATED. THIS LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT . BMW WAS SUPPOSED TO NOTI

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: IN 5 YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR 4 TIMES. THE FIRST THREE TIMES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE LAST ONE I HAD TO PAY FOR OUT-OF-POCKET.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Bmw X5 SAV — 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
38
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

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