2011 Bmw X5

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw X5 has 395 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw x5. the contact stated that the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who replaced the fuel pump. in addition, the driver side window was making a loud noise but the contact was unsure of the diagnosis and the repair. . ⚠️ 22 fire reports filed.

22 fire reports 6 crash reports 5 injuries

395

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

120 complaints

30%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE REPAIR.
• 2012 BMW X5. UPON ENGINE START UP WHEN COLD, THE ENGINE SURGES EXCESSIVELY. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED DURING THE SURGING (FLUCTUATING RPM) THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD/REVERSE CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *KB
• ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WARNING LAMPS INDICATED REDUCED POWER. SEVERAL OCCURRENCES WERE AT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. CAR WOULD RESTART AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CAR WAS LEFT WITH BMW FOR SERVICE. HOWEVER, BMW SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE REPAIR. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

70 complaints

18%

• I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED SOMEONE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAVE CHEST AND RIB PAIN. EVEN DEPLOYED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FULLY INFLATED. *TR
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V364000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE
• I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG RECALL IN MARCH OF 2016, AND JUST LEARNED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED IN MAY OF 2016. ALL EFFORTS TO LEARN STATUS OF PARTS AVAILABILITY HAVE GONE UNRESPONDEDED TO. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A RESULT OF THE REPRESENTATIONS WHICH WERE MADE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED SOMEONE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAVE CHEST AND RIB PAIN. EVEN DEPLOYED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FULLY INFLATED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

58 complaints

15%

• I OWN A 2011 BMW X5 35I PREMIUM. I FIND IT INEXCUSABLE TO HAVE BRAKE DUST CONTINUALLY RUINING MY WHEELS, WHICH DEALER STATES THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. THIS CAR IS JERKY WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING AROUND TOWN. ALSO, CARS ENGINE ROARS LOUDLY UPON STARTING.....SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT! VERY HARD RIDE, GIV
• 2012 BMW X5. UPON ENGINE START UP WHEN COLD, THE ENGINE SURGES EXCESSIVELY. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED DURING THE SURGING (FLUCTUATING RPM) THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD/REVERSE CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *KB
• ON NOVEMBER 28, 2011, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON AND VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR. AFTER 30 MINUTES, FAULT WENT AWAY AND VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO HOME ADDRESS. ON DECEMBER 14TH THE SAME FAULT APPEARED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SENT TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. IT TOOK BMW 8 DAYS TO REP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I OWN A 2011 BMW X5 35I PREMIUM. I FIND IT INEXCUSABLE TO HAVE BRAKE DUST CONTINUALLY RUINING MY WHEELS, WHICH DEALER STATES THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. THIS CAR IS JERKY WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING AROUND TOWN. ALSO, CARS ENGINE ROARS LOUDLY UPON STARTING.....SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT! VERY HARD RIDE, GIV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

43 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE REPAIR.
• 2012 BMW X5. UPON ENGINE START UP WHEN COLD, THE ENGINE SURGES EXCESSIVELY. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED DURING THE SURGING (FLUCTUATING RPM) THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD/REVERSE CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *KB
• ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WARNING LAMPS INDICATED REDUCED POWER. SEVERAL OCCURRENCES WERE AT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. CAR WOULD RESTART AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CAR WAS LEFT WITH BMW FOR SERVICE. HOWEVER, BMW SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

22 complaints

• CAN I GET LISTING OF ANY OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN ON 2011 BMW X5 35D MANUFACTURED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2010. THANKS *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE REPAIR.
• IT FEEL LIKE THE CAR WAS VIBRATING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I TOOK THE EXIT SO I CAN PULL OVER AND IT STARTED MAKING CLANKING SOUND UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT...WHEN CHECKED UNDER THE CAR DRIVE SHAFT IS MISSING SCREW AS IT CAME OFF AND HITTING THE GROUND AND CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE...NOT SURE WHAT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“CAN I GET LISTING OF ANY OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN ON 2011 BMW X5 35D MANUFACTURED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2010. THANKS *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 395 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE REPAIR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED SOMEONE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I HAVE CHEST AND RIB PAIN. EVEN DEPLOYED THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FULLY INFLATED. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I OWN A 2011 BMW X5 35I PREMIUM. I FIND IT INEXCUSABLE TO HAVE BRAKE DUST CONTINUALLY RUINING MY WHEELS, WHICH DEALER STATES THERE IS NO RESOLUTION. THIS CAR IS JERKY WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING AROUND TOWN. ALSO, CARS ENGINE ROARS LOUDLY UPON STARTING.....SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT! VERY HARD RIDE, GIV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE REPAIR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)