2011 BMW X5 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 307 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW X5. The most-reported areas: Engine (128), Air Bags (77), Power Train (63).
Key takeaways
- 307 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 6 involve a crash, 15 a fire, 6 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 128 | 42% |
| Air Bags | 77 | 25% |
| Power Train | 63 | 21% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 45 | 15% |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 | 8% |
| Electrical System | 21 | 7% |
| Steering | 21 | 7% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 10 | 3% |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 2% |
| Fuel System | 7 | 2% |
| Gasoline | 7 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 BMW X5 SUV 4WD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-05-09
There's currently an open recall for a number of BMW engines involving aluminum bolts in the vanos assembly that shear, strip, and break off completely. The open recall is somehow excluding some vehicles with the same exact problem like my 2011 BMW X5 xdrive35i N55 E70 with the inline 6. Currently my vanos bolts are al...
Electrical System,unknown Or Other - filed 2025-07-21
The comfort access door handle, got so hot it started to melt the plastic exterior handle and produce a lot of smoke would have caught fire if i didn't turn off car and disconnect electrical signal to the cas handle
Electrical System,engine - filed 2025-05-27
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistanc...
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More for the 2011 BMW X5
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.