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BMW · NHTSA safety record

2011 BMW 5 Series

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

81

Complaints

2

Crashes

2

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 BMW 5 Series have filed 81 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2010 and March 2023. The most complained-about system is the tires, named in 30 of them (37%). The typical failure was reported at 2,000 miles, the median across the 73 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

23V707000 · October 20, 2023

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
The risk
Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 157,796 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

12V161000 · April 10, 2012

The defect
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2012 6-SERIES CONVERTIBLE, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
The risk
THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC · up to 2,846 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

11V521000 · October 20, 2011

The defect
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 7-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 X5 SAV, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
The risk
THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC · up to 32,084 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

10V331000 · July 22, 2010

The defect
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2010 AND 2011 5-SERIES AND 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 12 THROUGH JULY 1, 2010. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WITHIN THE FUEL TANK CAN BECOME WEDGED AGAINST THE TANK.
The risk
IF THIS OCCURS, THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD DISPLAY A LARGER AMOUNT OF FUEL THAN WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. AS A RESULT, IF THE TANK BECAME EMPTY, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC · up to 6,080 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 81.

TIRES 30 37%
STEERING 20 25%
POWER TRAIN 10 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 5%
ENGINE 3 4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 4%
WHEELS 3 4%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 2%
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 2 2%
SUSPENSION 2 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2011 at 42.

2010 2011 2023
2010 to 2023

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · crash · 40 miles

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 THE BRAKES. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS STANDING THREE FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, YOU CAN EASILY CRASH AND REAR END INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU. AND OF COURSE, YOU WILL BE SUED FOR NOT KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE. THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES. 3. VEHICLE WOBBLES AS IF THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED. THERE ARE CLEARLY UNKNOWN DEFECTS THAT CAN NOT BE LOCATED. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL

NHTSA complaint 10418816, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 3,000 miles

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 FLAMES, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN THEIR LOT WAITING FOR THEIR INVESTIGATORS TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST COMMENT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, MAYBE AN ANIMAL BUILT A NEST IN THE ENGINE AREA. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3000 MILES ON IT, PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2011, AND IS GARAGE KEPT. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10456604. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 40,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES WITH SEAT WARMERS ON MY HUSBAND (DRIVER) TURNED IT OFF. WE WERE TRAVELLING ON SUBURBAN ROADS AROUND 40 MPH. THEN AT A STOP LIGHT HE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. WE CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THEN I NOTICED THE SMELL A FEW SECONDS LATER, SO I OPENED A WINDOW EXPECTING TO FIND SMELL A FIRE NEARBY OR HEAR SIRENS. AT THAT POINT WE SAW A PLOOM OF SMOKE COME FROM UNDER HIS SEAT TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OPEN WINDOW. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND TURNED EVERYTHING OFF. THE SMOKE TOOK SOME TIME TO CLEAR BUT DID STOP. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WE DROVE 1 MILE TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD COST

NHTSA complaint 10870649, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · 50,400 miles

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 DAMAGE OVER $5K. NO AIRBAG, BUT DEFAULT MESSAGES AND AN AIRBAG ICON CAME ON THE VIDEO SCREEN AND THE FRONT INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT STATES "DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OR RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." *JS

NHTSA complaint 10661924. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 67,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 5 Series. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as a camshaft failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number- 14V176000 ( Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint 11512985. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

38,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 5-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN WHICH THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO FUNCTION FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER. DUE TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. BMW OF WILMINGTON (4920 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403, (910) 392-2700) STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TESTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. VOLVO CARS NEW BERN (3405 DOCTOR M.L.K. JR BLVD, NEW BERN, NC 28562, (252) 638-6161) DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE

NHTSA complaint 11221190, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

37,846 miles

WHILE DRIVING WITH AC ON SMOKE STARTED COMING HEAVILY FOR THE INTERIOR AC VENTS. A VERY TOXIC SMOKE, WITH ELECTRICAL SMELL. I NOTICED THE BMW 3 SERIES HAS A RECALL ON ELECTRICAL BLOWER PROBLEM. I THINK MY CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint 11191722. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

89,000 miles

WHILE MAKE TURNS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AXEL MAKES POPPING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS VIOLENTLY. TOOK TO SHOP THEY SAID NOTHING FOUND WRONG WITH CAR. CV AXEL REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.ALSO NOT EVEN 10K MILES THE CAR WENT THRU 2 BELT TENSIONER CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO SNAP/TEAR.

NHTSA complaint 11155399. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
A FEW DAYS BACK MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE LIKE ONE OF THE RUBBERS HAVE GONE BAD IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 55K MILES ON IT AND IS MAJORLY GARAGE KEPT. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS OF THE SAME ISSUE. YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE AT: YOU CAN HEAR THE SQUEAK IF THE CAR IS DRIVING OR IS STATIC.

NHTSA complaint 11083506. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY AC FAN MOTOR HAS STARTED TO MAKE A WEIRD NOISE WHEN YOU LIFT THE FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY

NHTSA complaint 11083512. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW 5 Series

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2012 10 0 —

Other 2011 BMW models

328I 574 X5 263 528I 117 535I 112 X3 112 335I 97 550I 84 328XI 67

Every BMW on this site — 249 vehicles, 484 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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