2011 BMW 5 Series recalls and problems

The 2011 BMW 5 Series has 4 recalls and 81 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is tires.

How the 2011 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 13 5 Series model years — 3rd most.

4recalls

81complaints

2crashes

2fires

1injuries

2,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Engine

Oct 20, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V707000 · 157,796 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Engine

Apr 10, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V161000 · 2,846 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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.

This recall is an expansion of safety recall 11V521.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Oct 20, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V521000 · 32,084 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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.

This recall was expanded to include additional vehicles in April 2012.see recall no. 12V161.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Fuel System

Jul 22, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V331000 · 6,080 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Tires30

Unknown or other3

Vehicle Speed Control3

Wheels3

Suspension2

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2011 vs. other BMW 5 Series years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2011. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2011 BMW 5 Series have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2011 BMW 5 Series, the latest from Oct 20, 2023 (engine). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 5 Series?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention tires (30), steering (20), power train (10). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.