KnownCarProblems2011 BMW 5 Series Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 5 Series, most often about the wheels and tires (40% of complaints, typically around 3,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about 5 Series model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2011 BMW 5 Series problems
Wheels and tires
32 complaints · 40%Half of these problems showed up before 3,500 miles.
2011 BMW 550i xdrive with m-sport package has goodyear eagle ls-2 245/40r19 98v tires. The right front tire developed 3 minor bubbles on sidewall and the left front developed one major bubble and 2 small bubbles on sidewall within 3,500 miles and both tires need to be replaced. I've driven on the same roads for over…
Air bubbles on goodyear eagle ls2 (made in germany) run flat tire 245/40r19 94y installed on BMW 535xi. ! Tire replaced following a bubble immediately after driving through a small pothole. Very delicate tires, concerned about safety.
Steering
20 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 0 miles.
BMW 2011 535i - vehicle pulls to right immediately after letting hand of steering wheel. I purchased the vehicle on 12/31/2011 new and it has been in the shop since 1/2/11. It was released to me today with the problem not being fixed. Issue is a safety issue as it can pull vehicle into lane with out driver turning…
Vehicle ran off of right edge of road due to steering pulling to the right. Right wheels/tires suffered $2400 damage. Tires/wheels replace, alignment done and car still pulls to the right. This is a defect from BMW - numerous US owners are experiencing problems with steering on 2011 BMW 5 Series cars (see other NHTSA…
Transmission
10 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 0 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
BMW 528i when starting out from a stop,the car creeps out slowly and when more pressure is applied to the gas pedal it jumps forward very fast and unexpectedly. This is very dangerous in traffic and could easily cause a crash. This happens randomly and unexpected. When coming on to the freeway the transmission will…
After purchasing a new 2011 BMW 528i (vehicle) I noticed an acceleration lag starting out from a dead stop. It has become a safety concern, especially when trying to turn onto a street from a stop sign. It crawls into the roadway when moderate pressure is applied to the gas pedal. If oncoming traffic is close this…
Engine
7 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 5-series. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle did not restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the timing chain failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
The contact owns aâ 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…
Electrical
6 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 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.
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…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 6%I bought a 2011 BMW 535i 3 weeks ago. Upon driving on local streets, the car stopped abruptly from 30mph to 0mph. My car has under 2000 miles on it. Stuck in the middle of an intersection, with "fuel pump malfunction", and "engine malfunction" on the onboard dash. I hit my head on the steering wheel when this…
The first time it happened, my wife drove our 2011 BMW 535i to work and the fuel gauge was reading half tank. It's only approx. 20 miles to work round trip to our house but when she came back home the fuel gauge was almost empty and flashing warning light fuel refill is showing. I drove the car for the past few days…
Speed control
3 complaints · 4%The contact owns a 2011 BMW 5 Series. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the contact approached a stop sign and depressed the brake pedal when the vehicle suddenly accelerated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the failure occurred due to driver…
Other or unspecified
3 complaints · 4%The driver door does not shut intermittently the door release, door unlock/lock, door handle does not release the state. The car won't move because the door is not locked, it can take upwards of a few hours of tinkling to get this going again. The dealer has diligently changed so many parts and its not that they are…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 BMW 5 Series recalls
Engine
Risk: Loose or broken vanos unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: turbo/supercharger
Risk: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: turbo/supercharger
Risk: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: fuel gauge system
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2011 BMW 5 Series
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 5 Series?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: wheels and tires (32 complaints, typically around 3,500 miles); steering (20 complaints, typically around 0 miles); transmission (10 complaints, typically around 0 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 BMW 5 Series have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 20, 2023 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the BMW 5 Series?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about 5 Series model year since 2000, with 81 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.