2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV recalls and problems

The 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV has 2 safety recalls and 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

1 / 0

Injuries / deaths

2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV recalls

Recall 16V-311: Power Train

Reported May 17, 2016 · 21,493 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 X5 xDrive 35i, xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles manufactured April 5, 2010, to November 20, 2010, 2011 X5 xDrive35d diesel vehicles manufactured April 7, 2010, to November 20, 2010, and 2011 X6 Active Hybrid vehicles manufactured April 15, 2010, to November 17, 2010. The affected vehicles have a front driveshaft universal joint that may not seal out water and debris from getting in and damaging the joint, which could lead to its failure.

Risk: If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction. Additionally, continued driving of the vehicle with a broken front universal joint may damage other components. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall 11V-332: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Jun 23, 2011 · 923 vehicles affected · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Problem: Bmw is recalling certain model year 2011, x5 diesel sports activity vehicles (Sav) manufactured from march 31, 2011, through may 19, 2011. Due to a component manufacturing error at the supplier, the welds in the belt tensioner could have incipient cracks. Over time, this could lead a malfunction of the belt tensioner.

Risk: If the belt tensioner fails, there could be a sudden loss of power steering assistance, if power steering assist is lost, manual steering capability is still retained and could increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the engine belt tensioner free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during august 2011. Owners may contact bmw customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417, or via email at customerrelations@bmwusa.com.

2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Engine	18
Air Bags	10
Fuel/Propulsion System	9
Power Train	5
Unknown or Other	5
Steering	3
Wheels	2
Structure	2
Electrical System	2
Tires	1
Service Brakes	1
Suspension	1

Most reported parts

Structure › Body — 2

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 89,500 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · at 76,400 miles · reported Jun 13, 2019

My wife was driving on the expressway with speed limit of 50 miles / per hour. Suddenly the car showed "engine malfuction - power reduced" and she couldn't keep the speed and car starting losing speed and dropped to 10 miles / hour, she had to pull off the road to avoid the danger of being hit by other cars on the busy expressway. After she pullled over and called me, I drove to the place where she parked the car and used a code reader to found some error code "47c4", but after restarted car, car seemed ok. I dropped the car at bmw mountain view dealer and they found the "low pressure EGR" was…

Air Bags · at 107,300 miles · reported May 21, 2019

The passenger restraint light is on. Dealer reports there is a fault stored for the passenger side seat mat. I understand that bmw has had recalls for this problem in previous model years.

Engine · at 89,500 miles · reported Apr 3, 2019

Check engine light triggered . Two issues: - the dealer diagnosed a problem with the sensor in the diesel-exhaust-fluid passive tank. The sensor is built into the tank, so the entire tank needs to be replaced. The vehicle is no longer under the original warranty and there is no warranty extension on this part. - the EGR cooler, which is specific to diesel engine powered bmws has a crack. This cooler is needed to cool the temperature of the air moving through the EGR valve. This part is not considered part of the emissions system, so not covered. There is no warranty extension either on this…

Engine · at 95,000 miles · reported Apr 3, 2019

The issue started with exhaust fume in the cabin for 2-3 days. Followed by air leaking sound from the engine bay on low RPM. Vehicle went in and out of limp mode (Getting "engine malfunctioned / reduced power" message) while driving which was very dangerous on highway or merging into traffic. Dealer found out that the EGR cooler was cracked.

Fuel/Propulsion System · reported Jan 22, 2019

Leaking EGR cooler. Dealer stated that if issue is not repaired a potential fire hazard exists. A recall was issued for VIN specific vehicles but others with the same issue are not covered by the recall.

Other BMW X5 Diesel SAV years

No other model years have data.

Compare all BMW X5 Diesel SAV years · All BMW models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV: 16V-311 (power train), 11V-332 (engine and engine cooling). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV?

Owners report engine problems most often (18 reports), followed by air bags (10). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 89,500 miles.

Are BMW recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.