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2011 BMW 5 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

73 reports with mileage · 8 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
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67,000 miles · Mar 21, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling

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). T…

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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 ODI #11512985

200 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES WHEN NOT ONLY ADDING ADDITIONAL SPEED WHILE DRIVING BUT WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, AS WELL. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND THERE IS OFTEN A LAG IN ACCELERATING WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED OR AT A LOW SPEED, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN. NOT ONLY IS THERE A S…

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THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION ISSUES WHEN NOT ONLY ADDING ADDITIONAL SPEED WHILE DRIVING BUT WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, AS WELL. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND THERE IS OFTEN A LAG IN ACCELERATING WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED OR AT A LOW SPEED, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN. NOT ONLY IS THERE A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT HOW A $51,000 LUXURY SEDAN SHOULD DRIVE -- IT IS RATHER ROUGH AND ANNOYING TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO IDLES AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED OR NO SPEED WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AFTER SITTING FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. IN THIS CASE, I HAVE TO APPLY A DECENT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR EVEN TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425302

4,000 miles · Mar 23, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

I BOUGHT A 2011 BMW 535I ON NOVEMBER 30, 2010. ON DECEMBER 4, 2010, I EXPERIENCED CAR TROUBLE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND REDUCE POWER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY, BUT NOT BEFORE SHAKING VERY SHARPLY. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BMW RESPONSE WAS "SAFE MODE". ON DECEMBER 9,…

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I BOUGHT A 2011 BMW 535I ON NOVEMBER 30, 2010. ON DECEMBER 4, 2010, I EXPERIENCED CAR TROUBLE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND REDUCE POWER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY, BUT NOT BEFORE SHAKING VERY SHARPLY. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BMW RESPONSE WAS "SAFE MODE". ON DECEMBER 9, 2010 THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AGAIN FOR THE SAME ISSUES, THEY REPLACED A FUEL SENSOR. ON DECEMBER 30, 2010, THE CAR WAS BEING SERVICED AGAIN, THEY REPLACED THE HIGH AND LOW FUEL PUMPS. AFTER BEING DRIVEN HOME BY THE SERVICE MANGER OF BMW JUST TO INSURE THAT THE CAR WAS FIXED, IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN ON HIM ON DECEMBER 31, 2010. THEY REPLACED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AGAIN, THE SECOND TIME IN TWO DAYS. THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME ON JANUARY 13, 2011. ON MARCH 17, 2010 THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AGAIN FOR LONG CRANK TIME, AND FOR NOT START SOMETIMES AT ALL. I AM ALSO A PREVIOUS OWNER OF RECALLED 335, WHICH I TRADED FOR THIS VEHICLE. OUT OF THE FIVE TIMES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICE, TWO OF THOSE TIMES IT BROKE DOWN WHILE IN TRAFFIC COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, ONCE WHILE ON A FREEWAY. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA TAKE THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY. THERE ARE MANY MORE COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ON BIMMERFEST.COM, AND ALSO THE INTERNET. BMW WILL NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THEY ARE PLAYING WITH MY FAMILY'S LIFE, OTHER BMW OWNERS, AND OTHER MOTORIST THAT OCCUPY THE ROADS WITH BMW CUSTOMERS. THIS VEHICLE IS A HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS NOW. MY OPINION AS A MULTIPLE BMW OWNER IS THAT BMW IS OPERATING WITH MALICE AT THIS POINT. PLEASE YOU ALL ARE OUR ONLY HOPE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392634

1,969 miles · Sep 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2011 535I ON 7/11/10. THE CAR WAS BUILT ON 6/1/10. ON 9/5/10 (ODOMETER READING LESS THAN 2000 MILES), I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CAR REPORTED AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ERROR AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND STEERING LOCKED UP. TH…

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I TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW 2011 535I ON 7/11/10. THE CAR WAS BUILT ON 6/1/10. ON 9/5/10 (ODOMETER READING LESS THAN 2000 MILES), I WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CAR REPORTED AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION ERROR AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CAR WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. INITIAL ANALYSIS FROM THE BMW DEALERSHIP WAS THAT THE ERROR RECORDED (FAULT STORED FOR VALVETRONIC SYSTEM. DEVIATION TOO GREAT. FREQUENCY 1 LOGISTICS 38.) DID NOT POINT TO A SPECIFIC COMPONENT FAILURE. THE ERROR DID INDICATE THAT A CERTAIN SOFTWARE LEVEL SHOULD BE LOADED IN THE CAR, BUT THE BMW DEALERSHIP SAID I ALREADY HAD THE CORRECT SOFTWARE LEVEL LOADED. THEY RELOADED THE SOFTWARE LEVEL ANYWAY. THE BMW DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS OF TESTING AND DRIVING, BUT COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER 3 DAYS, THE BMW DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY NOTICED THAT I ACTUALLY DID NOT ORIGINALLY HAVE THE LATEST SOFTWARE PATCH LEVEL INSTALLED IN MY CAR. SO, THE ONLY FIX PROVIDED BY BMW FOR MY ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND SHUTDOWN WAS LOADING A NEW SOFTWARE PATCH LEVEL (PROGRAM I LEVEL NEW F010-10-06-512), THE PREVIOUS SOFTWARE LEVEL LOADED IN MY CAR AT THE PLANT WAS PROGRAM I LEVEL PLANT F010-10-06-511. IT SHOULD BE NOTED, WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP, THEY DID INSTALL THE FIX FOR THE FUEL TANK SENSOR RECALL (BULLETIN 121410). BUT, THE FUEL TANK SENSOR PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED, BECAUSE I HAD AN ACTUAL HALF TANK OF FUEL IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF MY ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356826

Official recalls

4

23V707000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Oct 20, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

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.

12V161000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:other Fuel Types:turbo/supercharger

Apr 10, 2012

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

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.

11V521000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:other Fuel Types:turbo/supercharger

Oct 20, 2011

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

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.

10V331000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System

Jul 22, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.