Home · 2011 BMW X5 Xdrive35d · Complaints

What 263 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 BMW X5 Xdrive35d

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (263)Crash / fire / injury (21)Engine (110)Airbags (67)Transmission & drivetrain (58)Fuel system (43)Electrical system (19)Steering (18)Engine & cooling (10)Brakes (7)Speed control (7)Lights (6)

67 of 263 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Jul 3, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11002825

Jun 23, 2017Airbags

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM BMW IN REGARDS TO RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-071 - DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG BACK IN MARCH 2016. IT IS NOW THE MIDDLE OF JUNE 2017 AND THE BMW DEALERSHIP STILL CLAIMS NO PARTS ON HAND AND NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL BE RECEIVING THEM. THIS RECALL IS TAKING WAY TOO LONG TO COMPLETE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SALE AND TRADE THE CAR IN BUT NO ONE WANTS IT DUE TO THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11000762

Jun 13, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT 410-296-7900 AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10994620

May 22, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE THAT HE RESIDED IN ZONE "C", BUT STILL FELT THAT A YEAR AND HALF WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR A RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10990978

May 21, 2017Airbags

HELLO, I OWNED THIS BMW WHILE RESIDING ON MAUI, HAWAII. I HAVE NOW SHIPPED THE VEHICLE HOME TO ALBERTA, CANADA AND CANNOT GET IT APPROVED THROUGHOUT THE RIV PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG RECALL. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING ON THIS REPAIR FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. HAWAII WOULD BE CONSIDERED A HIGH HUMIDITY AREA AS WELL THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE IS GETTING TO BE OLDER... I NEED TO GET THE RECALL FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT I CAN GET INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION HERE IN ALBERTA. PLEASE HELP! [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 10990790

May 19, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10990653

May 17, 2017Transmission & drivetrainAirbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016 AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2017. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10986213

May 5, 2017Transmission & drivetrainAirbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10983685

Apr 26, 2017Transmission & drivetrainAirbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 06/21/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER TRAIN WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 08/30/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10980797

Apr 25, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS EXCESSIVE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2016. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/20/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10980372

Apr 25, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10980427

Apr 25, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. I HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE I HAVE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND BMW IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX MY PROBLEM. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND HAVE HEARD THAT SALT AIR MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE, SO I WOULD EXPECT PEOPLE LIVING BY THE OCEAN WOULD GET TOP PRIORITY.

NHTSA ODI 10980521

Apr 5, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL: IT WILL BE A YEAR HERE SHORTLY SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND THIS AIRBAG IS NOT REPLACED. I KNOW THAT BMW CAME UP WITH ANOTHER AIRBAG FOR REPLACEMENT OF MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG AFTER I COMPLAINED. THERE MUST BE SOMEWAY TO FIX THIS SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. .I DO NOT WANT ANYONE IN MY CAR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS. FYI THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN MAY 2016 I WAS NOT SENT A NOTICE UNTIL JULY 2016, POOR NOTIFICATION. I AM SURE THIS LENGTH OF TIME QUALIFIES AS A FAILURE TO FIX IN REASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10970744

Apr 5, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - DESPITE MULTIPLE REQUESTS AND PROMISES FOR OVER A YEAR, BMW HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. BMW CONTINUES TO PUSH THE DELIVERY DATE OF THE PARTS OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10970805

Mar 28, 2017AirbagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE PULLEY SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V364000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10968981

Mar 16, 2017AirbagsFuel system

TAKATA RECALL.......NO REMEDY YET, I HAVE BEEN WAITING NOW CLOSE TO 2 YEARS. AFTER SPEAKING WITH 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS IN MY AREA, I'M TOLD THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN EITHER RECALL WILL BE FIXED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO PARTS.....GAS SMELL IN VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING , FUEL PUMP RECALL, HOWEVER, NO TIMETABLE FOR FIXING.

NHTSA ODI 10966405

Mar 10, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V364000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10960055

Mar 1, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. FURTHERMORE THE CAR IS GOING ON 6 YEARS OLD. I LIVE IN A HIGH HUMID REGION. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS IT IS TAKING THIS LONG FOR AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 10957769

Feb 27, 2017AirbagsFuel system

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART TO THE DEALER AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR OVER A YEAR. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE AIR BAG RECALL WOULD BE REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER RECALL CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10957207

Feb 24, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL NOT YET REMEDIED

NHTSA ODI 10956695

Feb 15, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10954883

Jan 27, 2017Airbags

TAKATA AIRBAGS RECALL - UNKNOWN STATUS TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 10947959

Jan 27, 2017SteeringAirbagsEngine

I PURCHASED CAR 2011-SOLE OWNER DEALER STATE REPLACES ENGINE PULLEY BOLT 2012? DRIVING IN DARK AND RAIN IN MOUNTAINS NC 1/24/17. ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST ABILITY TO STEER WITHOUT A LOT OF FORCE. THEN GOT DASH ERRORS "CHARGING MALFUNCTION", "ENGINE OVERHEATING" TRANSMISSION FAILURE "NO ABS" "DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY ""TURN OFF ENGINE". I COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL HARD ENOUGH TO GET OFF ROAD. PULLED BARELY TO SIDE AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. COMPLETELY STRANDED AND SCARED TO DEATH. SAME BROKEN BOLT TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS LETHAL SITUATION AND I AM STUCK WITH A KILLER CAR. CANNOT AFFORD TO DUMP IT. THIS CAR HAS REQUIRED TOWING SEVERAL TIMES FOR ENGINE FAILURE THAT WAS "REPAIRED". BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS DONE. IN PRIOR SEPARATE INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ALONG ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CAR SPUTTERED AND STOPPED-REQUIRED TOWING. AND TAKATA RECALL ALSO STILL WAITING FOR AIRBAGS SHOOT SHARDS. BMW WILL NOT REPLACE. THEY THINK IT IS NOT HOT IN NC. I CALL 104 DEGREES HOT.

NHTSA ODI 10948014

Jan 23, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL ITS BEEN ALMOST 2 YEARS SINCE I'VE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE FAULTY AIRBAG COMPONENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE VEHICLE. EACH TIME I BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER SIMPLY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO RECALL THE AIRBAGS. I AM COMPLETELY FRUSTRATED ESPECIALLY KNOWING THIS COULD CAUSE BIG HARM IN AN EVENT OF A CRASH. I TRY TO NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS MUCH AS I CAN UNTIL THE RECALL IS COMPLETED, HOWEVER LIVING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IT IS SIMPLY IMPRACTICAL TO NOT USE THE CAR UNTIL THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED. IT IS ALREADY 2017, AND I RECEIVED THE NOTICE EARLY 2015. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10947264

Jan 20, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V364000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10946591

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Working with the data? Download all 263 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 BMW X5 Xdrive35d verdict →