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)

110 of 263 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 2 of 5

Oct 24, 2019EngineFuel system

I GOT AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ON MY 2011 BMW X5. I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE ISSUE IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THERE IS A RECALL FOR OTHER BMWS ALTHOUGH MINE IS NOT ON THE LIST. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MY BMW AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11270841

Oct 18, 2019Engine

I HAVE RECEIVED AN ENGINE CODE 4BCC " PASSIVE TANK FILL SENSOR" FOR MY 2011 BMW X5D. THIS IS IN THE THE EMISSION SYSTEM DEF TANK. THIS APPEARS FROM MY RESEARCH THAT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11269390

Sep 30, 2019Electrical systemEngineFire

UPON STARTING MY CAR AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE, I HEARD A BRIEF ELECTRICAL BUZZING NOISE THAT THEN STOPPED. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE RADIATOR FAN, BUT THE FAN WASN'T MOVING. I DROVE MY CAR APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES HOME AND PARKED IT. ABOUT 2.5 HOURS LATER, FROM INSIDE MY HOME, I HEARD THE SOUND OF WHAT SEEMED TO BE A SMALL EXPLOSION. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND MY CAR'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT HAD PARKED, UNUSED WITH THE MOTOR OFF FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS ON A COOL DAY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 40S WITH NO WARNING INDICATORS LIGHTS OR MESSAGES. I LATER LEARNED BMW HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL FIRES, HOWEVER, I NEVER RECEIVEDA RECALL NOTICE. PRESS REPORTS NOTE THAT MORE THAN 90 SUCH FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY, AND I CAN STILL FIND NO DOCUMENTATION ON YOUR WEBSITE OF THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11265230

Aug 16, 2019Engine

VANOS BOLTS ON EXHAUST CAM SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS RESULTING IN ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCED POWER TO A NO START CONDITION. THE RECALL FOR THIS EXACT BOLT ISSUE WAS DONE AT 86K MILES, AND NOW 70K MILES LATER THE ISSUE OCCURED ANYWAY. BMW WILL NOT COVER AS THE REPLACED PART ONLY HAD A 2 YEAR WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11244342

Jul 22, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, "ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCE POWER" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WHITE SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE TAIL PIPES. THE VEHICLE FINALLY RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF TEMPLE (6006 S GENERAL DRIVE, TEMPLE, TX 76502), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,900.

NHTSA ODI 11233954

Jul 12, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, THE FIRE ALARM ACTIVATED. AFTER RETURNING TO THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11231281

May 13, 2019AirbagsEngine

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER (BMW 6655 COLISEUM BLVD, ALEXANDRIA, LA 71303 (318) 445-6678) TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V017000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH A NOTE FROM THE DEALER INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS AT A 50% CAPACITY AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE RETURNED AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER WHEN IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT AFTER CALLING ON A LATER TIME THE DEALER THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE HOWEVER THEN DECLINED TO COVER ANY REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ODI 11207321

May 2, 2019Engine

THE VEHICLES OIL WAS CHANGE AT THE BMW MECHANIC. SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING AWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. RETURNED VEHICLE AND THEY STATED THAT THE VANOS WERE DAMAGE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR THE BMW VANOS SYSTEMS AND THERE DECISION WAS TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ANOTHER 10 YEARS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH LETTER STATING THIS AND THE BMW FACILITY WANTS TO CHARGE ME.

NHTSA ODI 11205355

May 2, 2019Engine

AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CODE 88624 WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOOSE POWER. AFTER INSPECTION THE FAULT WAS FOR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT STUCK WHICH IS AN ERROR DUE TO THE TIMING/VANOS SYSTEM. NO VISIBLE DAMAGES WHERE FOUND TO THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOIDS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ISSUES WITH CONSUMERS FOR THESE PROBLEMS, THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI 11205361

May 2, 2019Engine

AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED AND DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MILES, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IT HAD A CODE WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT STUCK, THIS WAS AN ERROR DUE TO THE TIMING/VANOS SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO VISUAL DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOIDS BUT WERE CLEANED YET STILL HAVING ISSUES. ARE OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THIS TYPE OF ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI 11205373

May 2, 2019Engine

OIL WAS CHANGED AND SHORTLY AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THEN DISPLAYED AN ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO BMW AND STATED THE FAULT WAS FOR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT STUCK AND THIS ERROR WAS DUE TO THE TIMING/VANOS SYSTEM. THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOIDS HAD NO VISIBLE DAMAGE AND WHERE CLEANED. THEY STATED FURTHER RESEARCH NEEDED TO BE DONE WHICH WOULD BE OVER $1000+.

NHTSA ODI 11205363

May 2, 2019Engine

AFTER HAVING THAT OIL CHANGE THE CHECK ENGINE WENT ON THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED TURNING THE WHOLE CAR OFF DURING DRIVING OVER 45 MILES. BMW FOUND ERROR CODE WHICH SHOWED EXHAUST CAMSHAFT STUCK, THIS IS AN ERROR DUE TO TIMING/VANES. AFTER CLEANING THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID AND NO VISIBLE DAMAGE PRESENT THEY STATED FURTHER RESEARCH WOULD NEED TO BE CONDUCTED. COST WOULD BE OVER 1000.00. ARE OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE VANOS SYSTEM?

NHTSA ODI 11205382

Jan 23, 2019Engine

BURNING SMELL INSIDE CAR CABIN. IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION. ENGINE STOPS ABRUPTLY COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART. TODAY IS THE SECOND TIME, THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO

NHTSA ODI 11171557

Jan 15, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V336000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER (PARK AVENUE BMW, 530 HUYLER STREET SOUTH, HACKENSACK, NJ 07606, (877) 626-6518) CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. THE CONTACT'S REQUEST FOR A LOANER VEHICLE WAS DENIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11170111

Dec 7, 2018EngineFuel system

VANOS BOLTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE STALL, COOLANT FUEL PUMP

NHTSA ODI 11156866

Nov 16, 2018Engine

THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS INTERNALLY KNOCKING WHICH ONE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND BRING IT BACK AT MY APPOINTMENT A WEEK LATER AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AVIDSED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS THEY WERE HAVING A GLOBAL ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP... IF I WERE ON THE HIGHWAY OR ROADWAY AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11151903

Nov 14, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V336000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW SEATTLE AT (206) 829-5004 (LOCATED AT 1002 AIRPORT WAY S, SEATTLE, WA 98134) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11151566

Nov 1, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

'TAKATA RECALL' WHEN THE HEAT OR AC IS ON AIR FROM VENT START TO BURN MY EYES. WHENEVER I'M IN MY VEHICLE I LEAVE OUT FEELING SLEEPY. CABIN FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGED AS WELL AS OTHERS PROBLEM CONTINUES. ALSO THE LEATHER ON THE DASH BOARD IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE VENT. PLASTIC WOOD TRIM CRACKS OVER TIME LEAVING THE VEHICLE LOOKING CHEAPLY BUILT

NHTSA ODI 11144616

Oct 11, 2018EngineFuel system

I WAS TOLD I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE NOX SENSOR AND SCR CATALYST. I HAVE ALSO BEEN PREOVUSLY TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE DIESEL EMISSIONS SYSTEM WAS FAULTY AND IT WOULD COST ME $6000 TO REPAIR. BECAUSE I HAVE 155K MILES ON THE CAR NOTHING FALLS UNDER WARRANTY. BMW IS ALSO UNSURE THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR IS REALLY THE PROBLEM SO IT WILL COST ME $1000 TO REPLACE THAT AND HOPE IT WORKS. THE ISSUE NOW IS MY CAR IS GIVING ME A MESSAGE "INCORRECT DIESEL FLUID" EVEN THOUGH THERE IS CORRECT FLUID IN (SINCE THE DEALER IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EVER PUT ANY IN THERE) AND IS AT THE FULL LEVEL. THE SENSOR IS NOW SAYING I ONLY HAVE 60 MILES TO DRIVE IT BEFORE IT WON'T START AGAIN. WHAT I AM MOST DISTURBED ABOUT IS THAT THERE IS INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND A RECALL NUMBER THEY WILL NOT HONOR IT AND WILL NOT FIX MY CAR. HTTP://WWW.AUTONEWS.COM/ARTICLE/20120504/RETAIL05/120509927/BMW-WILL-RECALL-DIESEL-MODELS-TO-FIX-EMISSIONS-GLITCH I HAVE BEEN WITH BMW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND MY FAMILY HAS PURCHASED QUITE A FEW. AS A RESULT OF THIS, I HAVE NOW HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR (A NISSAN) AND HAD TO TAKE AN UBER TO THE LOT TO PICK IT UP SINCE MY CAR MAY NOT EVEN MAKE IT TO THE LOT AND BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11139634

Sep 18, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V336000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. WHILE DRIVING, THE IDLER PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11130277

Sep 1, 2018Engine

DTC P21A8: FAULT FOR LEVEL SENSORS IN PASSIVE SCR TANK (REPLACE PASSIVE TANK AND EVALUATOR). SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS RECALL FAULT FOR THE ACTIVE SCR TANK.

NHTSA ODI 11123959

Aug 17, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO AN OFF RAMP AND A PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF DARIEN (140 LEDGE RD, DARIEN, CT 06820, (203) 656-1804) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11120619

Aug 13, 2018Engine

REPLACING THE LEAKING TURBO OIL DRAIN BLOCK AND FAULTY VALVE SEALS WHICH CAUSES OIL TO DRAIN AND THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE AND BURN SO YOU HAVE TO ADD AT LEAST 1/2 QUART OF OIL WITHIN 2 WEEKS TIME WHILE DRIVING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON

NHTSA ODI 11119776

Jun 21, 2018Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, LOSS OF POWER, STOP DRIVING MESSAGE APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSED ISSUE DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11103031

May 22, 2018Engine

AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED ENGINE OVERHEATING. WHEN I CALLED BMW US AND MY LOCAL BMW DEALER - BMW OF ALEXANDRIA, VA I WAS DENIED FOR REPAIRS, DESPITE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY PARTICULAR CAR AND MODEL. ACCORDING TO MY CAR REPAIR HISTORY THAT RECALL WAS NEVER PERFORMED.

NHTSA ODI 11097167

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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 →