NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV Recalls & Complaints

The 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 44 owner complaints on file as of October 21, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV owner complaints

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV, describing incidents dated July 31, 2011 to June 7, 2019.

Most-cited components

Engine 18 complaints
Air Bags 10 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 9 complaints
Power Train 5 complaints
Unknown or Other 5 complaints
Steering 3 complaints

Of the 44 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 44 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11219793 · Filed June 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…
ODI #11208893 · Filed 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.
ODI #11193664 · Filed April 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…

Read all 44 complaints

Front Driveshaft Universal Joint may Fail

NHTSA #16V311000 · Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft · NHTSA notice

Reported May 17, 2016 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 21,493 vehicles

Repair completion: 76.23% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

Owners notified July 8, 2016 · Vehicles built April 7, 2010 – November 20, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

ENGINE BELT TENSIONER

NHTSA #11V332000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine — Diesel · NHTSA notice

Reported June 23, 2011 · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Potentially affected: 923 vehicles

Owners notified August 10, 2011 · Vehicles built March 31, 2011 – May 19, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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 [email protected].

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

44 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV.

Power Train; Engine

ODI #11219793

Incident: June 7, 2019 · Filed: June 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 BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $1800. WE FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGER TO HAPPEN TO ANY CAR BECAUSE SUCH AN FAILURE IT'S NOT SAFE TO US AND ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED!

Air Bags

ODI #11208893

Incident: June 1, 2017 · Filed: 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

ODI #11193664

Incident: March 29, 2019 · Filed: April 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.

Engine

ODI #11193515

Incident: April 1, 2019 · Filed: April 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 PART.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11171426

Incident: January 21, 2019 · Filed: January 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.

Structure

ODI #11165142

Incident: December 30, 2018 · Filed: January 8, 2019

SUNROOF DRAIN LINE TWISTING CAUSES WATER TO BACK-UP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL FAULTS AS CONFIRMED BY FORMER BMW FRANCHISEE MECHANIC AND AS NOTED WIDELY THROUGHOUT BWM OWNER FORUMS. THIS KNOWN ISSUE FOR MODEL HAS NO REPAIR OPTION OTHER THAN CUTTING INTO A PILLAR TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE (SELF KINKING) LINE. VEHICLE STATIONARY IN THE RAIN AT TIME OF HARMFUL WATER INTRUSION. FAULT CODES OCCURRED AT IGNITION. FLOORBOARDS FILLED WITH WATER. MILDEW OCCURRED IN CARPETS. EXTENSION TO WARRANTY WARRANTED (LIKE DEFECTIVE NOX SENSORS).

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11162416

Incident: March 3, 2016 · Filed: December 19, 2018

2016, MARCH 03 - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED FAULTY: INTAKE TEMP SENSOR FAULT # 004BC6 AND FUEL PRESUPLY LINE: FAULTS #004BDA AND 004BDC. SCR TANK FAULT 0046F9 WAS NOT REPAIRED BY BMW.

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11162415

Incident: July 10, 2017 · Filed: December 19, 2018

2017 JULY - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED FAULTY EGR COOLER AND EGR VALVE SECOND TIME.

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11162413

Incident: December 12, 2017 · Filed: December 19, 2018

2017 DEC - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED EGR PRE-COOLER, AND INTAKE TURBO LINE.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11162412

Incident: March 16, 2018 · Filed: December 19, 2018

2018 MARCH - DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN. MAG BMW DEALER REPLACED INTAKE TURBO LINE, SECOND TIME.

Check your 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW X5 Diesel SAV at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a BMW VIN