NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 BMW X6 SAV Recalls & Complaints

The 2011 BMW X6 SAV has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 BMW X6 SAV. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2011 BMW X6 SAV owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW X6 SAV, describing incidents dated May 13, 2016.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10920058 · Filed October 30, 2016
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING MY VEHICLE (BMW X6) I HAD ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISSUES, WHICH REQUIRED SENSORS TO BE REPLACED. AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I HAD TO REPLACE A WATER PUMP. AFTER OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AND WITH 2 YEARS REMAINING ON MY CONTRACT. AS I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE…

Read the full complaint

Camshaft Housing Bolts May Loosen causing Stall

NHTSA #14V176000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported April 10, 2014 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 156,137 vehicles

Repair completion: 84.14% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified September 24, 2014 · Vehicles built February 1, 2010 – October 31, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Safety consequence

If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW 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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2011 BMW X6 SAV. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 BMW X6 SAV.

Fuel System, Gasoline; Electrical System; Engine

ODI #10920058

Incident: May 13, 2016 · Filed: October 30, 2016

WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING MY VEHICLE (BMW X6) I HAD ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISSUES, WHICH REQUIRED SENSORS TO BE REPLACED. AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I HAD TO REPLACE A WATER PUMP. AFTER OWNING MY VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AND WITH 2 YEARS REMAINING ON MY CONTRACT. AS I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE ENGINE JUST DIED AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH NO WARNING. I WAS INFORMED BY THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT MY ENGINE HAD FROZEN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $21,000.00 DOLLARS. MY VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND MAINTAIN BY THE DEALERSHIP WERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (ERHARD BMW, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI). I INFORMED THEM THAT I SMELLED WIRES BURNING EACH TIME I TRIED TO STARTED MY STALLED VEHICLE. I THINK THE ENGINE FAILURE IS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP IN THE BACK PARKING LOT. I WAS BLESSED NOT TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THIS FAILURE. *TR

Other BMW X6 SAV model years

Check your 2011 BMW X6 SAV VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW X6 SAV at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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