The Used Car Index

2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV problems

NHTSA lists 44 complaints for the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel SAV, 1 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 2 complaints mention an injury, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW X5 DIESEL SAV.

At a glance

Complaints
44
With crash
1
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
2
Injuries
2
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
21,493
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
19

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE1840.9%
AIR BAGS1022.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM920.5%
POWER TRAIN511.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER511.4%
STEERING36.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24.5%
STRUCTURE24.5%
WHEELS24.5%
SERVICE BRAKES12.3%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY2

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

16V311000

Date: 2016-05-17. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Defect: 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 fro (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

11V332000

Date: 2011-06-23. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: 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.

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.

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 CUSTOMERRELATIONS@BMWUSA.COM.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

RQ18001

Opened: 2018-04-18. Closed: 2018-12-01.

Idler Pulley Bolt Failure

In a May 23, 2018 letter, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a safety defect that may result in the loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2009 through 2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d vehicles (Recall 18V-336). The recall, which affects approximately 33,214 vehicles built from March 12, 2008 through June 27, 2013, corrects

Systems: STEERING.

Linked campaign numbers: 18V336000.

Manufacturer communications

19 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
EQUIPMENT5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
POWER TRAIN2
BACK OVER PREVENTION1
ENGINE1
STEERING1
STRUCTURE1

10249437

Date: 2024-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10145320

Date: 2018-07-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

CONNECTEDDRIVE/BMW ASSIST SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION: ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist features are partially or completely inoperative.

10145306

Date: 2018-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:

10143564

Date: 2018-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM: REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROAD MAP DATA: The route guidance is inaccurate and therefore irritating to the customer; or it is not possible to locate certain addresses, for instance:

10143566

Date: 2018-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED WITH COMFORT ACCESS: One or more doors are unable to be opened from the outside of the vehicle using the Comfort Access System.

10138381

Date: 2018-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT.

INDIVIDUAL DRIVING CYCLES FOR OBD2 READINESS CODES (M57Y): One or more OBD readiness codes are not set to A readyA during a state emissions inspection, with a hand-held scan tool or during an ISTA/D diagnostic session.

10138386

Date: 2018-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION, WHEELS.

CRACKING NOISES FROM THE FRONT AXLE AREA WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS, WHEN STATIONARY OR PARKING

10136352

Date: 2018-03-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

BMW Maintenance Program: 12-Volt Battery Replacement Measure: This bulletin outlines a customer satisfaction measure that has been designed exclusively for the BMW vehicles listed above.

10135021

Date: 2018-02-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

N63, N63TU, S63 and S63TU Engines: Oil Leak from the Rear: Customer complains that engine oil is leaking from the center of the vehicle. When verified, the engine oil residue can be seen leaking from between the engine and the transmission bell housing.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
X5 DIESEL SAV44

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2011

Sources

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