Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 5 Series, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires30
- Steering20
- Power train10
- Electrical system6
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Wheels3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Engine3
- Unknown or other3
- Visibility2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Registered new in Europe in 2011
124,919 new BMW 5 Series cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2011; the largest markets were Germany (53,085), the United Kingdom (21,494), Italy (9,993).
- Average mass
- 1,791 kg
- Average power
- 167 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 92% · Petrol 7.8%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2011 BMW 5 Series cars on Dutch roads are the 3.0 petrol (150 kW, 201 hp), 3.0 petrol (190 kW, 255 hp) and 3.0 petrol (225 kW, 302 hp), out of 12 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 petrol | 150 kW 201 hp | 895 |
| 3.0 petrol | 190 kW 255 hp | 511 |
| 3.0 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 411 |
| 2.0 diesel | 135 kW 181 hp | 400 |
| 3.0 diesel | 150 kW 201 hp | 220 |
| 3.0 diesel | 180 kW 241 hp | 196 |
| 3.0 diesel | 220 kW 295 hp | 160 |
| 3.0 diesel | 190 kW 255 hp | 121 |
| 2.0 petrol | 135 kW 181 hp | 116 |
| 2.0 petrol | 180 kW 241 hp | 100 |
| 4.4 petrol | 300 kW 402 hp | 66 |
| 2.0 diesel | 120 kW 161 hp | 64 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
3,382 first registered in 2011 are on Dutch roads; 47% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €74,157.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm1,460
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,443
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen994
- Band onvoldoende profiel836
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm656
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld653
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling448
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage385
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
10,164 cars built in 2011 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,962 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 12,847 of these cars first registered in 2011 took their annual MOT test. 73% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2011 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 0.9% | 14.1% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 0.9% | 16.0% |
| Tyres | 0.7% | 7.3% |
| Brakes | 0.3% | 8.6% |
| Visibility | 0.2% | 5.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.2% | 3.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
2,917 of these cars first registered in 2011 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 305,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
649 2011 cars are on the New Zealand register; 80% arrived as used imports, 17% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
12 Transport Canada recalls for the 2011 BMW 5 Series.
| 2024544 15 Aug 2024 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "N… |
| 2023568 20 Oct 2023 | Engine Issue: On certain vehicles, the variable camshaft timing (VANOS) adjustment unit housing bolts could loosen or break. As a result, the camshaft could become in… |
| 2018195 19 Apr 2018 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the auxiliary water pump (which cools the turbocharger after the engine is turned OFF) can overheat and fail. This could result in a vehicl… |
| 2017470 28 Sept 2017 | Engine On certain vehicles equipped with the N52 6-cylinder engine, an electrical short could occur in the PCV valve heater due to manufacturing irregularities. If thi… |
| 2017242 3 May 2017 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the rivet connections for the constant velocity (CV) joint of the rear driveshaft may have insufficient durability. Over time, this could c… |
| 2017049 3 Feb 2017 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the rivet connections for the constant velocity (CV) joint of the rear driveshaft may have insufficient durability. Over time, this could c… |
| 2016566 15 Nov 2016 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, a Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) having incorrect programming may have been installed in error by dealers during servicing. As the SCU helps det… |
| 2016505 13 Oct 2016 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the wires going to the in-tank fuel pump may not have been crimped correctly. An incorrect crimp could increase the resistance of the circ… |
| 2014170 13 May 2014 | Engine On certain vehicles, housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate. If this occurs, the engine would re… |
| 2014127 10 Apr 2014 | Engine On certain vehicles, housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate. If this occurs, the engine would re… |
| 2011376 21 Oct 2011 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the auxiliary water pump (which cools the turbocharger after the engine is turned OFF) can overheat and fail. This could result in a vehic… |
| 2010238 22 Jul 2010 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the sender unit within the fuel tank could become stuck, causing the fuel gauge to display a greater quantity of fuel than that which is ac… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2012 6-SERIES CONVERTIBLE, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 7-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 X5 SAV, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2010 AND 2011 5-SERIES AND 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 12 THROUGH JULY 1, 2010. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LEVEL SENSOR WITHIN THE FUEL TANK CAN BECOME WEDGED AGAINST THE TANK.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 2011 BMW 5 Series: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11008105 | Only fuel nozzles with the recommended specified diameter for diesel engine passenger vehicles can beinserted into the filler neck. Most fuel stations have their diesel fuel pumps fitted with this recommendeddiameter fuel nozzle. However, if the vehicles filler-neck misfuelling protection system has been disabled, or the incorrectdiameter fuel nozzle has been installed on the diesel fuel pump, the vehicles diesel fuel system can becontaminated by filling the diesel engine vehicle with gasoline. If the diesel fuel system has been contaminated with gasoline, follow the repair guidelines below: |
| 10249437 | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| 10249027 | 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 discharged battery complaints. |
| 10247567 | Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE |
| 10245422 | Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicles equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed. |
| 10244242 | Various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (ADCAM system) can lead to customer complaints. |
| 10215024 | The engine?s intake charge-air duct limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles applies to ?eligible USspecification |
| 10059089 | BMW - BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM MIGHT REDUCE IF TEMPERATURE GETS BELOW 14 DEGREES *MA |
| 10059005 | ENGINE FAILURE WARNING AND REDUCED ENGINE OUTPUT WILL OCCUR DUE TO HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP FAILURE. *MA |
| 10058994 | BMW: TSB CONTAINS AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. INFORMATION PROVIDED REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE IN TANK FUEL (PUMP) DELIVERY MODULE OF 10 YEARS WITHOUT MILEAGE LIMITATION, DEPENDING ON IN SERVICE DATE. INCLUDED DOCUMENT. *PE |
| 10058986 | THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER MIGHT FAIL WHICH WILL CAUSE A LEAKAGE TO THE INTERNAL AND /OR EXTERNAL ENGINE OIL OR COOLANT |
| 10058976 | FAULTY CODES IN THE DME FOR THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT ACTIVATES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. *MA |
| 10058483 | BMW: PROCEDURAL INFORMATION ON THE INSTALLATION OF FUEL SYSTEM LOW PRESSURE SENSOR AND NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED WILL LEAD TO FAILURE OF LOW PRESSURE SENSOR AND METAL SUPPLY LINE. MODEL 2008-14. *PE |
| 10057568 | BMW: ON SOME VEHICLES, WHEN STARTING, LOW BEAM, WITH 0552 OPTION, WOULD BRIEFLY FLASHES, DUE TO A FAULTY LED MAIN LIGHT MODULE THAT NEEDS REPLACING. MODEL 2008-14 F01, F02, F06, F07, F10, F12, F13, F25. *PE |
| 10057532 | BMW: DURING PROCESS OF STARTING ENGINE, ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST (EPS) WILL BE REDUCED, INTERMITTENTLY, AND YELLOW EPS WARNING LAMP BRIEFLY ILLUMINATES, DUE TO A BRIEF UNDERVOLTAGE. *PE |
| 10057527 | BMW: SELECTIVE CATALYST REDUCTION MODULE (SCR) HAS A STORED FAULT, PRESSURE BUILD UP IS LOW, CAUSING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. * |
| 10057341 | BMW: MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT FOR ENGINE IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO PURGE AIR SYSTEM MICRO LEAKAGE AND VENTILATION OF FUEL TANK FROM CONTAMINATION. *PE |
| 10057339 | BMW: ELECTRICAL CONTACTS FOR CIRCUIT HEATER IN THERMOSTAT CAN DEVELOP MOISTURE AND CORROSION CAUSING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *PE UPDATED 9/25/15. *PE |
| 10057337 | BMW: DUE TO DEBRIS ENTERING OIL PASSAGE OF ENGINE, IT WILL KNOCK AND LOSE POWER, DURING CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACES AND CLEANING OF ENGINE BLOCK AFTER REPAIR TO ENGINE. *PE |
| 10057335 | BMW: THE CAMSHAFT (VANOS) ADJUSTMENT UNITS, ON CERTAIN VEHICLE, HAD THE LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENDED, WITHOUT THE LIMITATION OF MILEAGE, TO 10 YEARS. *PE |
| 10056099 | BMW: WHEN USING IPHONE, VARIOUS CONNECTIVITY FAILURES OCCUR, SUCH AS DISCONNECTION OF CALL, LIST OF CONTACTS INCOMPLETE, DUE TO THE VARIANTS AND SOFTWARE USED. MODEL 2008-2014. |
| 10056095 | BMW: THE POSITION OF AN AFFECTED TIRE IS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYED, WHEN TIRE PRESSURE IS LOW, IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND CONTROL DISPLAY (CD), DUE TO SOFTWARE ERROR. MODEL 2011 F 01, 02, 04, 07, 10, 12, 13, 25 (X3). *PE |
| 10053326 | BMW: DIFFERENT FAULT CODES STORED FOR THE N51, N52K, N52T, AND N55 ENGINES IN THE DME RELATED TO VANOS AND CAMSHAFT POSITION. *KB UPDATED 11/1/13. *PE UPDATED 05/05/2014 *JS |
| 10052612 | BMW: ENGINE, DUE TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AND ENGINE IS COLD, FAILS TO TURN OVER ON FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT AND WILL TURN OVER AT SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPTS. MODEL 2010-2012 F10. *PE |
| 10052367 | BMW: SOFTWARE ERROR CAUSING THE PARKING ASSISTANT SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. MODELS 2010-2013 F10, 10H, 12, 13. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)