There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2011 BMW X5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
EGR failure where the diesel emissions come into the cabin via the hvac system Dealer said the EGR cooler needs to be replaced. This is a know problem and recall on the 2012 and 2013. This makes the fumes to the driver when first driving the car in the morning dangerous as carbon monoxide and diesel exhaust enter the car. My friend has an exact similar problem and this issue is known on all the BMW boards
After BMW replaced my battery on 1/11/24, a check engine light immediately appeared. It said that the Scr Active Tank needed to be replaced and it would cost upwards of $3,000. I immediately found a NHTSA bulletin that informed that this particular part had been on recall, but had a 10 year/120k mile limitation. My car only had 101k miles, but BMW denied my recall work on goodwill because they say it was well past 10 years of my in-service date. The warranty, however, should still be effective, as many customers have different rates of utilization and I am still 19k short of the mileage limitation, which should not be time limited. BMW worked with the NHTSA for a reason - they acknowledged that they had a flawed part, and this needs to be changed at their expense, not passed on as $3,000 unfairly to the customer. Please see the recall bulletin attached.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, the vehicle unexpectedly turned off and independently shifted into neutral. The “Engine Failure - Reduced Power” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty variable valve timing system. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Passport BMW told us that there was a recall on the engine of our X5 and asked if we had to add oil periodically; our answer was yes. We were told that the engine failed the oil consumption test performed by Passport BMW and the engine needed to be replaced. Passport then said that we had to pay for the replacement of the engine, $2,500. The engine has been replaced, however the engine still leaks oil and now also leaks antifreeze additionally, engine malfunction is displayed permanently on the dashboard.
Our car get on fire from begin low on oil, we stopped on the side and went on another car to get oil at the gas station and Suddenly star on fire and our entire car truck burned. Luckily we were able to get out off the car on time.
my vehicle has symptoms of the auxiliary water pump for turbocharger going bad. Th epump is noisy, and smells very hot/burnt. There was a recall in 2011-2012 that was done on my car for this part, however it appears the same issues are currently arising. Under the 0011730400 B110518 Recall: Electronic Auxiliary Coolant Pump , updated in 2018, my vehicle isn't listed as affected, however I believe it should be.
BMW USA IS HIDDEN RECALL INFORMATION AND REPAIR HISTORY AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT CAUSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY CHANGE OR DO OF MY CARE I NEED THIS INFORMATION PLEASE.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMUNATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROUGHLY TURN OFF AND HAD A SOUND OF THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED. THE DEALER CHECKERED FLAG BMW 5225 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462 (866) 414-7820 STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE ISSUE.THE EGR COOLER THAT COOLS THE EXHAUST FUMES WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ISSUE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,719.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND SUDDENLY INCREASE IT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT ALSO JERKS STEERING FEELS LOOSE LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE. COMPUTER ON THE DASH READS TO ADD A QUART THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY OTHER DAY SINCE I GOT IT BACK FROM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISORS TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OIL ALL LIES. THEY DISMANTLED MY ENTIRE ENGINE THE VEHICLE NEVER DROVE THE SAME AGAIN PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS FLICKERING. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON ME WHILE I WAS IN THE HIGHWAY DRIVING SLOWING I PULLED OUT OF THE HIGHWAY INTO AND EXIT AND FROM THERE I HAD IT TOW TO BMW AFTER THEY SO CALLED FIXED IT AGAIN
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.
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+.
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!
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?
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?
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026