2011 BMW X5 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The comfort access door handle, got so hot it started to melt the plastic exterior handle and produce a lot of smoke would have caught fire if i didn't turn off car and disconnect electrical signal to the cas handle

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

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

Was driving vehicle home from work and during the drive the engine without warning died while driving and vehicle put in neutral. Vehicle stopped in the middle of parkway on right lane, tried to restart vehicle multiple times and unsuccessful. Pulled codes and found that fuel pressure codes present and fuel pressure while cranking is 2.5-4 bar. Spec 600-800 bar while starting. Vehicle was towed to a safe place.

Headlight wiring insulation dry rots prematurely within headlight causing system failure, which includes Headlight malfunction and system shorting. Headlights are known to stop working due to wiring shorting out, issues may cause an electrical fire besides malfunction.

Fire

I own a 2011 BMW x5. The NHTSA shows 15 recalls for my vehicle type; however, NHTSA must be relying upon BMW for the VIN numbers as: 1.) my vehicle doesn't show up for recalls; 2.) I have never been contacted by BMW for many of those recalls - in fact, I have not received a letter from BMW in many many years, and among the 15 recalls above, I have never received any notification of for at least October 20, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V707000 Camshaft Timing Bolts May Loosen Causing Stall Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. April 18, 2018 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 Electric Auxiliary Water Pump Failure October 30, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 PCV Heater may Short Circuit March 2, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 Front Driveshaft Universal Joint may Fail May 17, 2016 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V311000 Front Driveshaft Universal Joint may Fail. When I call BMW, they say there are no recalls outstanding on my vehicle and this NHTSA states there are recalls, but does not associate my VIN with the recalls, so say there are no recalls outstanding. The most prominent recent issue was that when my BMW dealership diagnosed a check engine light in my vehicle, they wanted to replace a SCR DEF active tank for $3,000, but it turned out that BMW had an almost 100% failure rate for the same part and issued an extended warranty for this part under their technical bulletin SI B01 23 16. They denied replacing the parts under the warranty stating that it was limited to 10 years/120,000 miles. I had only 101,600 miles on my car, but they stated the 10 year limited out the warranty from the in-service date. However, my car had many emission system related issues including just a few years previous.

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.

Transfer case actuators plastic gear(s) might be worn out due to bad quality of the material used. On some of the BMW X5 models there was a problem with the differentials and a recall was issued to fix those. But some how some cars with particular VINs went missing in that. Codes thrown by my system are : 005219, 005F3A, 006EC4 Code 005F3A signifies that the Transfer case actuator is not engaging properly. This problem put me at risk when taking a U-turn as the gears did not engage properly and my car did not accelerate on time. The on coming traffic came very close and I somehow avoided a T-bone Collison. My cars dashboard produces warning signs occasionally when the actuator does not engage. This is a big problem as the 4x4 system stops working and puts the car in RWD mode. In winters this could be dangerous to people driving as it happens without the driver's attention. I have attached reports from NHTSA for the same issue on other BMW models where a recall was issued. I request NHTSA to issue a recall on 2011 BMW X5 xdrive 35i as the same issue persists.

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.

To Whom It May Concern. Please help me on this. I purchased a BMW x5 that needed recalls installed at the BMW dealer. I purchased the vehicle, performed routine preventative maintenance, new tires, new brakes, full detail, shampooed the interior, and full wash, etc. When I took my BMW to the dealer, the BMW dealer installed the recalled items, but did not install or replace the defective FRM footwell module that controls the electric windows, signals, headlights, emergency flashers, and all the interior lights. Per BMW service manager, this FRM is defective from the factory because the FRM does not have a relay or fuse disconnect that protects the FRM from current surges or spikes. The manner and area that this FRM was mounted into the BMW x5 chassis makes this FRM electronic module highly susceptible to being damaged or become defective due to no fault of the vehicle driver or owner. Shame on BMW for not standing behind the quality of their vehicles. I have spent a considerable amount of money, close to one thousand dollars on the diagnosis and repair of footwell module FRM on my 2011 BMW x5 vehicle. Please intervene on my behalf, hundreds of other BMW x5 owners have also been fraudulently sold defective parts and vehicles. BMW knows this is a major safety issue, yet BMW will not issue a recall until NHTSA, NTSB, or another government entity forces BMW to do the right thing. Shameful. Please intervene on our behalf. Respectfully, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was unknown.

Sunroof window exploded/shattered without cause while driving on highway

Foot wells or FRM module failed when installing a new battery. Now my windows and turning signals does not work after service when it was working before I took it to BMW of Bloomfield.

I was driving to work one morning On the highway, when I suddenly heard a loud sharp noise from the engine bay that followed with the engine and battery lights turning blinking on my display with sudden loss of steering. I panicked but quickly put my vehicle into neutral with my hazard lights on and slowly hit my brakes till I came to a complete stop on the highway. I got my vehicle towed back and upon further inspection saw that the idler pulley bolt snapped completely off. I researched and saw that this bolt has been recalled twice already with the same issue. If this was during a heavy traffic situation it could have been far worse.

Front drive shaft broke while driving and almost lost control.

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.

Fire

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.

Fire

As I was slowing down to make a turn, the vehicle went into neutral and shut off. I immediately turned it back on and put it in drive and the same thing occurred moments later. I start it again and drove away enough to safely park. I let the car rest in the off position for 30 minutes and it drove fine. There were no warning lights and the vehicle is well maintained with scheduled services. I contacted the nearest reputable mechanic and explained the situation. I drove it there. They found no faulty codes when they plugged in the computer and the battery has no issues. The vehicle drives fine now, but this is very concerning especially since this took place in local traffic.

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.

The SUVs drive belt has come loose and was ingested through the front crankshaft seal, causing engine issues such as oil starvation leading to engine damage and unknown check engine codes. The SUV has been confirmed to have belt fragments inside the engine. I have video documentation.

Under normal driving conditions on city roads the universal joint literally shattered. There is no aftermarket upgrades and no unlicensed work done the vehicle. I had just got it back from the dealership and they checked over it and it checked out good. This is outlandish I don’t understand why my vehicle is not within the recall.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, THE PASSIVE TANK LEVEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO LIMP MODE NOT ALLOWING HIM TO EXCEED 50 MPH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY BMW (4725 MCHENRY AVE, MODESTO, CA 95356) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE PASSIVE TANK LEVEL SENSOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WANTED A SECOND OPINION AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE FIRST RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 166,000. *DT

VEHICLE'S ENGINE, BEING A DIESEL, REQUIRES NOX TRAP SYSTEM AND SCR SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO REDUCE HARMFUL EMISSIONS PER EPA STANDARDS. IN ORDER FOR THE SCR SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY, THE ENGINE MUST INJECT DEF (DIESEL-EXHAUST FLUID) INTO THE SCR SYSTEM. IN THE BMW X5 35D, THE DEF SYSTEM IS COMPRISED OF TWO TANKS: THE ACTIVE TANK AND THE PASSIVE TANK. A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM IS THE PRIMARY SENSOR OF THE PASSIVE TANK FAILING. THE SENSOR ITSELF FAILS, BUT THE ENTIRE TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE SENSOR'S ISSUES, RESULTING IN SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT DUE TO THE SENSOR ITSELF NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REPLACED IN THE ORIGINAL TANK. RECALL IS RECOMMENDED FOR BMW TO REPLACE THESE SENSORS AS THE FAILURE OF THESE SENSORS RESULTS IN THE SCR CATALYST SYSTEM FAILING TO OPERATE, WHICH IN TURN SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES ENGINE PERFORMANCE, INCREASES EXHAUST EMISSIONS, AND RESULTS IN THE ENGINE NOT KNOWING THE CAPACITY ON WHICH TO OPERATE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED SPEED ON I95 INTERSTATE 95SOUTH IN CHICAGO. I HAVE SPEND OVER $18,000 ON ENGINE ISSUE AND HIGH CONSUMPTION OF OIL IS ALSO A MAJOR ISSUE. THERE IS A SEVERE ENGINE ISSUE THAT MAY LEAD TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. ONCE THE ENGINE REDUCE POWER IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL THE TRUCK OVER TO SAFETY. THE WHOLE X5 5.0I NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREETS DURING A VERY HARD RAINING DAY. AFTER THAT EVEN I WENT TO MOVE MY CAR 2 DAY LATER . THE CAR WAS CRANKING BUT NEVER WENT ON . I TROUBLESHOOT THE CAR AND I REALIZED THAT THE CABIN FILTER WERE FULL OF WATER. BELOW THE CABIN FILTER MY 2011 BMW X5 HAS A INTEGRATED SUPPLY MODULE THAT SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO THE SPARK PLUG FOR MY SURPRISE THAT MODULES BURN BECAUSE OF THE WATER .

TRANSFER CASE: SLIPPING AND HESITATION IN MOTION/DRIVING AND ACCELERATION. ALSO POPPING AND SLIPPING IN FRONT END NEAR FRONT WHEELS... LOOKED UP ONLINE TROUBLESHOOTING AND FOUND PROBLEMS WITH 2011 MODEL DESIGN

THE FOLLOWING TOOK PLACE IN JUNE 2020. I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE. I'VE GARAGE KEPT MY SUV, HOWEVER RECENTLY I MOVED TO CITY FOR WORK AND BEEN PARKING MY X5 OUTSIDE. IT HAD BEEN RAINING PRETTY HARD IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND I WAS DRIVING W/ MY 4-YEAR-OLD IN BACK WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS AND VARIOUS MESSAGES ON THE ENTERTAINMENT SCREEN STARTED FLASHING. THE WARNINGS TOOK ME OFF GUARD AND SOME OF THE MESSAGES THAT MY ENGINE MAY STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC MADE ME PANIC, ESPECIALLY WITH MY KID IN THE BACK. I PULLED OVER AND STARTED TAKING PICTURES MESSAGES. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE WATER FROM THE SUNROOF LEAKS INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK WHERE THE ELECTRONICS AND AUDIO EQUIPMENT ARE LOCATED. (NOW I KNOW IT LEAKED ON BOTH SIDE'AS LEITH BMW TECHNICIAN FOUND WATER ON THE RIGHT SIDE TOO WITH ELECTRIC WIRES SUBMERGED). I FOUND ABOUT HALF A GALLON OF WATER ACCUMULATED. I TOOK WATER OUT USING A WATER BOTTLE I CUT IN THE MIDDLE AND TRIED TO DRY OFF AFFECTED ELECTRONICS. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHIMES ARE GONE AND SO IS THE SOUND. THE RADIO STATIONS AND NAVIGATION WORKS, BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SOUND COMING OUT. ALSO, THE TRUNK LIFT GATE DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN ANYMORE MAKING IT VERY HARD TO OPERATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WON'T GO AWAY. I CONTACTED BMW AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO BMW AUTHORIZED DEALER AND PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR IT. THAT COST AROUND $400. I KEPT RECEIPT. ALL THEIR COMMUNICATION WAS VERBAL AS TO NOT LEAVE EMAIL TRAIL. THE ONLY SOLID REJECTION LETTER I RECEIVED IS WHEN THEY REPLIED TO MY BBB COMPLAINT. SO FAR I HAVE CONTACTED BMW DIRECTLY WHO REJECTED MY CLAIMS, BBB OF NEW JERSEY (WHERE BMW IS LOCATED) WHO CONTACTED BMW DIRECTLY AND BMW SENT A REJECTION LETTER, CONSUMER REPORTS, CPSP.GOV WHO DIRECTED ME TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM CENTER OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,171.