Home › Reliability › BMW › X5 › 2011

2011 BMW X5 Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 14 NHTSA recalls and 307 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

⚠️
This is a known problem year for the BMW X5

The 2011 model year has significantly more owner complaints than average for this model. Consider a different year if possible.

F
13/100

Avoid This Year — 2011 BMW X5

The 2011 BMW X5 is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

14
NHTSA Recalls
14 recalls on record
307
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
6
Crashes + Injuries
15 fire reports

Own or buying a 2011 BMW X5?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

⚠️

NHTSA Recalls — 2011 BMW X5 (14)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized BMW dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V017000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V248000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V016000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V017000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V336000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #18V030000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #17V138000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #16V746000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #17V683000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #16V311000

Showing 10 of 14 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →

💬

Most Common Problems — 2011 BMW X5

Based on 307 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine
82
Air Bags
63
Power Train
49
Steering
21
Electrical System
18
Fuel/propulsion System
17
Unknown Or Other
16
Engine And Engine Cooling
9
📊

BMW X5 — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2011 model year is highlighted.

2010 147 complaints 2011 307 complaints 2012 0 complaints 2013 0 complaints 2014 0 complaints 2015 0 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2010, 2011 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2012, 2013, 2014 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions — 2011 BMW X5

Is the 2011 BMW X5 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2011 BMW X5 has 14 recalls and 307 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2011 BMW X5 have?
The 2011 BMW X5 has 14 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW X5?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2011 BMW X5 are: Engine, Air Bags, Power Train, Steering. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2011 BMW X5 safe to buy?
The 2011 BMW X5 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 14 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year BMW X5 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the BMW X5 are: 2012, 2013, 2014. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2010, 2011.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.