DefectRecord Public Record - Not a Government Site

Home / BMW / X5 / 2011

Model Year Problem Record

BMW X5 2011 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 2011 BMW X5: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

263Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints
14Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls
3Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations
32Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Did a Recall Cover It?

The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Engine120 complaints

120 complaints; 5 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 11V521000, 17V683000, 18V248000, 18V336000, 23V707000.

Air Bags70 complaints

70 complaints; 5 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 16V364000, 18V030000, 19V017000, 20V016000, 20V017000.

Power Train58 complaints

58 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 16V311000, 17V138000.

Fuel and Propulsion System43 complaints

43 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 16V746000.

Unknown Or Other20 complaints

20 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System19 complaints

19 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering18 complaints

18 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes8 complaints

8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Speed Control7 complaints

7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Lighting7 complaints

7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seat Belts5 complaints

5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Wheels4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Suspension3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Visibility3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Tires2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Equipment1 complaints

1 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 10V233000.

Seats1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

10V233000Reported June 2, 2010 - 296 vehicles potentially affected

Equipment. Recall covering the equipment system, reported to NHTSA on June 2, 2010. The campaign covers an estimated 296 vehicles across all affected models.

11V521000Reported October 20, 2011 - 32,084 vehicles potentially affected

Engine. Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on October 20, 2011. The campaign covers an estimated 32,084 vehicles across all affected models.

16V311000Reported May 17, 2016 - 21,493 vehicles potentially affected

Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on May 17, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 21,493 vehicles across all affected models.

16V364000Reported May 25, 2016 - 97,738 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on May 25, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 97,738 vehicles across all affected models. NHTSA records carry a do-not-drive advisory for this campaign.

Do Not Drive Advisory
16V746000Reported October 17, 2016 - 136,188 vehicles potentially affected

Fuel and Propulsion System. Recall covering the fuel and propulsion system system, reported to NHTSA on October 17, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 136,188 vehicles across all affected models.

17V138000Reported March 2, 2017 - 121,909 vehicles potentially affected

Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on March 2, 2017. The campaign covers an estimated 121,909 vehicles across all affected models.

17V683000Reported October 30, 2017 - 740,561 vehicles potentially affected

Engine. Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on October 30, 2017. The campaign covers an estimated 740,561 vehicles across all affected models.

18V030000Reported January 9, 2018 - 41,808 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 9, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 41,808 vehicles across all affected models. NHTSA records carry a do-not-drive advisory for this campaign.

Do Not Drive Advisory
18V248000Reported April 18, 2018 - 47,806 vehicles potentially affected

Engine. Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on April 18, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 47,806 vehicles across all affected models.

18V336000Reported May 23, 2018 - 33,214 vehicles potentially affected

Engine. Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on May 23, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 33,214 vehicles across all affected models.

19V017000Reported January 14, 2019 - 83,016 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 14, 2019. The campaign covers an estimated 83,016 vehicles across all affected models. NHTSA records carry a do-not-drive advisory for this campaign.

Do Not Drive Advisory
20V016000Reported January 15, 2020 - 4,007 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 15, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 4,007 vehicles across all affected models. NHTSA records carry a do-not-drive advisory for this campaign.

Do Not Drive Advisory
20V017000Reported January 15, 2020 - 59,965 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on January 15, 2020. The campaign covers an estimated 59,965 vehicles across all affected models.

23V707000Reported October 20, 2023 - 157,796 vehicles potentially affected

Engine. Recall covering the engine system, reported to NHTSA on October 20, 2023. The campaign covers an estimated 157,796 vehicles across all affected models.

Defect Investigations

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.

RQ18001Opened April 18, 2018 - Closed December 1, 2018

Idler Pulley Bolt Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 18V336000.

RQ18001Opened April 18, 2018 - Closed December 1, 2018

Idler Pulley Bolt Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 18V336000.

RQ18001Opened April 18, 2018 - Closed December 1, 2018

Idler Pulley Bolt Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 18V336000.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

20102
20117
20123
20136
201419
201521
201641
201772
201822
201925
202013
202111
20227
20236
20244
20253
20261
How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.