RoadVitals

2011 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Jul 17, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Oct 17, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and other / unspecified categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 30 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine228.6%
  • Driver assistance114.3%
  • Other / unspecified114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • Steering114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V746000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Oct 17, 2016
136,188 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.
The risk: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
12V161000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Apr 10, 2012
2,846 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
11V521000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Oct 20, 2011
32,084 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jul 17, 2018

IN JUNE 2018, I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL, TO WIT, BMW AG HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT, WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY...FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED MY BMW VIN # [XXX] IS AMONG THE RECALLED CARS. DUE TO HEALTH REASONS AND THE PROJECTED SERIOUSNESS, I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND REQUESTED ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION, AS ADVISED TO DO IN THE RECALL LETTER. INASMUCH AS THE RECALL NOTICE RECOMMENDED PARKING SAID VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS WAS PERFORMED. I HAVE NUMEROUS MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, AS SUCH, TRANSPORTATION IS A MUST. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, SOMETHING MUST BE PRESENTLY ACTIVELY WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE WHICH RENDERS IT BEING UNABLE TO DRIVE. I FAILED TO COMPREHEND WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXPRESS. SIMPLY PUT, IF THE CAR IS ACTIVELY FUNCTIONING, NO REPLACEMENT VEHICLE COULD BE OBTAINED. THIS SITUATION HAS CAUSED ME ADDITIONAL UNDUE STRESS. IN OTHER WORDS, I HEAR; CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IF AND WHEN IT BLOWS UP. FACT OF THE MATTER, I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE COMPARABLE VEHICLE UNTIL MINE IS FIXED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11111957
Incident
Jun 21, 1947
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 13, 2015

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND SHAKE FORCEFULLY. DUE TO THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE, I NEARLY LOST CONTROL AND NEARLY CRASHED INTO VEHICLES IN MY GENERAL AREA. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT WHICH TIME I OBSERVED A WARNING NOTICE ON MY DASH WHICH STATED; "...MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUT PUT NOT AVAILABLE..." AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND REGAINING MY COMPOSURE. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE WARNING ON THE DASH HAD DISAPPEARED. AFTER BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF, I RE-ENTERED THE TRAFFIC. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MILE, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED BY BMW AT NO COST TO THE BUYER. I SAY THIS BECAUSE, I PERUSED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY BMW OWNERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AGAIN, THIS IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
10716102
Incident
May 8, 2015
Mileage
60,800 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2014

VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH. MURRAY BMW DENVER, COLO AGREED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED BY BMW FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT AS OF YET THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT AS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS NOT PROVIDED THE NECESSARY PARTS TO MAKE THE REPAIR.(SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 14V-176: VANOS ASSEMBLY BOLTS). *TR

NHTSA ID
10648968
Incident
Apr 9, 2014
Mileage
40,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Apr 21, 2013

THE INSIDE CORDS OF THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED WHILE I WAS HEADED SOUTH BOUND ON I75 FROM MIRAMAR TO MIAMI FLORIDA. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED ON LINE TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I FOUND THIS WEB SIGHT THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR. LINK HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=525812. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509025
Incident
Apr 20, 2013
Mileage
30,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

B160623

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

B653423

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicle’s 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.

SIM010717

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The engine?s intake charge-air duct limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles applies to ?eligible USspecification

13 02 15

ENGINE

ENGINE FAILURE WARNING AND REDUCED ENGINE OUTPUT WILL OCCUR DUE TO HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP FAILURE. *MA

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017001—
2012000—
2011Viewing440—
2010330—
2009000—
2008000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.