2011 BMW 7 Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 7 Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine133.3%
- Fuel system133.3%
- Powertrain (other)133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
BMW 750 I XDRIVE 2011 --EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OR BURNING. THE DESIGN OF THE VALVE STEM SEALS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1) FIRE HAZARD. 2) PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY 3) POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH EXCESSIVE SMOKE 4) ADDITIONAL COST BURDEN FOR CONSUMERS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATION, THE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE OIL MEASURE TURN TO LOW AFTER JUST 2 WEEKS OF ADDING OIL TO THE ENGINE. FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS, BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAWS IN THEIR ENGINE THAT BURN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CARRY THE COST BURDEN OF REPAIRING THIS DESIGN FLAWS. AS AN OWNER, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN BMW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2012, AFTER WARRANTY THE CAR HAS CONSTANT BREAKDOWNS, I HAVE SPENT >3500 DOLLARS IN LAST YEAR, AGAIN GOT A MESSAGE "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" ABOUT A WEEK AGO, TOOK TO DEALER ROADSHOW BMW IN MEMPHIS, THEY SAID HIGH FUEL PUMP AND PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ABOUT $1000, I AGREED AND LEFT CAR, TWO DAYS LATER THEY CALLED THAT THERE IS ANOTHER 'PLATE LEAKING OIL' AND NEEDS ANOTHER $1000 REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT THERE WHEN I LEFT THE CARE. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST TIME, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WITH OUT HELP, AND AGAIN YESTERDAY. MY CAR IS IN SHOP AT DEALER.I CAME TO KNOW THAT THIS FUEL PUMP PROBLEM IS VERY COMMONLY REPORTED IN BMW BUT SURPRISINGLY COMPANY HAS NOT RECALLED IT OR ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN FATAL ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. BMW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS AND RECALLS AND FIXING THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE FATAL INJURIES OCCUR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE ON MY 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE. SHOULD BE COVERED IN RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000). HOWEVER, BMW REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. TOOK IN TO RAY CATENA BMW OF WESTCHESTER (543 TARRYTOWN RD., WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, 914-761-5555) ON 6/27/2017. SHOWED THEM PRINTOUT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000. SERVICE MANAGER SAID EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL INCLUDED THE 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE, MY SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET $949.31 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .