RoadVitals

2011 BMW X5 Sav Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
24
Latest Oct 30, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 BMW X5 Sav, 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

  • Engine1029.4%
  • Fuel system720.6%
  • Powertrain (other)720.6%
  • Driver assistance411.8%
  • Airbags38.8%
  • Electrical25.9%
  • Interior & seats12.9%

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.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE COOLANT LINES NEEDED COMPLETELY REPLACED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO START BARRELING SMOKE AFTER ABOUT 400-500 FT. LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE. GOT REPAIRED AT BMW OF WESTLAKE IN OHIO. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO HAVE PREVENTED IT.

NHTSA ID 11144153 · filed Oct 30, 2018

ENGINE CLICKS WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATION

NHTSA ID 11144151 · filed Oct 30, 2018
All 10 reports naming engine

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

X5 XDRIVE 35I SAV; WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL STREET AND HIGHWAY CONDITIONS, VEHICLE SPEED AND ENGINE RPM HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE AND DECREASE IT'S SPEED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY AS YOU MAY LOSE POWER, OR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE WHILE TRYING TO EXECUTE A DRIVING MANEUVER, CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO BMW DEALERSHIP (ZT MOTORS) FOR DIAGNOSTICS. SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP INDICATED A LOW FUEL PRESSURE AT THE INLET. THIS WOULD TELL ME THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS NOT DELIVERING THE CORRECT FUEL FLOW/PRESSURE TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 16V746000 ET AL. DIAGNOSTICS ALSO INDICATED THE VALVETRONIC MOTOR SHOWS IT SHORT CIRCUITING. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF VALVETRONIC MOTOR, CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS ARE UNNECESSARY MAINTENANCE ITEMS, ONLY THE VALVETRONIC MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND FUEL SYSTEM REPROGRAMMED. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V176000 ET AL. RECOMMEND RECALL REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS, VALVETRONIC MOTOR, VANOS CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS AS WELL AS REPROGRAMMING OF FUEL OPERATING SYSTEM. ALSO REPLACE CAM SHAFT MOUNTING BOLTS.

NHTSA ID 11030853 · filed Oct 2, 2017

MY VEHICLE IS HAVING A RECALL REGARDING THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP SINCE OCTOBER 2016 BMW OF SAN DIEGO HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT PART IN A TIMELY MANNER AND BMW OF EL CAJON HAS JUST PROVIDED THE NECESSARY PART FOR MY PERSONAL VEHICLE I HAVE WAITED ALMOST A YEAR FOR A PART TO BE PROVIDED FOR MY VEHICLE. MOREOVER, THE CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURES IN IGNITION AND STALLING DUE TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND POSSIBLY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE DERIVED FROM THIS SPECIFIC RECALL. OTHER ISSUES REGARDING THE ENGINE COULD BE IN QUESTION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE RARELY SHUTS BY ITSELF WHEN STARTING THE IGNITION, ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM INVOLVING COLD STARTS IN MOST BMW VEHICLES AND MY CAR IS NOT AN EXCEPTION. THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF IS A SPECIAL CONCERN BECAUSE THIS MAY MEAN THERE ARE OTHER FAULTY PARTS LOCATED DEEP WITHIN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID 11024054 · filed Sep 18, 2017

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.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING HARD ACCELERATION OF THE CAR WHILE GETTING ON THE FREE WAY RAMP, THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS DEGRADED AND I HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BELLEVUE NEXT WEEK AFTER INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF A DME INTERNAL FAULT BY A SIGNATURE INDEPENDENT KIRKLAND. BMW OF BELLEVUE REPLACED AIR MASS FILTER AND OIL FILLER CAP. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ISSUE HAPPENING AGAIN DURING REGULAR DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A VACUUM HOSE LEAK. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR SHORT, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA OPENED A PUMA CASE, BUT DID NOT RECOMMEND REPLACING THE DME YET. RIGHT AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR I HIT THE ISSUE AGAIN WHERE THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY RAMP. BMW OF BELLEVUE WORKED WITH BMW OF NA TO REPLACE THE DME WHICH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. BEFORE HANDING THE CAR BACK THE SERVICE ADVISOR DID A TEST AND WAS ABLE TO STILL REPRODUCE THE CAR GOING INTO LIMP MODE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, DIAGNOSIS IS STILL NOT KNOWN. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS TODAY SINCE THE ISSUE FIRST HAPPENED AND THE CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF USE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AND THERE IS STILL NO CONCLUSION ON THE ROOT CAUSE.

NHTSA ID 11080383 · filed Mar 20, 2018

ON SATURDAY MAY 6TH 2017. I WAS DRIVING WHEN I HEARD THIS NOISE TO MY UNTRAINED EAR IT SEEMED AS IF THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM MY FRONT TIRES? I PULLED OVER GOT OUT TO CHECK MY FRONT TIRES/WHEEL'S AND THERE WAS NOTHING, I GET BACK INTO MY VEHICLE AND START DRIVING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE SAME NOISE COULD BE HEARD AGAIN SO ONCE AGAIN I PULLED OVER GOT OUT AND CHECKED MY TIRES/WHEELS AND UNDERCARRIAGE. AS I AM LOOKING THERE IS NOTHING HANGING OR LOOSE, I GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO HEAD TOWARDS MY HOUSE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME SO I CALL MY FIANCE AND ASKED HE TO COME OUTSIDE (I WANTED HER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JUST A LITTLE SO THAT I COULD SEE IF MY WHEELS WERE DOING ANYTHING STRANGE, THIS WOULD HELP ME TO BETTER EXPLAIN WHAT I THROUGH WAS HAPPING TO MY VEHICLES WHEELS/TIRES) AS SOON AS I HANG THE PHONE UP I SLOWED DOWN TO GO OVER A SPEED HUMP AT THE TIME I DID NOT NOTICE BUT I HAD LOST POWER IN THE VEHICLE AS I TRIED TO USE MY BREAKS THE VEHICLE DID NOTHING AND I DO MEAN NOTHING SO NOW I AM ROLLING STRAIGHT AND GO THROUGH TWO STOP SIGNS HOPING AND PRAYING THAT ONE HITS ME, DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING NO POWER. A MESSAGE SHOWS UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING 'TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION' THE MALFUNCTION MAYBE RESOLVED BY RESTARTING. CONTRACT NEAREST BMW CENTER IF NECESSARY. USE EMERG. RELEASE TO DISENGAGE PARK DETENTION PRIOR TO TOWING OR PUSHING VEHICLE. NOW MINE YOU THIS MESSAGE ONLY SHOWED AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. AS I AM GOING THROUGH THE SECOND STOP SIGN THERE IS A SLIGHTL/SMALL HILL THAT I WENT UP AND THE VEHICLE LOST ENOUGH SPEED THAT I WAS ABLE TO SMASH THE BRAKES REAL HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. A CAR ALL MOST HIT ME IN THE REST BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION, AND NOW I AM SITTING ON THIS SLIGHT HILL HOLDING MY FOOT ON THE BREAK. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE DRIVESHAFT RECALL.

NHTSA ID 10985577 · filed May 14, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING HARD ACCELERATION OF THE CAR WHILE GETTING ON THE FREE WAY RAMP, THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS DEGRADED AND I HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BELLEVUE NEXT WEEK AFTER INITIAL DIAGNOSIS OF A DME INTERNAL FAULT BY A SIGNATURE INDEPENDENT KIRKLAND. BMW OF BELLEVUE REPLACED AIR MASS FILTER AND OIL FILLER CAP. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE ISSUE HAPPENING AGAIN DURING REGULAR DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A VACUUM HOSE LEAK. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, BMW OF BELLEVUE DIAGNOSED THIS AS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR SHORT, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA OPENED A PUMA CASE, BUT DID NOT RECOMMEND REPLACING THE DME YET. RIGHT AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR I HIT THE ISSUE AGAIN WHERE THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY RAMP. BMW OF BELLEVUE WORKED WITH BMW OF NA TO REPLACE THE DME WHICH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. BEFORE HANDING THE CAR BACK THE SERVICE ADVISOR DID A TEST AND WAS ABLE TO STILL REPRODUCE THE CAR GOING INTO LIMP MODE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY, DIAGNOSIS IS STILL NOT KNOWN. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS TODAY SINCE THE ISSUE FIRST HAPPENED AND THE CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF USE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AND THERE IS STILL NO CONCLUSION ON THE ROOT CAUSE.

NHTSA ID 11080383 · filed Mar 20, 2018

X5 XDRIVE 35I SAV; WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL STREET AND HIGHWAY CONDITIONS, VEHICLE SPEED AND ENGINE RPM HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE AND DECREASE IT'S SPEED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY AS YOU MAY LOSE POWER, OR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE WHILE TRYING TO EXECUTE A DRIVING MANEUVER, CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO BMW DEALERSHIP (ZT MOTORS) FOR DIAGNOSTICS. SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP INDICATED A LOW FUEL PRESSURE AT THE INLET. THIS WOULD TELL ME THAT THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS NOT DELIVERING THE CORRECT FUEL FLOW/PRESSURE TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 16V746000 ET AL. DIAGNOSTICS ALSO INDICATED THE VALVETRONIC MOTOR SHOWS IT SHORT CIRCUITING. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF VALVETRONIC MOTOR, CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS ARE UNNECESSARY MAINTENANCE ITEMS, ONLY THE VALVETRONIC MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND FUEL SYSTEM REPROGRAMMED. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V176000 ET AL. RECOMMEND RECALL REPLACEMENT OF BOTH HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS, VALVETRONIC MOTOR, VANOS CAM SHAFT AND OIL INJECTORS AS WELL AS REPROGRAMMING OF FUEL OPERATING SYSTEM. ALSO REPLACE CAM SHAFT MOUNTING BOLTS.

NHTSA ID 11030853 · filed Oct 2, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED: RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION! FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. ALSO DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT CONTROL NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ID 10960363 · filed Mar 13, 2017

I RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2016 FOR MY DRIVERS FRONT AIR BAG, RECEIVED ANOTHER ONE JULY 2016 FOR PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG. WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER ONE'S I WILL RECEIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED. ALL I HEAR IS BY SUMMER, THEN BY MID SUMMER NOW, THEY DON'T KNOW. BUT THEY SUGGEST I WARN ANYONE DRIVING MY CAR THEY COULD GET KILLED IF IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONSIDER THAT I AM DRIVING A $85000 DEATH TRAP. SINCE THERE IS SUCH DANGER SHOULD NOT SOMEONE HAVE TO PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER CAR OR RENTAL AT THEIR EXPENSE!. BECAUSE I AM TELLING YOU IF I OR SOMEONE SHOULD BECOME INJURED OR DEAD THE LAWSUIT WILL BE BIG. ISN'T THERE SOME TIMEFRAME THAT BMW HAS TO COMPLY IN.?? I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY BMW THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY TIMEFRAME "MAYBE" BY END OF MONTH, HAHA BEEN HEARING THAT SINCE MARCH "MAYBE" "MAYBE" "MAYBE".

NHTSA ID 10893483 · filed Aug 5, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WATER PUMP I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I GOT THE SIGNAL TO DRIVE SLOW OR MODERATE BECAUSE THE ENGINE IT'S GETTING HOT I PULLED OVER TURN OFF THE CAR GOT OUTSIDE TO SMOKE A CIGARETTE AND I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING MORE LIKE WIRE BURNING

NHTSA ID 11006391 · filed Jul 19, 2017

MY VEHICLES PURCHASED LAST YEAR FROM BMW LOCAL DEALER {JACKIE COOPER IMPORTS] IS EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED ENGINES .THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP OVERHEATED. THIS LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP AND AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT . BMW WAS SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY OWNERS, REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND COOLANT RESERVOIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE TWO SAFETY RECALLS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. REF NHTSA COMPAIGN RECALL #11V521000 AND NHTSA COMPAIGN RECALL # 12V161000. I HAVE LOGGED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEIR RECALL RESOLUTION DEPARTMENT IN VAIN. I AM BEING CHARGED FOR PARTS AND LABOR WHICH I BELIEF SHOULD BE FREE A SNOTED BY THE TWO RECALLS .

NHTSA ID 10716078 · filed May 12, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED: RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION! FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. ALSO DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT CONTROL NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ID 10960363 · filed Mar 13, 2017

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

Data on this page last refreshed .