RoadVitals

2011 BMW X5 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Jun 20, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 263 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 BMW X5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 20, 2022

As I was slowing down to make a turn, the vehicle went into neutral and shut off. I immediately turned it back on and put it in drive and the same thing occurred moments later. I start it again and drove away enough to safely park. I let the car rest in the off position for 30 minutes and it drove fine. There were no warning lights and the vehicle is well maintained with scheduled services. I contacted the nearest reputable mechanic and explained the situation. I drove it there. They found no faulty codes when they plugged in the computer and the battery has no issues. The vehicle drives fine now, but this is very concerning especially since this took place in local traffic.

NHTSA ID
11470015
Incident
Jun 16, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 24, 2020

VEHICLE INDICATED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING AT REDUCED POWER, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER. SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 5MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11384886
Incident
Dec 24, 2020
Mileage
113,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 24, 2020

THE CAR IS PUTTING OUT WHITE SMOKE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH OIL IS ENTERING THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND BURNING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE OIL IS EITHER BURNING OR LEAKING INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN FUEL CONSUMPTION AND THE ACCELERATION IS AFFECTED. AS I WAS DRIVING THERE WAS A WARNING THAT THE ENGINE HAS GOTTEN TOO HOT TO DRIVE AND TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. THERE WERE NO TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHTS OR COOLANT WARNING LIGHTS AND COOLANT LEVEL WAS FINE. BMW DOES NOT HAVE A TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO KNOW IF YOUR CAR IS GETTING HOT. STUPID DESIGN.

NHTSA ID
11311246
Incident
Oct 23, 2019
Mileage
94,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 1, 2018

'TAKATA RECALL' WHEN THE HEAT OR AC IS ON AIR FROM VENT START TO BURN MY EYES. WHENEVER I'M IN MY VEHICLE I LEAVE OUT FEELING SLEEPY. CABIN FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGED AS WELL AS OTHERS PROBLEM CONTINUES. ALSO THE LEATHER ON THE DASH BOARD IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE VENT. PLASTIC WOOD TRIM CRACKS OVER TIME LEAVING THE VEHICLE LOOKING CHEAPLY BUILT

NHTSA ID
11144616
Incident
Sep 28, 2018
Mileage
88,308 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 23, 2015

SEVERE ACCELERATION DELAY FROM A STOP PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE BROADSIDED. DURING THE FIRST 1/2 TO 1 SECOND AFTER DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS LITTLE TO NO REACTION FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER THIS PAUSE, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND WHAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE SURGES UNCONTROLLABLY. I FOUND MYSELF SIDEWAYS ON A WET PAVED ROAD. MY NATURAL INCLINATION AFTER THE PAUSE WAS TO PRESS FOR MORE GAS, ANY OTHER REACTION WOULD HAVE LEFT ME SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS COMPLAINT IS WELL DOCUMENTED WHEN RESEARCHING BMW ACCELERATION LAG OR THROTTLE TIP IN ON THE INTERNET. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT BMW WOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOW SUCH UNSAFE PROGRAMING OF THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS SURE TO HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WAS LUCKY, OTHERS MAY NOT BE.

NHTSA ID
10726951
Incident
Jun 2, 2015
Mileage
55,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 30, 2015

BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD , I WAS ON MAJOR DEEGAN HIGHWAY EXITING AT 230 ST WHEN THE MY BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD SUDDEN STOPPED AND MY HEART WHEN TOO MY FEET . THE PANEL READ "ENGINE MALFUNCTION " I WAS IN A DAZE NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPEN TO THE BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD AND WHY DID IT STOP ALL OF SUDDEN !!! I STARTED AGAIN AT A VERY SLOW PACE LESS THAN 10 MPH AND TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC ON THE EXIT ON 230 STREET , I MADE IT TOO THE VETERANS AFFAIRS HOSPITAL AT 8:30 OR 9:00 AM IN THE MORNING . I CALLED AAA TO TOW TO A SHOP THAN I WAS FOUND OUT THIS BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD HAD A RECALL SO I GOT IT TOW TOO PORTCHESTER BMW WHERE THE VEHICLE IS AT NOW AND DON'T WHEN I WILL GET BACK . IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD THIS BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD SHOULD NEVER BE ON ANY US ROAD AT ALL ITS AN ACCIDENT READY TO HAPPEN VERY DANGEROUS ,VERY DANGEROUS FOR A BMW X5 35I 2011 AWD TO HAVE A SUDDEN STOP " ENGINE MALFUNCTION " SOME ONE IS GOING TOO DIE IN THIS BMW X5 35I 2011 ITS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND RISK MY LIFE A US MARINE VETERAN . TAKE THIS BMW X5 35I 2011 OFF THE ROADS OF THE UNITED STATES BEFORE SOME WANT GETS KILLED !!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10680093
Incident
Jan 28, 2015
Mileage
69,569 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 19, 2014

IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR MY X5 HAD THE INCREASED ENGINE NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, AND STALLED ON I-80 IN OMAHA. I GOT THE CAR PULLED OVER AND STARTED AGAIN. I THEN HAD HUSKER AUTO OF LINCOLN NE (BMW SHOP) LOOK AT IT. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN TO DATE. IN JUNE I GET A LETTER FROM BMW ABOUT THE SAFETY RECALL OF VANOS ASSEMBLY BOLTS. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM FIT MY SITUATION BACK IN MARCH. I TOOK THE LETTER TO HUSKER AUTO BUT THEY SAID I HAD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER LETTER FROM BMW. I HAVE APPROACHED HUSKER AUTO TWICE MORE SINCE JUNE, WITH SAME STORY FROM THEM. MY QUESTION TO YOU, IS THERE ANYTHING YOUR ADMINISTRATION CAN DO ABOUT BMW NOT ACTING TIMELY ON THE X5 RECALL ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10626465
Incident
Mar 12, 2014
Mileage
50,500 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 28, 2014

MY 2011 X5 35I HAS AN ACCELERATION DELAY. BMW HAS RECOGNIZED IT AS AN ISSUE IN THE 535I MODELS, CALLING IT AN "ACCELERATION DELAY" AND HAVE ISSUED AN SIB SOFTWARE UPDATE TO REPAIR IT, BUT HAVE NOT DONE SO FOR THE X5 MODEL. I FEEL THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566454
Incident
Feb 12, 2014
Mileage
24,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 18, 2011

2012 BMW X5. UPON ENGINE START UP WHEN COLD, THE ENGINE SURGES EXCESSIVELY. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED DURING THE SURGING (FLUCTUATING RPM) THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD/REVERSE CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *KB

NHTSA ID
10420072
Incident
Aug 14, 2011
Mileage
1,300 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .