2011 BMW X5 Engine Problems

There's currently an open recall for a number of BMW engines involving aluminum bolts in the vanos assembly that shear, strip, and break off completely. The open recall is somehow excluding some vehicles with the same exact problem like my 2011 BMW X5 xdrive35i N55 E70 with the inline 6. Currently my vanos bolts are already sheared off and sitting in my oil pan. My vehicle started misfiring and acting strange while I was traveling at 75mph, luckily I made it into a gas station and had to have it towed from there because it wouldn't start again and hasn't since. BMW knows about these hazardous bolts and chose to not repair some of them directly endangering drivers and their families. My local BMW dealership won't even confirm that the bolts in my oil pan are the vanos bolts even after I showed them photographic evidence which I still have. I've spoken with BMW North America and they said I need to get it confirmed by my local dealership, so where dies that leave me? Here...over $8,000 in damage/loss from an obvious manufacturer error that THEY ARE AWARE OF!

NHTSA ID

11736796

Incident

Feb 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

NHTSA ID

11663129

Incident

May 27, 2025

Mileage

132,000 mi

EGR failure where the diesel emissions come into the cabin via the hvac system Dealer said the EGR cooler needs to be replaced. This is a know problem and recall on the 2012 and 2013. This makes the fumes to the driver when first driving the car in the morning dangerous as carbon monoxide and diesel exhaust enter the car. My friend has an exact similar problem and this issue is known on all the BMW boards

NHTSA ID

11642373

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

I own a 2011 BMW x5. The NHTSA shows 15 recalls for my vehicle type; however, NHTSA must be relying upon BMW for the VIN numbers as: 1.) my vehicle doesn't show up for recalls; 2.) I have never been contacted by BMW for many of those recalls - in fact, I have not received a letter from BMW in many many years, and among the 15 recalls above, I have never received any notification of for at least October 20, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V707000 Camshaft Timing Bolts May Loosen Causing Stall Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. April 18, 2018 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 Electric Auxiliary Water Pump Failure October 30, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 PCV Heater may Short Circuit March 2, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V138000 Front Driveshaft Universal Joint may Fail May 17, 2016 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V311000 Front Driveshaft Universal Joint may Fail. When I call BMW, they say there are no recalls outstanding on my vehicle and this NHTSA states there are recalls, but does not associate my VIN with the recalls, so say there are no recalls outstanding. The most prominent recent issue was that when my BMW dealership diagnosed a check engine light in my vehicle, they wanted to replace a SCR DEF active tank for $3,000, but it turned out that BMW had an almost 100% failure rate for the same part and issued an extended warranty for this part under their technical bulletin SI B01 23 16. They denied replacing the parts under the warranty stating that it was limited to 10 years/120,000 miles. I had only 101,600 miles on my car, but they stated the 10 year limited out the warranty from the in-service date. However, my car had many emission system related issues including just a few years previous.

NHTSA ID

11567475

Incident

Jan 11, 2024

After BMW replaced my battery on 1/11/24, a check engine light immediately appeared. It said that the Scr Active Tank needed to be replaced and it would cost upwards of $3,000. I immediately found a NHTSA bulletin that informed that this particular part had been on recall, but had a 10 year/120k mile limitation. My car only had 101k miles, but BMW denied my recall work on goodwill because they say it was well past 10 years of my in-service date. The warranty, however, should still be effective, as many customers have different rates of utilization and I am still 19k short of the mileage limitation, which should not be time limited. BMW worked with the NHTSA for a reason - they acknowledged that they had a flawed part, and this needs to be changed at their expense, not passed on as $3,000 unfairly to the customer. Please see the recall bulletin attached.

NHTSA ID

11565609

Incident

Jan 11, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X5. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, the vehicle unexpectedly turned off and independently shifted into neutral. The “Engine Failure - Reduced Power” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty variable valve timing system. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

NHTSA ID

11550652

Incident

Sep 30, 2023

Mileage

107,000 mi

Passport BMW told us that there was a recall on the engine of our X5 and asked if we had to add oil periodically; our answer was yes. We were told that the engine failed the oil consumption test performed by Passport BMW and the engine needed to be replaced. Passport then said that we had to pay for the replacement of the engine, $2,500. The engine has been replaced, however the engine still leaks oil and now also leaks antifreeze additionally, engine malfunction is displayed permanently on the dashboard.

NHTSA ID

11545979

Incident

Feb 19, 2023

I was driving to work one morning On the highway, when I suddenly heard a loud sharp noise from the engine bay that followed with the engine and battery lights turning blinking on my display with sudden loss of steering. I panicked but quickly put my vehicle into neutral with my hazard lights on and slowly hit my brakes till I came to a complete stop on the highway. I got my vehicle towed back and upon further inspection saw that the idler pulley bolt snapped completely off. I researched and saw that this bolt has been recalled twice already with the same issue. If this was during a heavy traffic situation it could have been far worse.

NHTSA ID

11483747

Incident

Sep 4, 2022

Our car get on fire from begin low on oil, we stopped on the side and went on another car to get oil at the gas station and Suddenly star on fire and our entire car truck burned. Luckily we were able to get out off the car on time.

NHTSA ID

11470883

Incident

May 30, 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

my vehicle has symptoms of the auxiliary water pump for turbocharger going bad. Th epump is noisy, and smells very hot/burnt. There was a recall in 2011-2012 that was done on my car for this part, however it appears the same issues are currently arising. Under the 0011730400 B110518 Recall: Electronic Auxiliary Coolant Pump , updated in 2018, my vehicle isn't listed as affected, however I believe it should be.

NHTSA ID

11451349

Incident

Feb 2, 2022

The SUVs drive belt has come loose and was ingested through the front crankshaft seal, causing engine issues such as oil starvation leading to engine damage and unknown check engine codes. The SUV has been confirmed to have belt fragments inside the engine. I have video documentation.

NHTSA ID

11449821

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

BMW USA IS HIDDEN RECALL INFORMATION AND REPAIR HISTORY AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT CAUSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY CHANGE OR DO OF MY CARE I NEED THIS INFORMATION PLEASE.

NHTSA ID

11414345

Incident

Jan 4, 2021

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH, THE PASSIVE TANK LEVEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO LIMP MODE NOT ALLOWING HIM TO EXCEED 50 MPH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY BMW (4725 MCHENRY AVE, MODESTO, CA 95356) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE PASSIVE TANK LEVEL SENSOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WANTED A SECOND OPINION AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE FIRST RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 166,000. *DT

NHTSA ID

11413553

Incident

Nov 16, 2020

Mileage

166,000 mi

VEHICLE'S ENGINE, BEING A DIESEL, REQUIRES NOX TRAP SYSTEM AND SCR SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO REDUCE HARMFUL EMISSIONS PER EPA STANDARDS. IN ORDER FOR THE SCR SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY, THE ENGINE MUST INJECT DEF (DIESEL-EXHAUST FLUID) INTO THE SCR SYSTEM. IN THE BMW X5 35D, THE DEF SYSTEM IS COMPRISED OF TWO TANKS: THE ACTIVE TANK AND THE PASSIVE TANK. A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM IS THE PRIMARY SENSOR OF THE PASSIVE TANK FAILING. THE SENSOR ITSELF FAILS, BUT THE ENTIRE TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE SENSOR'S ISSUES, RESULTING IN SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT DUE TO THE SENSOR ITSELF NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REPLACED IN THE ORIGINAL TANK. RECALL IS RECOMMENDED FOR BMW TO REPLACE THESE SENSORS AS THE FAILURE OF THESE SENSORS RESULTS IN THE SCR CATALYST SYSTEM FAILING TO OPERATE, WHICH IN TURN SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES ENGINE PERFORMANCE, INCREASES EXHAUST EMISSIONS, AND RESULTS IN THE ENGINE NOT KNOWING THE CAPACITY ON WHICH TO OPERATE. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11407424

Incident

Nov 29, 2020

Mileage

128,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REDUCED SPEED ON I95 INTERSTATE 95SOUTH IN CHICAGO. I HAVE SPEND OVER $18,000 ON ENGINE ISSUE AND HIGH CONSUMPTION OF OIL IS ALSO A MAJOR ISSUE. THERE IS A SEVERE ENGINE ISSUE THAT MAY LEAD TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. ONCE THE ENGINE REDUCE POWER IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL THE TRUCK OVER TO SAFETY. THE WHOLE X5 5.0I NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11405694

Incident

Mar 30, 2021

Mileage

76,000 mi

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

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS

NHTSA ID

11343337

Incident

Aug 4, 2020

Mileage

11,555 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN TURNING OR DECELERATING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ROADSHOW BMW, ADDRESS: 405 N GERMANTOWN PKWY #6207, CORDOVA, TN 38018, PHONE: (901) 365-2584) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), AS WELL AS, THE RECALLS FOR THE AIR BAGS AND ENGINE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS UNKNOWN). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11328543

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

190,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMUNATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ROUGHLY TURN OFF AND HAD A SOUND OF THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED. THE DEALER CHECKERED FLAG BMW 5225 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462 (866) 414-7820 STATED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE ISSUE.THE EGR COOLER THAT COOLS THE EXHAUST FUMES WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ISSUE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,719.

NHTSA ID

11308921

Incident

Feb 11, 2020

Mileage

81,719 mi

DRIVESHAFT FAILURE

NHTSA ID

11300529

Incident

Jan 20, 2020

Mileage

88,700 mi

I AM HAVING AN EXHAUST LEAK INTO MY CABIN. I ALREADY REPLACED THE EGR COOLER AND IT WENT AWAY, BUT NOW THE SMELL IS BACK.

NHTSA ID

11287909

Incident

Nov 28, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND SUDDENLY INCREASE IT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT ALSO JERKS STEERING FEELS LOOSE LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE. COMPUTER ON THE DASH READS TO ADD A QUART THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY OTHER DAY SINCE I GOT IT BACK FROM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISORS TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OIL ALL LIES. THEY DISMANTLED MY ENTIRE ENGINE THE VEHICLE NEVER DROVE THE SAME AGAIN PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS FLICKERING. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON ME WHILE I WAS IN THE HIGHWAY DRIVING SLOWING I PULLED OUT OF THE HIGHWAY INTO AND EXIT AND FROM THERE I HAD IT TOW TO BMW AFTER THEY SO CALLED FIXED IT AGAIN

NHTSA ID

11287374

Incident

Jun 20, 2019

DROVE MY VEHICLE IN TO THE BMW DEALER FOR COOLANT LEAK/WATER PUMP SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE. THE NEXT DAY THEY INFORM ME THE CAR STALLED DURING A STANDARD TEST DRIVE AFTER THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. THE WERE UNABLE TO SPECIFY WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL AND DID NOT RELEASE DIAGNOSTICS TO ME BUT TOLD ME THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. NY STATE DEPT OF VEHICLE FORWARDED A REPORT STATING VANOS FAULTS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY BMW RECALLS FOR ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE, AND AN UNSPECIFIED RECALL FOR VANOS BOLTS UNIT THAT LOOSEN OR BREAK OVER TIME CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAVE REDUCED POWER OR STALL. MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT UNDER THESE RECALLS BUT SHOULD BE.

NHTSA ID

11286694

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

Mileage

111,000 mi