2011 BMW X6 Engine Problems

I returned home from shopping at local store 15 miles away. Arrived home around 11:30pm on June 3. Unloaded groceries and sat down. Around 11:45pm-11:50pm heard yelling from outside that our car was on fire. My husband ran out and and seen flames coming from under hood of car. I called 911 and within a couple mins middle of hood was completely starting to melt and components were spraying fluid and popping pieces of metal and plastic were thrown everywhere. A neighbor proceeded to use 2 fire extinguishers to try to control blaze which did not seem to calm flames. Fire department arrived and sprayed down side of house and back of our other car which was parked In front of our BMW. Do to the extreme heat we could not get into other car to move it as it was parked by closed garage doors. Myself, our 2 daughter's and visiting friend were forced from the house due to concerns that the house might catch fire. We watched as the cars whole front engine area burned completely.During the trip to the store there were no warning signs on vehicle stating anything wrong. The fire marshal did a report on the fire and it was towed to local tow yard. At this time it is available for inspection. Preceding fire since it was unexplained to us we looked into recalls of the BMW and found multiple claims and reports for recall. Looking up VIN on NHSTA' s website VIN came back as "0" unrepaired recalls. We purchased the vehicle from a private dealer who never mentioned if vehicle ever had any recalls or had been fixed. And our search before purchase said there were no recalls on the vehicle. Due to the extreme heat our driveway was burned and our vehicle in front received heat damage to whole back of car. The fire was so intense that the engine area all the way to the back seat is burned. Thank goodness me and my daughter were not driving the vehicle at the time this happened as the engine fire burned quickly. This fire was not caused by arson or any factors under our control.

NHTSA ID

11742337

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X6. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the mechanic stated that the timing chain gears failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part not being available. The contact stated that the dealer had the part but would not sell it to the contact due to the part being under a recall. The contact referenced BMW recall B110923 as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

NHTSA ID

11579229

Incident

Feb 12, 2024

Mileage

94,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X6. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle inadvertently shut off. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion while leaving a parking lot, the vehicle jerked with a delay while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the front suspension needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion while starting the vehicle, the vehicle started overheating. The contact shut off the vehicle and waited for the vehicle to cool down before restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 94,000.

NHTSA ID

11541410

Incident

Aug 29, 2020

Mileage

94,000 mi

MY VEHICLE CUT OF ON ME ON THE FREEWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND TRAFFIC. MY ENGINE STARTED SMOKE. I WAS AFRAID FOR MYSELF AND CHILDREN. I HAVE ALWAYS TOOK MY CAR INTO THE BMW OF BLOOMFIELD DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE I HAVE NEVER MISS NOT ONE APPOINTMENT. FOR THE LAST 5 TO 6 MONTHS. MY VEHICLE STAYED IN THEIR DEALERSHIP. THE LONGEST WAS APPROXIMATELY 42 DAYS AND ONCE I RECEIVED MY CAR MY ENGINE STARTED SMOKING SO I GIVE THEM BACK MY VEHICLE. I ASKED THEM IF THEY FOUND OUT WHAT CAUSED MY ENGINE TO SMOKE LIKE THIS? THERE COULDN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT FORWARD ANSWER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE PICKING UP MY VEHICLE THEY ALWAYS LEFT SOMETHING UNPLUGGED CAUSING MY INTERIOR LIGHTS TO GO CRAZY BECAUSE OF THE WIRES BEING NOT PROPERLY FIXED. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES IN SIX MONTHS. I'VE PROBABLY SPENT NO LESS THAN 3,500. ON TOP OF THEM TELLING ME I NEED SOME RUN FLAT TIRES AND ALL THE LIGHTS WILL STOP BECAUSE OF THOSE TIRES. ONLY 5 DAYS LATER MY CAR STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOOK THE CAR OVER TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP THE CALLED ME TO INFORM ME OF MY ENGINE BEING DOESN'T WORK I ASKED HOW THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW, AND IN THE SAME BREATH THEY SAID THAT IF I WANTED A NEW ENGINE IT WILL COST ME 15,000 NOT INCLUDING TIME AND LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329168

Incident

May 31, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X6. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DROVE OFF AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF LAS VEGAS (6900 W SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89117, (702) 570-0279), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNLESS IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11176331

Incident

Oct 9, 2018

Mileage

72,000 mi

AFTER IDLING ON A CAR WASH FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES, THE CAR START TO SMOKE. I HAVE TALKED TO 3 MORE OWNERS OF MY SERIES AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A BMW DEFECT AND NOW AM USING EXCESSIVE OIL TOO.

NHTSA ID

11119489

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X6. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF ALBANY (801 E OGLETHORPE BLVD, ALBANY, GA 31705, (229) 883-2040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

11105379

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

TURBO COOLANT RECALL. THE TURBO COOLANT PUMP IS NOT WORKING WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO OVER HEAT NOW CURRENTLY LEAKING FROM THE HOSES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND IF I START TO DRIVE IT, IT STARTS TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE.

NHTSA ID

11022151

Incident

Sep 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE OVER HEATED AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED AN ERROR MESSAGE "GO TO A BMW CENTER". THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10899466

Incident

Aug 25, 2016

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND A REDUCED POWER WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10873898

Incident

Dec 5, 2015

Mileage

48,000 mi

ON 10/02/2015, I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. SUDDENLY, THERE'S THIS LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. THE ROAD WAS VERY SMOOTH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT COLLIDE WITH ANY POTHOLES OR ANY ROAD OBJECTS. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, DID A QUICK INSPECTION, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. SO I GOT BACK ONTO THE CAR AND CONTINUE DRIVING. DURING ACCELERATIONS AND GOING ABOVE 40MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND I STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL BUT MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND ASKED SEVERAL MECHANICS, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT OF THE VEHICLE IS GOING BAD, AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BMW X6. I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR ELSE IF THE DRIVE SHAFT HAPPENS TO BREAK ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHICH ME AND MY KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ADDITIONALLY, AT 54K MILES, THE VEHICLE'S VALVE STEM SEALS HAS ALREADY GONE BAD, (THEY USUALLY DON'T GO BAD UNTIL 120K MILES) THE ENGINE OIL IS LEAKING TOWARDS COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND BURN OFF THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE IS EMITTING AN EXTREMELY TOXIC, SULFURIC SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST, YOU CAN SMELL IT FROM FAR AWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. I HAD SEVERAL NEIGHBORS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL. NOT ONLY THAT THIS IS BAD FOR OUR HEALTH DUE TO THE CANCER-CAUSING CARCINOGEN IT IS ALSO BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. BMW HAS LONG ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" WHICH THEY REFUSED TO CALL IT A RECALL. IN FACT, THEY REPLACED MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS ON MY VEHICLE, BUT THE CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE DID NOT FIX THE TOXIC, SULFURIC SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT FALSELY ADVERTISE AND SOLD US AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR NEARLY $85,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10779594

Incident

Oct 2, 2015

Mileage

56,002 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10667132

Incident

Dec 4, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

HI MY NAME IS [XXX] I BOUGHT A BMW X6 5.0 2011 I'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY SUV! IN THE LAST MONTH I'VE BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR COOLANT ISSUES IT'S SAD BECAUSE THE THIRD TIME MY WIFE AND I WERE AT THE MOVIES OUR EYES STARTED TO ITCH,BURNING AND FELT LIKE VOMITING. SO I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND THEY FOUND LEAKS IN THE HOSES AND CAR WAS THERE FOR ABOUT EIGHT DAYS,DON THE HEAD SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY RAN ALL THE TEST THEY CAN AND GOT EVERYTHING DONE. ON THE 3RD OF NOVEMBER OUR EYES STARTED TO ITCH AND FELT LIKE VOMITING AGAIN, SO I CALLED THE DEALER THIS THURSDAY AND TOLD THEM WHAT'S GOING ON,DON THE HEAD SERVICE GUY AND THE HEAD MECHANIC AND THE SERVICE GUY BOTH SMELLED A SENT IN MY VEHICLE SO FOR THE FOURTH TIME MY CARS IN THE SHOP AGAIN.I PICKED MY CAR UP THIS MONDAY AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERWITH LOW OIL LIGHT ON AND A SENT IN MY CAR! I LOVE THE BMW VEHICLES BUT I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT SAFE OR FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ANYMORE :( MY WIFE IS PREGNANT SHE'S FOUR MONTH IN THE PREGNANCY AND I'M SAID THAT BMW TEST US AS TEST DUMMIES. I JUST HOPE THIS DIDN'T CAUSE ANY KIND OF HEALTH ISSUES FOR US LONG-TERM AND FOR THE BABY,I SPOKE TO [XXX] FROM BMW I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT I DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE A HOSPITAL BILL. PLEASE HELP I COULD GIVE YOU MORE INFO YOU COULD CALL ME AT [XXX] I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY BACK IN THE VEHICLE AGAIN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10653453

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

49,000 mi

MY BMW X6 5.0I SPORT ALMOST STARTED ON FIRE, I BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR JUST YESTERDAY MY WATER PUMP WENT BAD AND I ONLY HAVE 48,000 MILE ON MY CAR, SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR THE WATER PUMP BEEN MAKING NOISES!! ITS SAD THAT I COULD OF LOST MY LIFE OR DID MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR BECAUSE ITS HEATING UP AND ITS NOT FEAR TO ME OR TO ANYONE ELSE THAT OWNS THIS CAR!! I WILL CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA AND TELL THEM THE PROBLEM.. PLEASE RESEARCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10625889

Incident

Aug 16, 2014

Mileage

48,262 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X6. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SOME WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE, DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10608961

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X6. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SOME WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE, DRIVE SHAFT AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10608959

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

55,000 mi

WE LEASED OUR 2011 BMW X6 3.5I IN AUGUST 2010 FROM BMW OF TENAFLY. THE FIRST HIGH FUEL PRESSURE PUMP MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTH - IN FEBRUARY 2011. THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY HIGHWAY AND BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR KIDS FROM KINDERGARTEN. THE DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND THE CAR WAS IN SERVICE FOR THE WHOLE 2 MONTH, WHILE WE WHERE DRIVING LOANER. WITHIN A YEAR FROM THAT SERVICE, IN APRIL 2012 THE ENGINE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND THE CAR BECOME ABSOLUTELY UNCONTROLLABLE, ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY, BYSTANDERS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING MY WHOLE WEIGHT ON THE BRAKES AND ENORMOUS FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND ROLL INTO THE NEARBY GAS STATION. MIRACULOUSLY, NOBODY GET HURT, BUT AFTER THAT INCIDENT MY WIFE AND I DEVELOPED SUBLIMINAL FEAR OF DRIVING, EXPECTING OUR CAR TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AT ANY MOMENT. MY WIFE DEMANDED TO EXCHANGE THE CAR, STATING THE FEAR OF DRIVING, BUT OUR DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DO SO. THIS TIME IT WAS IN SERVICE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. WITHIN THE 3 MONTH OF THAT SERVICE IN AUGUST 2012 THE 'REDUCED POWER' ENGINE MALFUNCTION NOTIFICATION EMERGED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR REFUSED TO START. THIS TIME DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE FAULTY GENERATOR, ALTHOUGH ALL THE SIGNS OF THIS FAILURE WAS VERY SIMILAR TO HIGH FUEL PRESSURE PUMP MALFUNCTION. TODAY - 02/02/2013, WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS, OUR CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AGAIN. AS IN PREVIOUS SITUATIONS THERE WHERE KIDS IN THE CAR, WHEN IT BECOME ABSOLUTELY UNCONTROLLABLE, WHILE MOVING IN THE LEFT LINE ON BUSY HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496170

Incident

Feb 22, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi