Vehicle Data Hub

2011 BMW 5 Series steering problems

20 complaints about steering have been filed for the 2011 BMW 5 Series, which is 21% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
20 21% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
73 miles 18 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
1 and 0
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 2011 BMW 5 Series Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 73 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 17 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 0 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 0 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 0 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 73 miles
Based on 18 complaints that include mileage. 94% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles17
20k to 40k miles0
40k to 60k miles0
60k to 80k miles0
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 18 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 0 miles, and 94% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

There are 3 major issues. 1. Vehicle tends to veer to the right. Feeling is quite like a vehicle that hasn't been aligned for a while. 2. The most dangerous. Upon acceleration and/or at low speed, the vehicle randomly jerks forward without any notice- making it too late for the driver to slam the brakes. If your vehicle is standing three feet behind another vehicle in stop and go traffic, you can easily crash and rear end into the car in front of you. And of course, you will be sued for not keeping your distance.

Reported at 40 miles, July 2011 CrashInjury

Tl*the contact owns a 2011 BMW 535I. While driving approximately 60 MPH the vehicle began pulling to the right. He stated that he had to steer to the left in order to keep the vehicle straight. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that they were aware of the problem. The dealer also advised him that the manufacturer told them that it was not a alignment problem or a tire problem but a software problem.

Reported at 100 miles, July 2010

Other problems reported for the 2011 BMW 5 Series

Steering problems in other years

  • 2023
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 1997
  • 1996

Steering problems across all BMW models