Vehicle Data Hub

2011 BMW X5 engine problems

Owners reported engine problems in 119 complaints for the 2011 BMW X5, 30% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
119 30% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
71,000 miles 102 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 8
Injuries and deaths
2 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2011 BMW X5 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 71,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 8 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 4 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 17 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 31 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 18 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 12 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 5 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 3 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 2 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 2 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 71,000 miles
Based on 102 complaints that include mileage. 28% 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 miles8
20k to 40k miles4
40k to 60k miles17
60k to 80k miles31
80k to 100k miles18
100k to 120k miles12
120k to 140k miles5
140k to 160k miles3
160k to 180k miles2
180k to 200k miles2
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 102 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 71,000 miles, and 28% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 8 fires, 2 injuries.

What owners wrote

Margining onto freeway accelerated car suddenly lost power went into neutral and brakes went hard engine malfunction lights on the dash build date dec 2010 falls into vanos repair fixed once already and has made the vehicle inoperable BMW corporate is claiming not at fault when hundreds of cases have been reported online every vehicle made from feb 2010-dec 2010 is a ticking bomb

Reported at 75,000 miles, December 2015 Injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 BMW x5. While operating the vehicle, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine had overheated. Upon inspection, it was discovered that hot water had leaked from the engine area. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer (united BMW, 11458 alpharetta hwy, roswell ga) where it was diagnosed that the water pump and thermostat had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but while leaving the dealer, the vehicle began to violently shake and rattle.

Reported at 86,000 miles, January 2018

Other problems reported for the 2011 BMW X5

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all BMW models