2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav, and owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Driveshaft (power train)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 X5 xDrive 35i, xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles manufactured April 5, 2010, to November 20, 2010, 2011 X5 xDrive35d diesel vehicles manufactured April 7, 2010, to November 20, 2010, and 2011 X6 Active Hybrid vehicles manufactured April 15,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Diesel (engine and engine cooling)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2011, x5 diesel sports activity vehicles (sav) manufactured from march 31, 2011, through may 19, 2011. Due to a component manufacturing error at the supplier, the welds in the belt tensioner could have incipient cracks. Over time, this could lead a malfunction of the belt tensioner.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine belt tensioner free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during august 2011. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417, or via email at…
44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 88,063 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 13 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My wife was driving on the expressway with speed limit of 50 miles / per hour. Suddenly the car showed "engine malfuction - power reduced" and she couldn't keep the speed and car starting losing speed”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 13, 2019 · Engine
“The passenger restraint light is on. Dealer reports there is a fault stored for the passenger side seat mat. I understand that BMW has had recalls for this problem in previous model years.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 21, 2019 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2011 BMW X5 (X5 xDrive35d, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDriveM). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12–19 / 17–26 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Premium |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3/4.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic (S8) |
Checking a specific 2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav
How do I know if my 2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2011 BMW X5 Diesel Sav; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V332000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.