2011 BMW 5 Series: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2011 BMW 5 Series: 4 recalls, 81 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #10V331000 · 2010 · 6,080 vehicles
What's wrong: The vehicle's fuel level sensor within the fuel tank can become wedged against the tank.
Why it matters: If this occurs, the fuel gauge in the instrument cluster would display a larger amount of fuel than was actually in the tank. As a result, if the tank became empty, the vehicle could stall increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on October 18, 2010.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #11V521000 · 2011 · 32,084 vehicles
What's wrong:
Why it matters: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on December 19, 2011.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #12V161000 · 2012 · 2,846 vehicles
What's wrong:
Why it matters: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on April 30, 2012.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #23V707000 · 2023 · 157,796 vehicles
What's wrong: The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (vanos) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
Why it matters: Loose or broken vanos unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the four vanos bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Tires (30): the most common themes are tire tread / blowout (27).
- Steering (20): the most common themes are steering problems (11), noise or vibration (5).
- Transmission & drivetrain (10): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (8).
- Electrical (6): the most common themes are fire / smoke (4).
The 2011 BMW 5 Series has 81 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 18 5 Series model years for complaints (3.4× the average 5 Series year). Complaints peaked in 2011 (42 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 0 years old, at a median of 2,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (6 complaints, 5 recalls), 2012 (10 complaints, 0 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 31 | 25 | Premium |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 30 | 24 | Premium |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Premium |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | Premium |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 18 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 17 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 BMW 5 Series.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2011 BMW 5 Series have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2011 BMW 5 Series. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2011 BMW 5 Series problems?
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are tires (30), steering (20), transmission & drivetrain (10).
What gas mileage does the 2011 BMW 5 Series get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 10 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2011 BMW 5 Series repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.