MYRModel Year Report

2011 BMW 5 Series

○ Not enough data
2011 BMW 5 Series
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:55:34.415Z

Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
81
Recalls
4

Campaigns on file for 2011

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Tires

37% of complaints

Complaints per year

1989: 1 complaint 1989 1990: 0 complaints 1991: 0 complaints 1992: 0 complaints 1992 1993: 0 complaints 1994: 0 complaints 1995: 3 complaints 1995 1996: 0 complaints 1997: 1 complaint 1998: 0 complaints 1998 1999: 2 complaints 2000: 2 complaints 2001: 3 complaints 2001 2002: 7 complaints 2003: 9 complaints 2004: 64 complaints 2004 2005: 21 complaints 2006: 85 complaints 2007: 13 complaints 2007 2008: 98 complaints 2009: 4 complaints 2010: 6 complaints 2011: 81 complaints 2011 81 2012: 10 complaints 2023: 0 complaints
1989: 1 complaint 1989 1990: 0 complaints 1991: 0 complaints 1991 1992: 0 complaints 1993: 0 complaints 1993 1994: 0 complaints 1995: 3 complaints 1995 1996: 0 complaints 1997: 1 complaint 1997 1998: 0 complaints 1999: 2 complaints 1999 2000: 2 complaints 2001: 3 complaints 2001 2002: 7 complaints 2003: 9 complaints 2003 2004: 64 complaints 2005: 21 complaints 2005 2006: 85 complaints 2007: 13 complaints 2007 2008: 98 complaints 2009: 4 complaints 2009 2010: 6 complaints 2011: 81 complaints 2011 81 2012: 10 complaints 2023: 0 complaints 2023
1989: 1 complaint 1989 1990: 0 complaints 1990 1991: 0 complaints 1991 1992: 0 complaints 1992 1993: 0 complaints 1993 1994: 0 complaints 1994 1995: 3 complaints 1995 1996: 0 complaints 1996 1997: 1 complaint 1997 1998: 0 complaints 1998 1999: 2 complaints 1999 2000: 2 complaints 2000 2001: 3 complaints 2001 2002: 7 complaints 2002 2003: 9 complaints 2003 2004: 64 complaints 2004 2005: 21 complaints 2005 2006: 85 complaints 2006 2007: 13 complaints 2007 2008: 98 complaints 2008 2009: 4 complaints 2009 2010: 6 complaints 2010 2011: 81 complaints 2011 81 2012: 10 complaints 2012 2023: 0 complaints 2023

2011: 81 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19891
19900
19910
19920
19930
19940
19953
19960
19971
19980
19992
20002
20013
20027
20039
200464
200521
200685
200713
200898
20094
20106
201181
201210
20230

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Tires

37% · 30 reports

Steering

25% · 20 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2011-08-08

Also filed under Power train

A few days back my steering wheel started making a squeaky noise like one of the rubbers have gone bad in the steering column. My car has approximately 55K miles on it and is majorly garage kept.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-04-05

Power train

12% · 10 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission.

CRASHINJURY

Electrical system

7% · 6 reports
CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Just parked the vehicle, turned off the vehicle and smelled something burning. Exited the vehicle, observed smoke from under the hood, opened the hood and observed flames from the left side of the engine, mostly on the top left of the engine now.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-26

Engine and engine cooling

5% · 4 reports

Safety timeline

4 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2010-10-18Fuel system, other10V331000 BMW is recalling certain 2010 and 2011 5-Series and 5-Series Gran Turismo passenger vehicles manufactured from January 12 through July 1, 2010. The vehicle's fuel level sensor within the fuel tank…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on October 18, 2010. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2011-12-19Engine and engine cooling11V521000 BMW is recalling certain model year 2011 5-Series, model year 2010-2011 5-Series Gran Turismo, model year 2009-2011 7-Series, model year 2010-2011 X5 SAV, and model year 2008-2011 X6 SAV vehicles…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on December 19, 2011. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2012-04-30Engine and engine cooling12V161000 BMW is recalling certain model year 2011 5-Series, 5-Series Gran Turismo, model year 2012 6-Series convertible, 7-series, X5 sav, and X6 sav vehicles equipped with 8- or 12-cylinder, turbocharged…

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on April 30, 2012. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services at…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2024-06-19Engine and engine cooling23V707000 BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i,...

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2011 BMW 5 Series — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Tires: 30 reports on file for this year.
  • Steering: 20 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 10 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 10V331000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 11V521000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 12V161000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 23V707000 · Engine and engine cooling
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

FAQ

Is the 2011 BMW 5 Series reliable?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 5 Series?
The most-reported component is tires, accounting for 37% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2011 BMW 5 Series have?
4 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.