2011 Bmw 5 SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls

I BOUGHT A 2011 BMW 535I 3 WEEKS AGO. UPON DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS, THE CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY FROM 30MPH TO 0MPH. MY CAR HAS UNDER 2000 MILES ON IT. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, WITH "FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION", AND "ENGINE MALFUNCTION" ON THE ONBOARD DASH. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I WAS ALSO CARRYING A 5 GALLON SQUARE CONTAINER OF WATER THAT WAS CAPPED AND SEALED IN THE TRUNK. DURING THE ABRUPT STOP OF THE CAR, ABOUT 1/2 A GALLON OF WATER SPILLED INTO THE TRUNK. AFTER BEING TOWED TO SHELLY BMW AND T…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346220 at NHTSA ↗

EVER SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, I NOTICED IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND THE DEALER HAS NO FIX YET. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348375 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED MY 2011 BMW 535I ON 06/23/10. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 1 MILE ON THE ODOMETER. AS I PULLED OFF THE DEALER?S LOT, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD A HARD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY TO FIX IT. THEIR EQUIPMENT SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS, BUT WENT AHEAD AND DID AN ALIGNMENT ANYWAY (ACTUALLY 4 OF THEM) IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY ATTEMPTED ANOTHER SOLUTIONS (TIRE SWAPS, ETC.), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND SPOKE WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348650 at NHTSA ↗

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. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER WAS ABLE TO FIND A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348665 at NHTSA ↗

2011 BMW 535I HAS A TENDENCY TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349238 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW 2011 BMW 550I, CAR PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT, CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS, PROBLEM IS CONSTANT, CARS HONK AT ME SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING NEXT TO ME BECAUSE THE CAR SWERVES BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349794 at NHTSA ↗

BRAND NEW 2011 BMW 550I, CAR PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT, CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS, PROBLEM IS CONSTANT, CARS HONK AT ME SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING NEXT TO ME BECAUSE THE CAR SWERVES BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. TOOK TO BMW AND THEY CONFIRMED PROBLEM BUT SAID THEY HAVE NO FIX. THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. IT IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND IS A DANGER TO THE ROAD! THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN BUT BMW WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK SO I AM STUCK DRIVING THIS DANGEROUS CAR ON THE ROAD RISKING MY LIFE AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349801 at NHTSA ↗

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, MY WIFE DROVE OUR 2011 BMW 535I TO WORK AND THE FUEL GAUGE WAS READING HALF TANK. IT'S ONLY APPROX. 20 MILES TO WORK ROUND TRIP TO OUR HOUSE BUT WHEN SHE CAME BACK HOME THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND FLASHING WARNING LIGHT FUEL REFILL IS SHOWING. I DROVE THE CAR FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS AND I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR SEEMED TO BE STAYING ALL THE TIME AT HALF TANK READING. I DROVE IT THIS MORNING TO OUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND TO THE MALL AND I STILL NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR IS NOT MOVING AND WAS R…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353634 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-07-22 (July 22, 2010)

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 CAN BECOME WEDGED AGAINST THE TANK.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2011-10-20 (October 20, 2011)

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 EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

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 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2012-04-10 (April 10, 2012)

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, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.

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 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2023-10-20 (October 20, 2023)

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, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.

Consequence: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

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. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.