2011 Bmw X5 DIESEL SAV: complaints, problems and recalls

07/31/2011: 2011 BMW X5D, WITH 10,500 MILES, ALL 4 TIRES WERE INFLATED BY DEALER AT 40PSI; FOUR WEEKS LATER THE REAR TIRES WERE AT 35PSI, BUT BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE AT 22PSI. THE TPMS WAS SHOWING GREEN ON ALL FORU TIRES, DID NOT GIVE ANY WARNING. CALLED BMWUSA AND THEY SAID THAT IF IT IS GREEN IT SAFE TO DRIVE. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ALL THEY DID WAS CHECK THE PRESSURE AND REINFLATE TO 40PSI. THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE DRIVING AND LOOKING AT THEIR TPMSS SHOWING ALL 4 TIRES ARE GREEN, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY UNDERINFLATED. I CALLED BERU, THE MAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424578 at NHTSA ↗

SNAPPING NOISE HEARD RANDOMLY WHEN THE BODY FLEXED. TO REPAIR THE LEFT A-PILLAR FAILED WELD(S) EXTENSIVE REMOVAL OF INTERIOR TRIM, SUNROOF, WINDSHIELD, ETC NECESSARY TO WELD AND PAINT A-PILLAR AND/TO ROOF PANEL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460855 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED, I CRASHED INTO A TREE, SUSTAINING MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE NOTE THE BMW ASSIST DID NOT WORK PROPERLY EITHER! IT TURNED ON BUT I WAS PLACED ON HOLD LEAVING THE ASSIST ON HOLD PERMANENTLY AND COULD NOT TURN IT OFF OR RESET IT. THEY ALSO NEVER CALLED FOR HELP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487961 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED INTERMITTENTLY AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS OVER-CONSUMING EXHAUST FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND THE LOW PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548260 at NHTSA ↗

THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN IN 3 TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME ISSUES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SMELL OF EXHAUST IN CABIN. THIS SMELL STARTED AT AROUND 30,000 MILES, BUT AT THAT TIME IT WAS MINOR, AND WOULD GO AWAY QUICKLY. EXHAUST FILTER CLEANED AT COST OF $400. NEXT DAY THE ENGINE LIGHT AND EXHAUST SMELL STILL THERE. DIESEL EXHAUST RESERVOIR AND HEATER REPLACED (THIS WAS A RECALL FOR SOME OF THE SAME CARS, BUT NOT MY VIN). COST OF THIS REPAIR $1,300. FIVE DAYS LATER CAR TAKEN BACK TO DEALER WITH SMELL OF EXHAUST DURING COLD STARTS WAS EXTREME IN CA…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548876 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON -- PARKED ON A HILL WILL ROLL DOWN THE HILL WHILE COMPLETELY POWERED OFF. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE ON EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF SLUSH ( NOT ICE.) I CAN ATTACH A VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENING IF NEED BE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561030 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2011 BMW X5 335D WITH A LITTLE OVER 73K MILES. JUST RECENTLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER A TRIP TO THE SHOP THE TECHS SAID IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY DEF (DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID) SENSOR. UNFORTUNATELY THIS PART IS ~$930 AND IS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. I ASKED IF THE PART IS A MANUFACTURE RECALL, BUT IT'S NOT. I'M MIND BOGGLED BECAUSE I HAD THE EGR REPLACED TWICE UNDER MANUFACTURE RECALL FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THIS DEF SENSOR ISN'T. HOW CAN THIS BE?.?.? THIS PART HAS TO DO WITH EMISSIONS STANDARDS AND DUE TO THE PART BEING UNAVAILAB…

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10736179 at NHTSA ↗

PREMATURE FAILURE OF DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM COMPONENTS, PRE- AND POST- FILTER PRESSURE SENSORS. THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF NO ACTIVE REGENERATION CYCLES DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING PRESSURE SENSORS THAT DID NOT ACTIVE FAULT CODES UNTIL AFTER FILTER HAS BEEN BLOCKED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMING OF THE DIESEL REGENERATION CYCLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 109,957 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794766 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-06-23 (June 23, 2011)

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.

Consequence: IF THE BELT TENSIONER FAILS, THERE COULD BE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE, IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, MANUAL STEERING CAPABILITY IS STILL RETAINED AND COULD INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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 CUSTOMERRELATIONS@BMWUSA.COM.

Reported: 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)

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, 2010, to November 17, 2010. The affected vehicles have a front driveshaft universal joint that may not seal out water and debris from getting in and damaging the joint, which could lead to its failure.

Consequence: If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction. Additionally, continued driving of the vehicle with a broken front universal joint may damage other components. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.

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.