NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2011

BMW X5 Diesel SAV recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 44 owner complaints for the BMW X5 Diesel SAV, covering model year 2011. Engine is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW X5 Diesel SAV VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
44 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
1 model year with data (2011)

top component: Engine (18 complaints)
latest recall 16V311000 (reported May 17, 2016)

1 complaint reporting a crash (2.3%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
2 complaints reporting an injury (4.5%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaints by model year

1 model year · NHTSA complaints

All 44 complaints are for the 2011 model year.

BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
2011	44	1	0	2	0

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW X5 Diesel SAV components

top 12 · NHTSA categories

Engine is the component named most often, in 18 complaints (40.9% of all 44), followed by Air Bags (10) and Fuel/Propulsion System (9).

Components named most often in BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaints (top 12)

Components named most often in BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaints (top 12)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Engine	18	40.9%
Air Bags	10	22.7%
Fuel/Propulsion System	9	20.5%
Power Train	5	11.4%
Unknown or Other	5	11.4%
Steering	3	6.8%
Electrical System	2	4.5%
Structure	2	4.5%
Wheels	2	4.5%
Service Brakes	1	2.3%
Suspension	1	2.3%
Tires	1	2.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW X5 Diesel SAV recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name X5 Diesel SAV, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model year 2011.

2 recall campaigns

BMW X5 Diesel SAV recall campaigns covering each model year
2011: 2 campaigns

NHTSA campaign 16V311000
Reported May 17, 2016
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Model year 2011
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.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 11V332000
Reported Jun 23, 2011
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel
Model year 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.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW X5 Diesel SAV questions

4 questions

How many recalls does the BMW X5 Diesel SAV have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the BMW X5 Diesel SAV, covering model year 2011. The most recent, 16V311000, was reported on May 17, 2016 and is filed under “Power train”.

What is the most common BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaint?

Engine is the component named most often: 18 complaints, or 40.9% of all 44. Air Bags (10) and Fuel/Propulsion System (9) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW X5 Diesel SAV?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW X5 Diesel SAV complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 44 complaints, 1 report a crash, 0 a fire, 2 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.