2011 BMW 5 Series

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 5 Series. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as a camshaft failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number- 14V176000 ( Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000. The VIN was not available.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 5-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN WHICH THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO FUNCTION FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER. DUE TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. BMW OF WILMINGTON (4920 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403, (910) 392-2700) STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TESTED AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. VOLVO CARS NEW BERN (3405 DOCTOR M.L.K. JR BLVD, NEW BERN, NC 28562, (252) 638-6161) DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *JS

WHILE DRIVING WITH AC ON SMOKE STARTED COMING HEAVILY FOR THE INTERIOR AC VENTS. A VERY TOXIC SMOKE, WITH ELECTRICAL SMELL. I NOTICED THE BMW 3 SERIES HAS A RECALL ON ELECTRICAL BLOWER PROBLEM. I THINK MY CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE.

WHILE MAKE TURNS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AXEL MAKES POPPING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS VIOLENTLY. TOOK TO SHOP THEY SAID NOTHING FOUND WRONG WITH CAR. CV AXEL REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.ALSO NOT EVEN 10K MILES THE CAR WENT THRU 2 BELT TENSIONER CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO SNAP/TEAR.

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. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS OF THE SAME ISSUE. YOU CAN SEE AN EXAMPLE AT: HTTP://F30.BIMMERPOST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=838504 YOU CAN HEAR THE SQUEAK IF THE CAR IS DRIVING OR IS STATIC.

MY AC FAN MOTOR HAS STARTED TO MAKE A WEIRD NOISE WHEN YOU LIFT THE FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY

POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION PCV VALVE HEATER THIS IS A RECALL BMW STATES REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE YET.

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 16V-746 WAS ISSUED 13 OCT 2016. TO DATE BMW HAS YET TO TO NOTIFY US TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECT - NEARLY 6 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. WE BELIEVE THIS AN UNACCEPTABLY LONG WAIT FOR WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ACTION FROM NHTSA OR OTHER FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO COMPEL BMW TO ACCELERATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECALL ORDER. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO DIE IN A FIERY MADE FOR TV NEWS ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY??? FIX MY CAR!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 5-SERIES. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

WHILE DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES WITH SEAT WARMERS ON MY HUSBAND (DRIVER) TURNED IT OFF. WE WERE TRAVELLING ON SUBURBAN ROADS AROUND 40 MPH. THEN AT A STOP LIGHT HE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. WE CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THEN I NOTICED THE SMELL A FEW SECONDS LATER, SO I OPENED A WINDOW EXPECTING TO FIND SMELL A FIRE NEARBY OR HEAR SIRENS. AT THAT POINT WE SAW A PLOOM OF SMOKE COME FROM UNDER HIS SEAT TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OPEN WINDOW. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND TURNED EVERYTHING OFF. THE SMOKE TOOK SOME TIME TO CLEAR BUT DID STOP. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WE DROVE 1 MILE TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD COST $1,700 TO FIX. I DECLINED TO PAY $1,700 TO FIX AND REQUESTED THEY DISCONNECT SEAT HEATER. BMW PERSONNEL INFORMED ME IT COULD NOT DISCONNECT POWER TO SEAT HEATER WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE ENTIRE AC/HEAT SYSTEM. THIS IS A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE, NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. FOR A SEAT HEATER TO CAUSE SMOKE IT CAUSED A FIRE AND THIS IS A DEFECT. THE CAR WILL CATCH ON FIRE IF THE SEAT WARMER IS ACTIVATED. I ASKED DEALERSHIP WHAT IF I LOAN MY CAR TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THE DEFECT, THEY SUGGESTED PUTTING TAPE OVER THE BUTTON. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE SAFETY MEASURE TO PREVENT BURNS, FIRE, OR EVEN DEATH. CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT PEOPLE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE. ON A COLD MORNING I COULD HAVE BUCKLED KIDS IN, TURNED ON CAR, SEAT HEATER, AND TALK TO A NEIGHBOR FOR 2 MINUTES, OR TEACHE

WHEELS / RIMS FAILED. CRACK CAUSED THEM TO NOT HOLD AIR. ONLY DRIVEN FOR PLEASURE AND NO EXCESSIVE DRIVING OR EVENTS. FAILED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN GEOGRAPHY. DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANTY.

WHEELS / RIMS FAILED. CRACK CAUSED THEM TO NOT HOLD AIR. ONLY DRIVEN FOR PLEASURE AND NO EXCESSIVE DRIVING OR EVENTS. FAILED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IN GEOGRAPHY. DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANTY.

THE DRIVER DOOR DOES NOT SHUT INTERMITTENTLY THE DOOR RELEASE, DOOR UNLOCK/LOCK, DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT RELEASE THE STATE. THE CAR WON'T MOVE BECAUSE THE DOOR IS NOT LOCKED, IT CAN TAKE UPWARDS OF A FEW HOURS OF TINKLING TO GET THIS GOING AGAIN. THE DEALER HAS DILIGENTLY CHANGED SO MANY PARTS AND ITS NOT THAT THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. IS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCING THIS OUT THERE. MY 4 YR WARRANTY WILL END IN JUNE AND I AM VVERY CONCERNED HOW I AM GOING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. OTHER VEHICLE GOING SOUTHBOUND CROSSED OVER MEDIAN STRIP OF HIGHWAY, HIT THREE CARS GOING NORTHBOUND, MINE WAS THIRD CAR TO BE STRUCK. OFFENDING CAR DID A 360 IN FRONT OF ME, I SLOWED TO ABOUT 25 AND HE MOVED INTO ME. I STRUCK HIS REAR PASSENGER SIDE CORNER. I HAD FRONT END DAMAGE OVER $5K. NO AIRBAG, BUT DEFAULT MESSAGES AND AN AIRBAG ICON CAME ON THE VIDEO SCREEN AND THE FRONT INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT STATES "DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OR RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION." *JS

AS I WAITED FOR MY WIFE IN MY APARTMENT PARKING SPACE, MY REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED COMPLETELY WITH A LOUD BANG. I WAS COMPLETELY TAKEN BY SURPRISE AND FRIGHTENED BY THE NOISE. I WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THE SHATTERING. NO FOREIGN OBJECTS IMPACTED MY VEHICLE OR THE REAR WINDSHIELD. *TR

GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES SIDEWALL BUBBLES AFTER DRIVING JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE WITH A DEFECT THAT WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY IMPACT. *TR

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. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN THEIR LOT WAITING FOR THEIR INVESTIGATORS TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST COMMENT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, MAYBE AN ANIMAL BUILT A NEST IN THE ENGINE AREA. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3000 MILES ON IT, PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2011, AND IS GARAGE KEPT. *TR

LAST APRIL I PURCHASED A BMW 550IX. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY I DEVELOPED A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO RUN THE VEHICLE 40 MILES TO MY HOME WITH THE TIRE FLAT BUT HAD TO FLATBED THE VEHICLE TO MY CAR REPAIR STORE TO REPLACE THE TIRE. THAT TIRE HAD A BUBBLED SIDEWALL AT THE TIME OF THE FLAT ALTHOUGH I CANNOT SAY THAT THE BUBBLED SIDEWALL WAS WHERE THE TIRE FAILED. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED FOR AROUND $500 AND THE MECHANIC MADE NO MENTION TO ME ABOUT THE BUBBLED SIDEWALL ISSUE WITH THIS TIRE ALTHOUGH, AS IT TURNS OUT, HE WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR OF THE ABOVE FLAT, MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE ALSO HAD A BUBBLED SIDEWALL NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF THAT TIRE IN ORDER TO PASS MY STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION. SINCE THE REPAIR IN LATE MARCH 2012, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE HAS A BUBBLED SIDEWALL. I MIGHT ADD THAT NO POTHOLES HAVE BEEN HIT, DO ROAD DEBRIS HAS BEEN STRUCK. SO TWO AND POSSIBLY THREE OF FOUR OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS JUST NOW OVER 1 YEAR OLD, HAVE FAILED SIDEWALLS NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS AROUND 13,000 MILES. *JS

GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 TIRE FAILURE- BUBBLE IN SIDEWALL WITH LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON IT. *JS

TIRES ARE EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALL CAUSED BY ROUTING DRIVING. I'VE REPLACED TWO TIRES IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS ON A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. (BMW 550I X-DRIVE). *TR