Does the 2011 BMW 5 Series have any recalls?

Transport Canada lists 12 campaigns and the U.S. NHTSA lists 1 for the 2011 BMW 5 Series. Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.

How do I know if a recall applies to my 2011 BMW 5 Series?

Recalls are matched by make, model and model year, but many cover only certain VIN ranges. Confirm with your manufacturer or dealer using your full VIN, or use the official Transport Canada or NHTSA lookup.

Are recall repairs free?

Yes. In both Canada and the United States the manufacturer must fix a recalled defect at no charge, through a franchised dealer.

RECALLS — MAKE · MODEL · YEAR

2011 BMW 5 Series recalls

13 safety recall campaigns have been filed for the 2011 BMW 5 Series with Transport Canada and the U.S. NHTSA. Here is what both agencies say.

Canadian recalls: 12
U.S. recalls: 01
Total campaigns: 13

Transport Canada recalls

Label#2024544August 15, 2024
587,250 units affected
Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "NONE" when it should read as "NONE / AUCUN". Canadian regulations require the information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safety Risk: This error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. The company has corrected the tire and loading information label for all new vehicles.
Engine#2023568October 20, 2023
21,475 units affected
Issue: On certain vehicles, the variable camshaft timing (VANOS) adjustment unit housing bolts could loosen or break. As a result, the camshaft could become incorrectly adjusted and cause the engine to enter a reduced power mode (limp mode) or to stall while driving. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the VANOS bolts.
Electrical#2018195April 19, 2018
3,739 units affected
On certain vehicles, the auxiliary water pump (which cools the turbocharger after the engine is turned OFF) can overheat and fail. This could result in a vehicle fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump. Note: Owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors until the remedy is applied. Additional note: This is an expansion of recalls 2011-376 and 2012-008.
Engine#2017470September 28, 2017
79,616 units affected
On certain vehicles equipped with the N52 6-cylinder engine, an electrical short could occur in the PCV valve heater due to manufacturing irregularities. If this occurs, the surrounding plastics could overheat, melt and potentially cause a fire, which could increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the PCV valve heater.
Powertrain#2017242May 3, 2017
869 units affected
On certain vehicles, the rivet connections for the constant velocity (CV) joint of the rear driveshaft may have insufficient durability. Over time, this could cause the CV joint to break, resulting in a loss of propulsion which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will replace the CV joint. Note: This recall supersedes recall 2017-049
Powertrain#2017049February 3, 2017
869 units affected
On certain vehicles, the rivet connections for the constant velocity (CV) joint of the rear driveshaft may have insufficient durability. Over time, this could cause the CV joint to break, resulting in a loss of propulsion which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will check the production date of the CV joint and, if necessary, replace the CV joint.
Seats And Restraints#2016566November 15, 2016
6 units affected
On certain vehicles, a Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) having incorrect programming may have been installed in error by dealers during servicing. As the SCU helps determine if the driver and/or passenger airbags, seat belt pretensioners and active head restraints should be deployed during a crash, incorrect programming could result in an inadequate activation of one or more of these restraint systems in a crash. This could increase the risk of injury to occupants. Correction: Dealers will replace the SCU. Note: In the interim, owners are advised to stop operating their vehicle until the defect has been repaired.
Fuel System#2016505October 13, 2016
16,663 units affected
On certain vehicles, the wires going to the in-tank fuel pump may not have been crimped correctly. An incorrect crimp could increase the resistance of the circuit which could cause the contact pin to heat and melt the surrounding plastic. This could potentially cause the fuel pump to stop working causing the vehicle to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Also, in a very rare case, a fuel leak combined with an external ignition source, could increase the risk of fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module.
Engine#2014170May 13, 2014
21,811 units affected
On certain vehicles, housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate. If this occurs, the engine would revert to "limp home mode", limiting available engine power. In rare instances the engine could stall, increasing the risk of a collision causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace housing bolts that break and perform associated repairs for 10 years/unlimited mileage from the vehicle's in-service date. Note: This applies only to vehicles not covered by recall 2014-127.
Engine#2014127April 10, 2014
20,022 units affected
On certain vehicles, housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate. If this occurs, the engine would revert to "limp home mode", limiting available engine power. This could increase the risk of a collision causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace affected bolts.
Electrical#2011376October 21, 2011
3,143 units affected
On certain vehicles, the auxiliary water pump (which cools the turbocharger after the engine is turned OFF) can overheat and fail. This could result in a vehicle fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump. Note: Owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors until the remedy is applied.
Fuel System#2010238July 22, 2010
456 units affected
On certain vehicles, the sender unit within the fuel tank could become stuck, causing the fuel gauge to display a greater quantity of fuel than that which is actually remaining in the tank. As a result, if the tank were to become empty, engine stalling could occur which, in conjunction with traffic, road conditions, and driver's reactions, could increases the risk of a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel level sender with a revised version.

Canadian data updated August 24, 2026

U.S. NHTSA recalls

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE#23V707000October 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.
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.

Does this recall apply to my vehicle?

Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.

What to do

Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer in both countries. To confirm a recall applies to your specific vehicle, or to book the work, contact your manufacturer or dealer with your full VIN, or use the official channel:

NHTSA recall lookup (search by VIN) — U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Defects and recalls database — Transport Canada

Check a 2011 BMW 5 Series VIN

A VIN decode confirms your vehicle's exact model year, trim and assembly plant, then runs this same recall check against it.

Data sources and coverage limits →