AI Damage2011 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2011 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 50% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 25% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 25% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 25% of all complaints
- 7 Wheels 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
In june 2018, I received a safety recall, to wit, bmw ag has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety...further investigation revealed my bmw vin # [xxx] is among the recalled cars.
While driving in traffic, my vehicle suddenly began to lose power and shake forcefully. Due to the sudden and unexpected occurrence, I nearly lost control and nearly crashed into vehicles in my general area.
Vehicle runs rough. Murray bmw denver, colo agreed that there is a recall issued by bmw for this problem but as of yet they are unable to repair it as bmw of north america has not provided the necessary parts to make the repair.(see recall campaign no. 14v-176: vanos assembly bolts).
The inside cords of the rear passenger tire exploded while I was headed south bound on i75 from miramar to miami florida. When I got home I checked on line to see if anybody had similar problems and I found this web sight that several people had the same problem with this model of car.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,163 of 32,261 model years in the NHTSA data (top 44% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 5-Series Gran Turismo has 2 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2011 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2011 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-07.