2011 Bmw 7-SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns
1
33.3%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Engine
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Power Train
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Engine
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Power Train
1
Engine: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2015
1
2017
2
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2015
1
2017
2
2015: 1; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2012, AFTER WARRANTY THE CAR HAS CONSTANT BREAKDOWNS, I HAVE SPENT >3500 DOLLARS IN LAST YEAR, AGAIN GOT A MESSAGE "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" ABOUT A WEEK AGO, TOOK TO DEALER ROADSHOW BMW IN MEMPHIS, THEY SAID HIGH FUEL PUMP AND PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ABOUT $1000, I AGREED AND LEFT CAR, TWO DAYS LATER THEY CALLED THAT THERE IS ANOTHER 'PLATE LEAKING OIL' AND NEEDS ANOTHER $1000 REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT THERE WHEN I LEFT THE CARE. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST TIME, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WITH OUT HELP, AND AGAIN …
ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE ON MY 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE. SHOULD BE COVERED IN RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000). HOWEVER, BMW REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. TOOK IN TO RAY CATENA BMW OF WESTCHESTER (543 TARRYTOWN RD., WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, [phone removed]) ON 6/27/2017. SHOWED THEM PRINTOUT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000. SERVICE MANAGER SAID EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL INCLUDED THE 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE, MY SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET $949.31 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *JS
BMW 750 I XDRIVE 2011 --EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OR BURNING. THE DESIGN OF THE VALVE STEM SEALS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1) FIRE HAZARD. 2) PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY 3) POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH EXCESSIVE SMOKE 4) ADDITIONAL COST BURDEN FOR CONSUMERS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATION, THE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE OIL MEASURE TURN TO LOW AFTER JUST 2 WE…
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V521000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger
Reported: 2011-10-20 (October 20, 2011)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
100.0%Usable mileage3 / 3 records
100.0%Valid incident date3 / 3 records
100.0%Valid filing date3 / 3 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates3 / 3 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2009
2010
2011
2012
Engine
333.3%ODI 10819355
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN (B001314 - N63), BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED FOR A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WA…
BMW 750 I XDRIVE 2011 --EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OR BURNING. THE DESIGN OF THE VALVE STEM SEALS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1) FIRE HAZARD. 2) PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY 3) POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH EXCESSIVE SMOKE 4) ADDITIONAL COST BURDEN FOR CONSUMERS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATION, THE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE OIL MEASURE TURN TO LOW AFTER JUST 2 WE…
LOW ENGINE OIL COMES ON EVERY FEW MONTHS AND I HAVE TO ADD OIL AT THAT TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OIL IS GOING BUT LEVEL IS DOWN TO MINIMUM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN (B001314 - N63), BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED FOR A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WA…
ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE ON MY 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE. SHOULD BE COVERED IN RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000). HOWEVER, BMW REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. TOOK IN TO RAY CATENA BMW OF WESTCHESTER (543 TARRYTOWN RD., WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, [phone removed]) ON 6/27/2017. SHOWED THEM PRINTOUT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000. SERVICE MANAGER SAID EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL INCLUDED THE 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE, MY SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET $949.31 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *JS
MY VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER SITTING FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR AND WOULD RESTART AND RUN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD MY MECHANIC INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO CODES TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM SO HE CHANGED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED 1 WEEK AFTER PUMP REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW GLOBAL IMPORTS IN ATLANTA. THEIR MECHANIC…
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2012, AFTER WARRANTY THE CAR HAS CONSTANT BREAKDOWNS, I HAVE SPENT >3500 DOLLARS IN LAST YEAR, AGAIN GOT A MESSAGE "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" ABOUT A WEEK AGO, TOOK TO DEALER ROADSHOW BMW IN MEMPHIS, THEY SAID HIGH FUEL PUMP AND PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ABOUT $1000, I AGREED AND LEFT CAR, TWO DAYS LATER THEY CALLED THAT THERE IS ANOTHER 'PLATE LEAKING OIL' AND NEEDS ANOTHER $1000 REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT THERE WHEN I LEFT THE CARE. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST TIME, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WITH OUT HELP, AND AGAIN …
ON OR ABOUT THE ABOVE DATE, I TRIED TO DRIVE MY NEW CAR IN 2 INCHES OF SNOW,UP A MODERATE GRADE. DESPITE THE TRACTION CONTROL AND HAVING BRAND NEW TIRES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE ANYWAY BUT SIDEWAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNFIT FOR ITS PURPOSE AND USE. COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN IGNORED.
09 BMW 750LI SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A DSC MALFUNCTION/ TRANSMITION MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE JUST RECEIVED THE N63 RECALL SERVICE. THIS IS VARY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 750. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AFTER MAKING A RIGHT THE SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. THE VEHICLE CAN TO A COMPLETE STOP INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. UPDATED 6/11/13 *CN UPDATED 06/14/2013 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. UPDATED 6/11/13 *CN UPDATED 06/14/2013 *JS
09 BMW 750LI SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER A DSC MALFUNCTION/ TRANSMITION MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE JUST RECEIVED THE N63 RECALL SERVICE. THIS IS VARY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Engine
Too few reports for a range
95,520 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 11034531 · 95,520 mi
BMW 750 I XDRIVE 2011 --EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OR BURNING. THE DESIGN OF THE VALVE STEM SEALS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1) FIRE HAZARD. 2) PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY 3) POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH EXCESSIVE SMOKE 4) ADDITIONAL COST BURDEN FOR CONSUMERS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATION, THE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE OIL MEASURE TURN TO LOW AFTER JUST 2 WE…
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2012, AFTER WARRANTY THE CAR HAS CONSTANT BREAKDOWNS, I HAVE SPENT >3500 DOLLARS IN LAST YEAR, AGAIN GOT A MESSAGE "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" ABOUT A WEEK AGO, TOOK TO DEALER ROADSHOW BMW IN MEMPHIS, THEY SAID HIGH FUEL PUMP AND PLUGS NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ABOUT $1000, I AGREED AND LEFT CAR, TWO DAYS LATER THEY CALLED THAT THERE IS ANOTHER 'PLATE LEAKING OIL' AND NEEDS ANOTHER $1000 REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT THERE WHEN I LEFT THE CARE. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST TIME, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WITH OUT HELP, AND AGAIN …
ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE ON MY 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE. SHOULD BE COVERED IN RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000). HOWEVER, BMW REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. TOOK IN TO RAY CATENA BMW OF WESTCHESTER (543 TARRYTOWN RD., WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, [phone removed]) ON 6/27/2017. SHOWED THEM PRINTOUT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000. SERVICE MANAGER SAID EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL INCLUDED THE 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE, MY SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET $949.31 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *JS
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2011: 0 complaints · 2012: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2011
0
0
0
2012
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2011
3
0
0
2012
1
0
1
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Engine
Fuel/Propulsion System
Power Train
Engine
—
0
0
Fuel/Propulsion System
0
—
0
Power Train
0
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Oil consumption or dilution
1 mentions · 33.3% of complaints
Median mileage: 95,520 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 11034531 · 95,520 mi
BMW 750 I XDRIVE 2011 --EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OR BURNING. THE DESIGN OF THE VALVE STEM SEALS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE SAFETY CONCERNS ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1) FIRE HAZARD. 2) PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY 3) POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH EXCESSIVE SMOKE 4) ADDITIONAL COST BURDEN FOR CONSUMERS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND AT THE POINT OF ACCELERATION, THE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE OIL MEASURE TURN TO LOW AFTER JUST 2 WE…