2011 BMW X5 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 263 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 95,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2011 BMW X5, 2% of the 263 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 95,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2011 Bmw X5 3.0 sav was exhibiting rough starts on ignition and it stalled after a while and wouldn't start back up again. We had it towed to the dealership the first time and the vanos system was replaced( recall extended warranty). …”
NHTSA complaint #10954839, filed 2017-02, 120,000 miles“The following took place in june 2020. I still own the vehicle. I've garage kept my SUV, however recently I moved to city for work and been parking my X5 outside. It had been raining pretty hard in the last few days and I was driving w/ my 4-year-old in back when suddenly the dashboard warning lights and various messages on the entertainment screen started flashing. The warnings took me off guard and some of the messages that my engine may stall in the middle of traffic made me panic, especially with my kid in the back. I pulled over and started taking pictures messages. …”
NHTSA complaint #11398040, filed 2021-02, 95,000 miles“I was recently in an accident. I rear ended someone and the air bag did not deploy until after the accident occurred. I have chest and rib pain. Even deployed the air bag was not fully inflated.”
NHTSA complaint #10659213, filed 2014-11, 52,500 miles“Headlight wiring insulation dry rots prematurely within headlight causing system failure, which includes Headlight malfunction and system shorting. Headlights are known to stop working due to wiring shorting out, issues may cause an electrical fire besides malfunction.”
NHTSA complaint #11588833, filed 2024-05“The contact owns a 2011 Bmw X5. While driving at an unknown speed, another driver alerted the contact that the rear passenger side brake light failed to operate. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10v152000 (exterior lighting). The failure mileage was unknown.”
NHTSA complaint #10885618, filed 2016-07Related service bulletins
- 10057566Oct 1, 2014Bmw: some vehicles, with 552 option, are experiencing a malfunction of led headlight on one where it flickers on an doff during driving and the control check message is…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 1 | 3% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 5 | 4% |
| 2019 | 5 | 3% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 2% |
| 2010 | 2 | 2% |
| 2009 | 5 | 4% |
| 2008 | 11 | 5% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 | 4 | 2% |
| 2005 | 5 | 6% |
| 2004 | 5 | 8% |
| 2003 | 6 | 6% |
| 2002 | 8 | 8% |
| 2001 | 9 | 6% |
| 2000 | 2 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2011 BMW X5
110 complaintsAir bags
67 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
58 complaintsFuel system
43 complaintsOther or unknown
20 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 BMW X5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology