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BMW X6Model year report

2011 BMW X6 Problems

Compared with other BMW X6 years

Typical for this model

58/100 1.2× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2013

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
31filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
114 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 4.4L 8-cyl AWD · 14 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 BMW X6 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2011 BMW X6. The part named most often is engine, with 15 complaints (48% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (10) and fuel system (5). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 30% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns (4 marked do-not-drive) and 257 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 55 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the driveshaft and 27 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 BMW X6 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 58 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Brakes (1), Electronic stability control (1), Tires (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “On 10/02/2015, I was driving my kids to school. Suddenly, there's this loud explosion noise coming from the engine compartment. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was in motion on a city street. The road was very smooth, the vehicle did not collide with any potholes or any road objects. I pull over to the side of the road, did a quick inspection, didn't see anything. So I got back onto the car and continue driving. …”

NHTSA complaint #10779594, filed 2015-10, 56,002 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My Bmw X6 5.0i sport almost started on fire, I been having a lot of problems with my car just yesterday my water pump went bad and I only have 48,000 mile on my car, since I bought the car last year the water pump been making noises!! Its sad that I could of lost my life or did more damage to my car because its heating up and its not fear to me or to anyone else that owns this car!! I will contact Bmw north america and tell them the problem.. Please research the problem before something happens.”

NHTSA complaint #10625889, filed 2014-08, 48,262 miles

Fuel system: “We leased our 2011 Bmw X6 3.5i in august 2010 from Bmw of tenafly. The first high fuel pressure pump malfunction occurred within the first 6 month - in february 2011. The car stalled in the middle of busy highway and become uncontrollable while my wife was driving our kids from kindergarten. The dealership identified the faulty fuel pump and the car was in service for the whole 2 month, while we where driving loaner. Within a year from that service, in april 2012 the engine stalled in the middle of the road again. …”

NHTSA complaint #10496170, filed 2013-02, 20,000 miles

Other or unknown: “After the car is been driven under a snow storm , when the snow is not clear have to drive to wrk 1 hour away , the next day once all snow is clear the car tends to shake very bad , every time the same when u hit 30mph shakes violently like the car is gonna break apart. But once u take it inside the carwssh and wash it tends to go away? I don't understand it? It's not the snow on the tires cuz I clear all that before , I leave the house the next day.”

NHTSA complaint #11065228, filed 2018-01, 64,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

30% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 49,000 and 88,000 miles.

9%0–104%10–2517%25–5035%50–7530%75–1004%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’11’145’16’18’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 BMW X6 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
X6 xDrive35i AWD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic162319$4,350
X6 xDrive50i AWD4.4L 8-cyl8-speed automatic142016$5,150
X6 xDriveM AWD4.4L 8-cyl6-speed automatic121714$5,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 11 recalls for the 2011 BMW X6 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 257 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 257 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW X6

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20249—5—19—Too new
2022555,0001—15—Not enough data
2021751,0007—15—Not enough data
2020963,84310—23—Not enough data
2019599,9124—20—Not enough data
2016948,0001—21—Not enough data
2015951,5001—22—Not enough data
201411100,0003—17—Not enough data
20132555,0005—1632 · FewerStable
20123272,4507—1650 · TypicalFalling
20113160,00011—1658 · TypicalFalling
20101579,9669—15—Stable
20091958,24410—17—Falling

All BMW X6 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 BMW X6 have?

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2011 BMW X6 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 BMW X6 is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 15 complaints (48% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 10.

Has the 2011 BMW X6 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 BMW X6 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 BMW X6 (X6 xDrive50i, 4.4L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 BMW X6 reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 49,000 and 88,000 miles; 30% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.