2011 BMW X6: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2011 BMW X6: 11 recalls, 31 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V233000 · 2010 · 296 vehicles
What's wrong: The tire label does not conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the vehicles are equipped with 20-inch wheels, but the label states that the vehicles were equipped with 19-inch wheels and the stated tire pressure is incorrect for the equipped wheels.
Why it matters: Improper tire inflation can result in premature tire failure or reduced vehicle handling performance, either of which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners and provide correct labels free of charge. The owner will have the option to affix the label themselves or they May take their vehicle to a BMW dealer who will affix the label for them at no cost. The safety recall began on October 8, 2010.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #11V521000 · 2011 · 32,084 vehicles
What's wrong:
Why it matters: This could lead to a smoldering of the pump or an engine compartment or vehicle fire.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary water pump free of charge. The safety recall began on December 19, 2011.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V311000 · 2016 · 21,493 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have a front driveshaft universal joint that May not seal out water and debris from getting in and damaging the joint, which could lead to its failure.
Why it matters: If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction. Additionally, continued driving of the vehicle with a broken front universal joint May damage other components. Either condition May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on July 8, 2016.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V364000 · 2016 · 97,738 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, BMW is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i and x5m vehicles, and 2008 BMW x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i and x6 m vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #16V746000 · 2016 · 136,188 vehicles
What's wrong: 0si, x5 4.8i, x5 m, x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i and x5 xdrive50i, 2008-2011 x6 x drive35i, x6 xdrive50i and x6 m, 2010-2011 x6 activehybrid, 535i xdrive gran turismo, 535i gran turismo, 550i xdrive gran turismo and 550i gran turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xdrive, 550i and 550i xdrive and 2012 535i activehybrid, 640i convertible, 650i convertible, 650i xdrive convertible, 650i coupe and 650i coupe…
Why it matters: The loose wires May cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump May stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #17V138000 · 2017 · 121,909 vehicles
What's wrong: Water and debris May enter the front driveshaft's universal joint, causing excessive wear and possibly resulting in the joint's failure.
Why it matters: If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction. Additionally, continued driving of the vehicle with a broken front universal joint May damage other components. Either condition May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V030000 · 2018 · 41,808 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." BMW is also recalling certain 2007-2010 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i, x5 m, x5 xdrive35d, x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i and x6m vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018.
Engine & cooling, Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #18V248000 · 2018 · 47,806 vehicles
What's wrong: The electric auxiliary water pump May fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Why it matters: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive…
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V017000 · 2019 · 83,016 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V016000 · 2020 · 4,007 vehicles
What's wrong: These inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V017000 · 2020 · 59,965 vehicles
What's wrong: These inflators May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On x5 and x6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (15): the most common themes are warning light on (7), stalls / loses power (6), fire / smoke (4).
- Transmission & drivetrain (10): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (3), warning light on (3), noise or vibration (3).
- Fuel & propulsion (3): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Electrical (3): the most common themes are fire / smoke (3), electrical failure (3).
The 2011 BMW X6 has 31 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 21 X6 model years for complaints (3.2× the average X6 year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (5 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 60,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (15 complaints, 9 recalls), 2012 (32 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 20 | 16 | Premium |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 17 | 14 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 BMW X6.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2011 BMW X6 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2011 BMW X6. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2011 BMW X6 problems?
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (15), transmission & drivetrain (10), fuel & propulsion (3).
What gas mileage does the 2011 BMW X6 get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2011 BMW X6 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.