10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,726 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 BMW X6 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2011 BMW X6 Owner Comments

problem #10

Dec 132021

X6

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2011 BMW x6m 115k miles the car system was burning smell coming. Smell like electrical problem the system of the car shuts down no power just enough power to pull over off the road. Turned it off and back on it went away. Check engine light and reduced of power keeps coming on. We look into the truck water is leaking into the electrical. Trunk electrical broken. Comfort access not working. This car is really unsafe and its not fix.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #9

Feb 012021

X6

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X6. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently shift into neutral upon the depression of the brake pedal without warning. The contact would restart the vehicle soon after the failure to resume normal driving. The contact called the dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the Vin. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the Vin was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

- Maplewood, MN, USA

problem #8

May 312020

X6 6-cyl

  • miles
My vehicle cut of on me on the freeway in the middle lane and traffic. My engine started smoke. I was afraid for myself and children. I have always took my car into the BMW of bloomfield dealership for services and maintenance I have never miss not one appointment. For the last 5 to 6 months. My vehicle stayed in their dealership. The longest was approximately 42 days and once I received my car my engine started smoking so I give them back my vehicle. I asked them if they found out what caused my engine to smoke like this? there couldn't give me a straight forward answer. On numerous occasions while picking up my vehicle they always left something unplugged causing my interior lights to go crazy because of the wires being not properly fixed. This has happened at least 3 times in six months. I've probably spent no less than 3,500. On top of them telling me I need some run flat tires and all the lights will stop because of those tires. Only 5 days later my car stalled right in the middle of the freeway. I called roadside assistance and they took the car over to the BMW dealership the called me to inform me of my engine being doesn't work I asked how they said they don't know, and in the same breath they said that if I wanted a new engine it will cost me 15,000 not including time and labor.

- Fraser, MI, USA

problem #7

Sep 062016

X6

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X6. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and making a left or right turn as well as a U-turn, the vehicle shakes, and moves up and down. The contact mentioned the vehicle was previously serviced at BMW of manhattan located at 555 w 57th St, New York, NY 10019 under NHTSA campaign number: 16V311000 (power train). The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to BMW of manhattan where it was diagnosed with a failed transfer case that needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- College Point, NM, USA

problem #6

Jul 302016

X6

  • 45,000 miles
About safety campaign #16V-311, at the beginning of 2015, my 2011 BMW X6 with only 45000 miles started to vibrate when I turned the wheels, I took it to the dealer and they never found any issues, I have received a notice of warranty extension on the drive shaft and recently a recall to replace it, the car keeps getting worse even after a new drive shaft, I have email bmwusa but no response, I only drive the car when is necessary because I'm almost sure something is going to break and might cause and accident, the car vibrates and makes mechanical noises mostly when I'm turning the wheels and press on the gas.

- Methuen, MA, USA

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problem #5

Oct 022015

X6

  • 56,002 miles
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. During accelerations and going above 40mph on the freeway, the vehicle started to vibrate and I started to lose control but managed to slow down and pull to the side of the freeway. After doing research and asked several mechanics, it turns out that the front drive shaft of the vehicle is going bad, and this is a very common problem with the BMW X6. I was advised to have the front drive shaft replaced as soon as possible or else if the drive shaft happens to break on the freeway, it could cause a major accident which me and my kids could have been killed. Additionally, at 54K miles, the vehicle's valve stem seals has already gone bad, (they usually don't go bad until 120K miles) the engine oil is leaking towards combustion chamber and burn off through the catalytic converter. The vehicle is emitting an extremely toxic, sulfuric smell from the exhaust, you can smell it from far away while the vehicle is started. I had several neighbors complained about the smell. Not only that this is bad for our health due to the cancer-causing carcinogen it is also bad for the environment. BMW has long acknowledged the problem and issued a "customer care package" which they refused to call it a recall. In fact, they replaced many different components on my vehicle, but the customer care package did not fix the toxic, sulfuric smell from the exhaust. This is extremely unacceptable that falsely advertise and sold us an unsafe vehicle for nearly $85,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #4

Jan 022015

X6 8-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Broken front drive shaft; common problem with X5 from the same era which was recalled.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #3

Aug 162014

X6

  • 48,262 miles
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.

- Chesterfield, MI, USA

problem #2

Jul 012014

X6

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X6. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, there was a loud explosion and the vehicle stalled with some warning lights illuminated on instrument panel. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the engine, drive shaft and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

- Lafayette , LA, USA

problem #1

Jul 012014

X6

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X6. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, there was a loud explosion and the vehicle stalled with some warning lights illuminated on instrument panel. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the engine, drive shaft and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

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