YearToAvoid

2011 BMW 530i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

10/100

#10 most-complained of 11 530i years

NHTSA lists 0 complaints for the 2011 BMW 530i and 1 recall, with a Complaint Index of 10, ranking 10th worst among 11 model years of the 530i on record.

Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2011 BMW 530i problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

No component data.

2011 BMW 530i recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V683000Oct 30, 2017Engine740,561 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

    Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2011 compared with other 530i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict001—
2011No verdict1001—
2017Good4018127
2018Caution6025227

All BMW 530i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 BMW 530i reliable?
NHTSA shows 0 complaints and a Complaint Index of 10 for the 2011 530i, ranking 10th worst out of 11 model years tracked, which is one of the lower complaint counts in the lineup.
Does the 2011 BMW 530i have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2011 530i, campaign 17V683000, covering the PCV valve heater on the engine, which dealers replace free of charge.
What year BMW 530i should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA data among the years listed, 2020, 2022, and 2024 carry Avoid verdicts with Complaint Index values of 80, 90, and 100. The 2011 model year has a Complaint Index of 10 and no verdict assigned.
How does the 2011 530i compare to newer 530i years?
The 2011 530i has a Complaint Index of 10, well below the 2024 530i's index of 100 and the 2022 530i's index of 90, both of which carry Avoid verdicts.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.