YearToAvoid

2011 BMW 750Li Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 10 750Li years

The 2011 BMW 750Li ranks worst of the 10 model years covered, with a complaint index of 100 and 25 NHTSA complaints, including 4 fires. Top problem areas are Engine and Transmission & Powertrain, each 32% of complaints. One recall covers the auxiliary water pump.

Complaints
25
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 4
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16.5
14 city / 20.5 hwy

Top 2011 BMW 750Li problems

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

  1. Engine8 (32%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain8 (32%)
  3. Electrical System7 (28%)
  4. Fuel System3 (12%)
  5. Other3 (12%)
  6. Brakes2 (8%)
  7. Steering2 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (8%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (8%)
  10. Airbags1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report a burning odor and abnormal coolant loss tied to the auxiliary water pump covered under recall 18V248000, with parts sometimes unavailable for repair.
  • Some owners describe smoke or flames coming from the ECM wire harness or from inside the door while the vehicle was parked or stationary.
  • Drivers report the steering pulling to the right from new, persisting even after multiple dealer alignments.
  • At low speed, some owners experienced the ABS warning light illuminating along with a loss of all-wheel drive and traction control, leading to loss of vehicle control in bad weather.
  • Owners describe vibration around 40 mph combined with fuel fumes entering the cabin and a dashboard warning to drive at moderate speed, traced to fuel injector issues.
  • Some owners report the vehicle stalling around 55 mph with a drive train warning light, an issue that recurred multiple times and could not always be duplicated by the dealer.
2011 BMW 750Li complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2011Feb 2015Apr 2016Mar 2017Jan 2018Aug 2018Aug 2020Jul 2024
39 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2011 to Aug 2024; peak Oct 2011 (3).

2011 BMW 750Li recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V248000Apr 18, 2018Engine47,806 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

    Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: 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 a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

2011 BMW 750Li fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
20.5 MPG
Combined
16.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,850
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other 750Li years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016201920202021
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid8930116.5
2011Avoid10025116.5
2012Avoid7824116.5
2013Caution679119

All BMW 750Li years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 BMW 750Li reliable?
Among the 10 model years of the BMW 750Li with data, 2011 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 25 NHTSA complaints. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other 750Li years.
What are the biggest problems with the 2011 BMW 750Li?
Engine and Transmission & Powertrain issues each account for 32% of complaints, followed by Electrical System problems at 28%. Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 73,000.
Does the 2011 BMW 750Li have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 18V248000) covers replacement of the electric auxiliary water pump due to fire risk, affecting several 2011-2012 BMW models including the 750Li.
How does the 2011 750Li compare to the 2013 750Li?
The 2011 750Li has a complaint index of 100 versus 78 for 2012 and 67 for 2013, and both later years carry a Caution rather than Avoid verdict.
How many fires were reported for the 2011 BMW 750Li?
NHTSA lists 4 fire-related complaints for the 2011 BMW 750Li, with no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths.

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.