Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2011 BMW 7 Series: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2011 BMW 7 Series, most recently filed October 2011. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2011 BMW 7 Series. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2011 BMW 7 Series. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 11V521000 Filed Oct 20, 2011

ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP

Engine and engine cooling · engine · other fuel types · turbo/supercharger
Official NHTSA text
Summary
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 7-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 X5 SAV, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence
THIS COULD LEAD TO A SMOLDERING OF THE PUMP OR AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Repair progress not yet reported32,084 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 11V521000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (3)

3 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.

0involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 BMW 7 Series, by component (top 3). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 3.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2011 compares with other 7 Series years

Best and worst 7 Series years →
8 28 4 29 13 11 9 2 3 2
2003200420052006200720082009201020112012
This year (2011)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined

20
mpg combined
17
city
24
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$4,100
CO₂ tailpipe
444 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$3,266per year
$272per month
750gallons a year

Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2011 BMW 7 Series configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
4.4 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 20$4,100444
3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive17 / 25 / 20$4,100444
4.4 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 20$4,100444
4.4 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive14 / 21 / 17$4,850523
4.4 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive14 / 21 / 17$4,850523
4.4 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive14 / 20 / 16$5,150555
4.4 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive14 / 20 / 16$5,150555
4.4 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive14 / 20 / 16$5,150555
4.4 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automaticAll-Wheel Drive14 / 20 / 16$5,150555
6 L 12-cyl · 8-speed automaticRear-Wheel Drive13 / 19 / 15$5,500593

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2011 7 Series for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All 7 Series years

Where to next

2011 BMW 7 Series FAQ

How many recalls does the 2011 BMW 7 Series have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 11V521000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2011 BMW 7 Series problems?

Owners filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (1), Fuel/propulsion system (1), Power train (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2011 BMW 7 Series get?

EPA rates the 4.4 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 17 city, 24 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2011 7 Series compare with other years?

Among the 2003–2012 BMW 7 Series model years at least five years old, the 2010 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2006 the most (29). The 2011 drew 3. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
Was this report useful?Report a data error
My Garage
Save this car and we'll flag new recall campaigns next time you visit.