2011 BMW 7 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 24 of 64 complaints (38%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 48 in 2010 to 64 in 2011.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | vs. 2011 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,550 | 4,550–5,150 | 3,900–5,150 | 3,900–5,150 | 3,100–5,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 17 | 15–17 | 15–20 | 15–20 | 15–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–15 / 21–22 | 13–15 / 19–22 | 13–17 / 19–25 | 13–17 / 19–25 | 13–22 / 20–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 523 | 523–592 | 444–592 | 444–592 | 350–584 | |
| Complaints filed | 26 | 48 | 64 | 54 | 26 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2011 BMW 7 Series have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2011 BMW 7 Series?
Engine: 24 of 64 NHTSA complaints (38%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2011 BMW 7 Series get?
EPA rates it 15–20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 BMW 7 Series?
EPA estimates $3,900–$5,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (13)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg | 22 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 17 mpg (high) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 21 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 13 | Automatic (S8) | 12 | 6.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 13 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 15 mpg (low) | $5,150 (high) | 592 g/mi (high) |
Show 2 more configurations
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 21 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 21 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · Campaign 18V248000 · Apr 20, 2018
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · Campaign 11V521000 · Oct 27, 2011
Defect: 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.