What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2011 BMW 1 Series

Typical pattern

3.3% of complaints about the 2011 BMW 1 Series came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2011 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (40 complaints), typically at 5.5 yr or about 58,000 miles.

Covers 4 variants: 128I (63), 135I (35), 128I US (8), 135I US (7)
Complaints
153
Median age at failure
7.1 yr
Median mileage
45,000 n=85
Crash / fire / tow
7.8% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
40 reports · 58,000 mi
5.5 yr
0%
Engine
29 reports · 48,000 mi
9.3 yr
20.7%
Electrical system
24 reports · 45,000 mi
7.8 yr
12.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V707000 2023-10-20
Engine and engine cooling:engine

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.

Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

12E029000 2012-08-10
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan

This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.

This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.

10V254000 2010-06-10
Seat belts:front:retractor

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 1-SERIES VEHICLES. IN A CRASH OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY, DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PRE-TENSIONER AND LOAD-LIMITER OCCURS.

THE INSULATION AROUND THE PRE-TENSIONER COULD IGNITE.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 14,500 mi 3.3 yr in service
BMW "THIRD STOP LAMP" (THE BREAK LIGHT) DOES NOT FIT THE 1SERIES CORRECTLY. THEY FALL OFF, CRACK, AND DISAPPEAR FREQUENTLY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 1 SERIES BMW'S. AS THIS IS A BRAKE LIGHT, IT IS CONCERNING. I BELIEVE THE PART NUMBER FOR THIS ITEM IS (63 25 7164978). HERE IS A LINK TO THE PART WITH A PICTURE {HTTP://BMWETK.INFO/PARTS-CATALOG/PRD/BMW/VT/P/E82/COU/135I%20N54/USA/L/N/2009/06/50622/63/63_1055} THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system 45,000 mi 5.5 yr in service
I WAS ACCELERATING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MY DOOR FLEW OPEN AS I HIT 45 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER WHEN SAFE, AND FOUND MY DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. I DROVE HOME SLOWLY HOLDING ONTO THE DOOR. AFTER SOME PLAYING WITH THE BUTTONS, IT FINALLY CAUGHT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED IT ON 3/25/16 FOR >$500. AGAIN 6/14/16, I WENT TO GET IN MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. NO INJURIES OCCURRED BUT A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN 6/17/16 AND THEY STILL HAVE IT. TOLD ME THERE WAS "WATER IN THE ACTUATOR". VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS FIX.
Electrical system 90,000 mi 8.2 yr in service
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR HARNESS BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY. THE A/C STOPPED WORKING. I PULLED OVER AND DISCONNECTED THE WIRING HARNESS AND PULLED THE FUSE. THE WIRES MELTED, THE CONNECTOR MELTED, AND THE RESISTOR IS BROKEN. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I SEE THAT BMW HAS RECALLED OTHER CARS FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE, BUT NOT THE 1 SERIES.
Engine 92,000 mi 8.2 yr in service crash / fire / tow
THE CAR WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH AC RUNNING. SMOKE PLUMED FROM VENTS AND UNDER FRONT PASSENGER FOOTWELL. ELECTRICAL FIRE STEMMING FROM BLOWER MOTOR FINAL STAGE UNIT AND WIRING HARNESS.

Other 1 Series model years

201320122011201020092008

How to read this