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2011 BMW 1 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 12 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
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55 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

I BRING IN TO LONGBEACH BMW DEALERS AND THEY MASS UP THE CAR AND THEY WANTED 10,000 DALLORS TO FIXED IT AND I ONLY BRING TO IN FOR RECALLS I DON'T LET ME PICK UP THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #11193250

92,000 miles · Dec 14, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

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.

NHTSA ODI #11161297

90,000 miles · Nov 21, 2018
Electrical System

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 SAM…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11153013

45,000 miles · Jun 22, 2016
Electrical System

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,…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10875826

10,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Electrical System

THIS CAR HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL DEFECTS. IT'S LEFT ME STRANDED AT LEAST 4 TIMES JUST DYING. ONCE WHEN IT WAS 14 BELOW ZERO. THE CAR WILL JUST DIE WHEN IT'S DRIVING. EACH TIME BMW HAS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS LEAVING PEOPLE IN A C…

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THIS CAR HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL DEFECTS. IT'S LEFT ME STRANDED AT LEAST 4 TIMES JUST DYING. ONCE WHEN IT WAS 14 BELOW ZERO. THE CAR WILL JUST DIE WHEN IT'S DRIVING. EACH TIME BMW HAS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS LEAVING PEOPLE IN A CAR WITHOUT POWER NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. ONCE THE CAR DIES, IT HAS THIS BIG EXCLAMATION POINT IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROLS INSIDE A TRIANGLE AND IT WILL NOT MOVE. IT'S VERY HARD TO EVEN GET IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN ONE RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR, BUT I THINK IT DID NOT CORRECT THE DESIGN DEFECTS. I HAVE NOW GIVEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AS I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. IT LEFT ME STRANDED TOO MANY TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632063

14,500 miles · Jan 15, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10560143

15,000 miles · Jul 10, 2012
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2011 BMW 128I. ON 7/5, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUFFERED A TOTAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING DUE TO THE FACT, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THE CAR WOULD REV WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS. I SPOKE TO D-[XXX] THE BM…

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I OWN A 2011 BMW 128I. ON 7/5, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUFFERED A TOTAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING DUE TO THE FACT, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THE CAR WOULD REV WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS. I SPOKE TO D-[XXX] THE BMW DEALER. THEY HAD ME TOW THE CAR INTO THEIR SHOP. 7/9, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM [XXX] AT BMW DEALER. HE ADVISED ME THAT SOME WATER FROM A JUG I CARRY IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY LEAKED AND GOT ONTO THE ELECTRONICS IN THE TRUNK AND IT WOULD COST ME 531.00. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE TO HAVE THEM PAY. I CALLED BMW CORPORATE BECAUSE THIS SOUNDED A LITTLE STRANGE. BMW TOLD ME THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND PUTTING GROCERIES IN THE TRUNK BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS EFFECT. I WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR. BMW (ANOTHER DEALER) ADVISED MY FATHER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND AFFECTS ALL MODELS. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AND WANT EVERYONE TO USE THEIR INSURANCE TO PAY FOR IT. BMW IS TOO LAZY TO PAY TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. MY WIFE OR SOMEONE ON THE ROAD COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT HER SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CAR. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AS OF 7/10. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464836

Official recalls

2

23V707000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Oct 20, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

10V254000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Jun 10, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE INSULATION AROUND THE PRE-TENSIONER COULD IGNITE.

Remedy: VEHICLES PRODUCED UP THROUGH DECEMBER 2009 WILL RECEIVE NEW FRONT SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR UNITS AND A MODIFICATION TO THE SOUND INSULATION NEAR THE UNITS, WHILE VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN JANUARY 2010 AND MAY 2010 WILL RECEIVE A MODIFICATION TO THE SOUND INSULATION NEAR THE UNITS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.