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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

Engine complaints

4 reports
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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

10,000 miles · Apr 22, 2018
Air BagsEngineService Brakes

ASD

NHTSA ODI #11089274

31,679 miles · Aug 3, 2015
Engine

THE VEHICLE IS A 2011 BMW 1M COUPE. WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON, TX, ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PASS, ALMOST CAUSING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IT TOOK ALMOST TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO PICKUP THE CAR AND TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE MID 90'S …

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THE VEHICLE IS A 2011 BMW 1M COUPE. WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON, TX, ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PASS, ALMOST CAUSING WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IT TOOK ALMOST TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO PICKUP THE CAR AND TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE MID 90'S WITH HEAT INDEX OF OVER 100 DEGREES, AND I HAD NO WATER OR ACCESS TO WATER OR SHADE RESULTING IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE PRELIMINARY INDICATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS THAT THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE CHARGE PIPE, AND THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS COMPONENT HAS FAILED IN LESS THAN 32K MILES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND FAILURE SUFFERED BY MOST IF NOT ALL OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, AND IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR DURING PERIODS OF HARD ACCELERATION, SUCH AS WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AS SUCH RESULT IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10745872

80 miles · Jun 12, 2015
EngineFire

THE CAR HAS STALLED OVER 600 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START 4 TIMES. BMW FAILED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY CABLE FOR 2 YEARS -- EVEN AFTER THE BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE AT A GAS STATION PUMP. THE CAR CAN ONLY BE MOVED WITH WHEEL TROLLIES, SINCE YOU CANNOT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR EVEN OPEN THE TRUNK (BATTERY IN TRUNK…

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THE CAR HAS STALLED OVER 600 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START 4 TIMES. BMW FAILED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY CABLE FOR 2 YEARS -- EVEN AFTER THE BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE AT A GAS STATION PUMP. THE CAR CAN ONLY BE MOVED WITH WHEEL TROLLIES, SINCE YOU CANNOT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR EVEN OPEN THE TRUNK (BATTERY IN TRUNK) DUE TO NO MANUALLY KEY OVERRIDE TUMBLE FOR EITHER. BMW HAS CHARGED ME FOR LABOR AND TWO BATTERIES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMIT TO FAILING TO HONOR THE RECALL AND PERFORMING SAID REPAIRS. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS, AND MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR CHUGGES BETWEEN 4,000 TO 6,000 RPM, AND BOLT FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY IF THE ENGINE STALL DOES NOT OCCUR UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL PEDESTRIAN, AND HAVE BEEN SWORN AT AND HONKED AT DUE TO CRAZY BEHAVIOR OF THE ACCELERATOR. BMW 2011 135I M SPORT IS A DANGEROUS CAR. I AM A SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND WORK AT SPACEX ON THE RAPTOR ROCKET ENGINE FOR MARS. I AM DESIGNING THE VALVES THAT THROTTLE THE ROCKET ENGINE, AND IN THE PAST I CONSULTED AT THE STEERING GEAR DIVISION AT ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURER IN TENNESSEE. I AM NOT INTERESTED IN MONEY; I WANT THEM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LAW AND FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT. I AM RESEARCHING THIS MATTER, AND I'VE FOUND INCIDENT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT. I AM PUTTING TOGETHER A VIDEO OF THE STALLS, AND THE BMW REPAIR INVOICES SHOWING THE FAILED AND ABSENT REPAIRS OVER 4 YEARS. THANK YOU... SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10725065

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.