← New search

2011 BMW 1 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all 1 Series years →

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
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

79,000 miles · Jul 18, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT BEGINS WITH THE CAR TAKING MUCH LONGER TO CRANK AND START. THEN IT COMPLETELY FAILS POTENTIALLY WHILE DRIVING, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE, OR WILL NO LONGER START. THE HPFP IS EASILY REPLACED WITH JUST 3 BOLTS HOLDING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR. ANY COMPET…

Read full complaint

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT BEGINS WITH THE CAR TAKING MUCH LONGER TO CRANK AND START. THEN IT COMPLETELY FAILS POTENTIALLY WHILE DRIVING, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE, OR WILL NO LONGER START. THE HPFP IS EASILY REPLACED WITH JUST 3 BOLTS HOLDING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR. ANY COMPETENT SHOP CAN REPLACE IT IN A COUPLE HOURS AT THE MOST. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED AND MADE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING BY THE SERVICE CENTERS REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM. INSTEAD THEY FEIGN IGNORANCE WHILE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE ARE REPLACED AFTER HAVING REPLACED NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS. THESE OTHER DISTRACTIONS ARE ALL MORE TIME CONSUMING TO REPLACE AND THE ROOT DEFECTIVE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS THE LAST THING TO BE ADDRESSED WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST AND QUICKEST. EVERY TIME ONCE THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED, IT HAS BEEN FIXED RIGHT AWAY. IT IS OFTEN THAT IT WILL LAST FOR A FEW MONTHS OR FEW THOUSAND MILES BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. BMW NEEDS TO PROPERLY DESIGN AND REPLACE THESE DANGEROUS FAILING UNITS ON N55 AND OTHER 3.0L TURBO DIRECT INJECTION MOTORS.

NHTSA ODI #11112223

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

BMW 2011 52I , FUEL PUMP WIRE PLUG IS GET HOT BURN HOLD AT TOP OF PUMP HOUSING , WHEN TANK IS FULL IT LEAK OUT UNDER REAR SEAT . [XXX] AT SATTERFIELDS' AUTO TECH , DECATUR , ALABAM 35601 , PHON # [XXX]I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES OR THE PUMP INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(…

Read full complaint

BMW 2011 52I , FUEL PUMP WIRE PLUG IS GET HOT BURN HOLD AT TOP OF PUMP HOUSING , WHEN TANK IS FULL IT LEAK OUT UNDER REAR SEAT . [XXX] AT SATTERFIELDS' AUTO TECH , DECATUR , ALABAM 35601 , PHON # [XXX]I CAN SEND YOU PICTURES OR THE PUMP INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10854451

24,974 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME N54 ENGINE AND SAME FUEL PUMP THAT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL FOR FAILING FUEL PUMPS ON THE 2007-2010 BMW CARS. IT WAS THE ONLY BMW VEHICLE THAT USED THIS MOTOR IN 2011 AND SUCH WAS LEFT OUT OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 600 OF THE VEHICLES MADE FOR THE USA SO I SUPPOSE THAT MIGHT ALSO B…

Read full complaint

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME N54 ENGINE AND SAME FUEL PUMP THAT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL FOR FAILING FUEL PUMPS ON THE 2007-2010 BMW CARS. IT WAS THE ONLY BMW VEHICLE THAT USED THIS MOTOR IN 2011 AND SUCH WAS LEFT OUT OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 600 OF THE VEHICLES MADE FOR THE USA SO I SUPPOSE THAT MIGHT ALSO BE WHY THEY WERE OMITTED. BMW HAS INFORMED US THAT THEY CANNOT COVER IT UNDER THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME MOTOR AND FUEL PUMP THAT WAS RECALLED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THIS CAR HAS EXPERIENCED A FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN TRAFFIC. THE ECU WENT INTO "REDUCED POWER MODE" AND THE CAR COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 15 MPH IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND A NEAR COLLISION. THE CAR ALSO HAS THE LONG CRANK TIME AND ENGINE ERROR CODE P0087 WHICH IS NORMALLY EXPERIENCED WITH THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE 2011, 1-SERIES M COUPE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL AND BMW SHOULD ADD THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE FUEL PUMP LIKE THEY DID THE OTHER RECALLED CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10788317

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.