← 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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
43,000 miles · Dec 20, 2015
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SOMETIMES, THE CAR FROM A STAND STILL OR LOW SPEED (BELOW 10-15 MPH) HAS A DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE INPUT AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION. THIS DELAY OF ACCELERATION HAS CAUSED MANY CLOSE CALLS FOR ACCIDENTS AND/OR SUDDEN BRAKING NEEDED BECAUSE OF OVER ACCELERATION. BETWEEN MY RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND EXPERIENCES WITH THIS, I CAN…

Read full complaint

SOMETIMES, THE CAR FROM A STAND STILL OR LOW SPEED (BELOW 10-15 MPH) HAS A DELAY BETWEEN THROTTLE INPUT AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION. THIS DELAY OF ACCELERATION HAS CAUSED MANY CLOSE CALLS FOR ACCIDENTS AND/OR SUDDEN BRAKING NEEDED BECAUSE OF OVER ACCELERATION. BETWEEN MY RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND EXPERIENCES WITH THIS, I CAN RELIABLY REPRODUCE THIS ISSUE. BUT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE, WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION EQUIPMENT, I CANNOT PROVIDE ANY CONCRETE DATA (BESIDES OTHER DATA PROVIDED BY VARIOUS SOURCE WITH PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT.)

NHTSA ODI #10811348

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…

Read full complaint

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

80 miles · Jul 6, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT TEST DROVE A 2011 BMW 135I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN AFTER DRIVING FOUR MILES AND THE SPEED INCREASED UP TO 80 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE FAIL…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT TEST DROVE A 2011 BMW 135I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN AFTER DRIVING FOUR MILES AND THE SPEED INCREASED UP TO 80 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS WITH HIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80.

NHTSA ODI #10341539

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.