2011 BMW 1 Series

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags15
000
Electrical System7
010
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000
Engine2
010
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Structure › Body › Door1
000
Power Train1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline1
000
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(global Positioning System)1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine23V707000
Filed Oct 20, 2023157,796 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan12E029000
Filed Aug 10, 2012585 vehiclesValeo

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Remedy. Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor10V254000
Filed Jun 10, 201031,935 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed May 1, 2019140,000 milesTX

I JUST HAD THE BOLTS ON BOTH THE (INTAKE AND EXHAUST REPLACED) THIS IS LISTED IN THE UNSPECIFIED RECALL AND NO ONE NOTIFIED ME ON THIS RECALL I DRIVE THE 2011 128I SERIES COUPE AND THIS COST ME OUT OF POCKET $1,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND ALSO I HAVE 2 OTHER RECALL ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING TO MY CAR THE AIR BAG THE SIGNAL KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF AND ALSO THE PCV VALVE OFF AND ON I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING I DO HOPE SOMEONE CAN CONTACT ME SO I CAN GET THESE RECALLS FIX NOW I AM REALLY SCARED THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. I HAVE MY RECEIPT OF ME GETTING THE BOLTS ISSUE FIXED AND REQUESTING A REFUND

Electrical System
Filed Apr 1, 201955 milesCA

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

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Dec 14, 201892,000 milesCA

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.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 21, 201890,000 milesCA

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 18, 201879,000 milesTX

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.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 22, 201810,000 milesNY

ASD

Air Bags
Filed Nov 9, 201772,000 milesCA

TAKATA RECALL

Air Bags
Filed Oct 23, 2017FL

TAKATA RECALL BRAMAN BMW KEEP SAYING THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 2 YEARS, AND EVERY TIME I CALLED THEY GIVE ME THE SAME "SCRIPTED ANSWER". I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 2 YEARS TO GET THIS PART REPLACED AND THEY JUST KEEP GETTING MY NAME ON A WAITING LIST, THAT IS NOT REAL. I GOT A LETTER FROM BMW SAYING THE PART IS AVAILABLE AND THEY KEEP SAYING TO ME THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 21, 2017CA

TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY BMW REGARDING THIS RECALL. I HAVE NO IDEA IF MY AIRBAGS ARE FAULTY OR NOT. I HAVE CALLED MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER IF/WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE AIRBAGS. HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM THEM.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 5, 2017VA

TAKATA RECALL. I FEEL THAT 15 MONTHS IS WAY TO LONG TO WAIT TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAIM OR KILL MY WIFE WHO DRIVES THIS CAR. I KEEP ASKING THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND ALL THEY DO IS SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 27, 2016DC

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR NEARLY TEN MONTHS TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR MY CAR'S RECALLED DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG MODULE (RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-071). OVER THE PAST TEN MONTHS, I'VE CALLED BMW SEVERAL TIMES TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN IT EXPECTS TO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. EACH TIME, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO SIMPLY WAIT! APPARENTLY, BMW EXPECTS ME TO WAIT LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO EXPLODE IN MY FACE AND EITHER KILL ME OR CAUSE SEVERE BODILY INJURY! DURING MY MOST RECENT CALL WITH BMW, ON DEC. 27TH, 2016, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER SIX MONTHS BEFORE BMW EXPECTS TO RECEIVE PARTS. THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE; THEREFORE, I AM SUBMITTING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO NHSTA ABOUT BMW'S LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS TO REMEDY THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVER AIRBAG MODULE SITUATION.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 15, 201658,000 milesIL

MY CAR HAD A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION THAT RENDERED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 5, 2016GA

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IN MARCH 2016, WARNING OF A DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG. MY BMW CENTER HAS NOT REMEDIED THE DEFECT AS OF YET, OCT, 2016, UNREASONABLE. I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS BMW, WILL NOT CARRY PASSENGERS AND PUT THEM IN DANGER. I DO NOT HAVE AN ALTERNATE VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO WORK. AS ALWAYS, I AM AN ATTENTATIVE, DEFENSIVE DRIVER. I CANNOT CONTROL THE OTHER CRAZY, STUPID, CARELESS, WRECKLESS DRIVERS OUT THERE. IN JULY 2013, MY 2009 AUDI A4 WAS T-BONED, TOTALED, I SUFFERED A SEVERELY BROKEN COLLAR BONE, ALL WHILE I WAS SITTING STATIONARY, AT A RED LIGHT. "AT FAULT" DRIVER MAKING A LEFT TURN, GIANT SUV DRIVER WHO HIT HIM AND TOTALED MY CAR, DEFINITELY SPEEDING AND PROBABLY TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED - THANKFULLY NO METAL DAGGERS SHOT OUT !!!! PLEASE GET ON BMW ABOUT THIS! BEFORE SOMEONE SUFFERS "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH" !!!!!!! THANK YOU *TR

Air Bags
Filed Oct 3, 2016GA

RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-071: DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT RESOLVED BY BMW. AIRBAG COULD SHOOT METAL FRAGMENTS INTO DRIVER AND PASSENGER, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, IN THE CASE OF INFLATION. NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MYSELF OR PASSENGERS IN THIS BWM. RECALL RECEIVED IN MARCH 2016, STILL NO PARTS, NOT REPLACED, STILL FORCED TO DRIVE IN A DANGEROUS CAR.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 20, 2016VA

TAKATA RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IS DATED AND WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH 2016. CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS NUMBER 800-525-7417 SEVERAL TIMES SINCE MARCH WITH THE SAME REPLY THAT BMW HAS NO PARTS AND DOESN'T KNOW ANY MORE. IT IS NOW THE END OF SEPTEMBER, 2016 WITH NO RESOLUTION AND A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION STILL EXISTS. THIS IS TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM A WELL KNOWN CAR MANUFACTURER, LEAVING CUSTOMERS TO EITHER NOT DRIVE THEIR CAR FOR AN UNDETERMINABLE TIME OR RISK THE HAZARD OF A DEADLY EXPLOSION OF A KNOWN FAULTY AIR BAG. PLEASE ADVISE AT ONCE ANY REMEDY! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 20, 2016FL

TAKATA RECALL. THIS IS TAKING WAY TOO LONG TO RESOLVE FOR AFFECTED BMW VEHICLES.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 2, 2016MA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 22, 201645,000 milesAL

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.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 26, 201659,000 milesFL

TAKATA RECALL...RECENTLY HAD THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. AT A COST TO ME. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IS THIS PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS OR IS IT SEPARATE MANY THANKS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 8, 2016AL

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

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20120100Routine
2011 — this page33320Routine
20108300Routine
200918200Routine
200818300Routine
20076000Routine
20065000Routine
20053000Routine
20043000Routine
20031000Routine
20021000Routine
20011000Routine
20001000Routine

Compare every 1 Series year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 20, 2023. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.