RoadVitals

2011 BMW 1 Series Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
33
Latest May 1, 2019
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 6, 2010

What this page shows

Our database holds 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 BMW 1 Series. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 33 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed May 1, 2019

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

NHTSA ID
11204967
Incident
Apr 9, 2019
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Apr 1, 2019

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 ID
11193250
Incident
Nov 15, 2017
Mileage
55 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 14, 2018
Fire reported

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 ID
11161297
Incident
Nov 23, 2018
Mileage
92,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 21, 2018

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 ID
11153013
Incident
Nov 18, 2018
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 18, 2018

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 ID
11112223
Incident
Jul 13, 2018
Mileage
79,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Apr 22, 2018

ASD

NHTSA ID
11089274
Incident
Apr 2, 2018
Mileage
10,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 9, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11044869
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
72,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 23, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11035852
Incident
Oct 22, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 21, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11018738
Incident
Aug 21, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jun 5, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10993200
Incident
Feb 2, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 27, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10937668
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 15, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10926239
Incident
Nov 15, 2016
Mileage
58,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10914128
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 3, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10911379
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 20, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10908304
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 20, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10897392
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10892455
Incident
May 29, 2016
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 2016

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 ID
10875826
Incident
Mar 21, 2016
Mileage
45,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10861473
Incident
Feb 11, 2016
Mileage
59,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 8, 2016

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 ID
10854451
Incident
Apr 8, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 14, 2016

TAKATA RECALL , I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA JUST SAW MY VIN IN FEBRUARY UPDATE.I HAVE JUST PARKED THE CAR, AS YOU THE HUMIDITY IN THE SUMER HEAR IS VERY HIGH. DEALER COGGINS BMW FORT PIERCE SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN PARTS TO FIX WILL BE AVAILABLE.PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
10846501
Incident
Feb 14, 2016
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 20, 2015

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 ID
10811348
Incident
Apr 30, 2014
Mileage
43,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 4, 2015

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 ID
10788317
Incident
Nov 3, 2015
Mileage
24,974 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2015

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 ID
10745872
Incident
Jul 18, 2015
Mileage
31,679 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2015
Fire reported

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 ID
10725065
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
80 mi

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