2011 BMW 1 Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 1 Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1535.7%
- Electrical921.4%
- Fuel system511.9%
- Engine49.5%
- Driver assistance37.1%
- Body & structure24.8%
- Brakes12.4%
- Exterior lighting12.4%
- Powertrain (other)12.4%
- Visibility12.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
ASD
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
ASD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.)
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
BMW "THIRD STOP LAMP" (THE BREAK LIGHT) DOES NOT FIT THE 1SERIES CORRECTLY. THEY FALL OFF, CRACK, AND DISAPPEAR FREQUENTLY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 1 SERIES BMW'S. AS THIS IS A BRAKE LIGHT, IT IS CONCERNING. I BELIEVE THE PART NUMBER FOR THIS ITEM IS (63 25 7164978). HERE IS A LINK TO THE PART WITH A PICTURE {HTTP://BMWETK.INFO/PARTS-CATALOG/PRD/BMW/VT/P/E82/COU/135I%20N54/USA/L/N/2009/06/50622/63/63_1055} THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING ON THE FREEWAY I HAD THE POP SOUND, NEXT THING I KNOW IS THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR POPPED OPEN AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ASD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
BMW "THIRD STOP LAMP" (THE BREAK LIGHT) DOES NOT FIT THE 1SERIES CORRECTLY. THEY FALL OFF, CRACK, AND DISAPPEAR FREQUENTLY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 1 SERIES BMW'S. AS THIS IS A BRAKE LIGHT, IT IS CONCERNING. I BELIEVE THE PART NUMBER FOR THIS ITEM IS (63 25 7164978). HERE IS A LINK TO THE PART WITH A PICTURE {HTTP://BMWETK.INFO/PARTS-CATALOG/PRD/BMW/VT/P/E82/COU/135I%20N54/USA/L/N/2009/06/50622/63/63_1055} THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RADIO DISPLAY IN THE CAR HAS ITS POLARIZING FILTER OFF-SET SO THAT WHEN WEARING POLARIZED GLASSES YOU CANNOT SEE THE DISPLAY. WHEN REQUIRED TO WEAR PRESCRIPTION GLASSES THIS IS A DISTRACTION AND A SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE GLASSES TO SEE THE RADIO DISPLAY. THIS IS EXPERIENCED IN THE 335I, WHICH DOES NOT APPEAR IN YOUR PULL DOWN LIST ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS ITS POLARIZED FILTER CORRECTLY POSITIONED. ONLY OCCURS IN THE CAR WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE THE 'I'DRIVE OPTION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .