2011 BMW 128I US 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 128I US, 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
- Airbags450.0%
- Body & structure112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Fuel system112.5%
- Visibility112.5%
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
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL DATED SEPT 2017 FROM BMW USA STATING THAT THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A FREE REPAIR. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER (STEVENS CREEK BMW USA IN SANTA CLARA, CA) THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PARTS ARE ACTUALLY NOT AVAILABLE, THEY HAVE THEM ON ORDER, AND IT WOULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 3-5 MONTHS FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY GET THEM. SINCE THIS IS OCTOBER 2017, THIS WOULD BE MEAN AN ESTIMATED REPAIR DATE IN JAN-MARCH 2019!
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 128I US. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 03/17/17*LJ *CN
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MICE WERE EATING THROUGH A CABLE THAT MADE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS THE SECOND OF THE SAME MODEL; THE FIRST WAS TRADED IN BECAUSE OF THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 02/16/11
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 02/27/11. WE FIRST NOTICED THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING THE FIRST WEEKEND OF OCT. 2011. WE TOOK THE CAR TO VALENCIA BMW ON 10/08/11. THE CAR FAILED AN ELECTRICAL TEST AND A NEW TOP WAS ORDERED BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW AND CONVERTIBLE TOP ARE ONE PIECE. CAR WAS RETURNED ON 10/10/11. THE MILEAGE WAS 10273.ON 11/22/11, THE TOP WAS REPLACED AND CAR RETURNED ON 11/23/11. THE MILEAGE WAS 12168. ON 12/01/11, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FABRIC ON THE NEW TOP DETACHED ON THE FREEWAY ON 11/30/11 (TERRIFYING). REPAIRS WERE MADE AND CAR RETURNED SAME DAY. I POINTED OUT TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT SYMMETRIC TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOP. THE REPAIRED SIDE DID NOT TUCK UP TIGHT TO THE REAR WINDOW AND MY CONCERN WAS THAT THE TOP WOULD FLY APART AGAIN. THE MILEAGE WAS 12495. ON 12/20/11, THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE FABRIC WAS SECURED AGAIN AND REINSTALLED. THE MILEAGE WAS 13116. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS NOT PUT DOWN AGAIN UNTIL MAY 2012. (ALL O.K.) DEFROSTER WAS FIRST USED AGAIN JUNE 2012 AND DIDN'T WORK AGAIN. BMW N.A. WAS CONTACTED BY EMAIL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. ON 07/19/12, THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO VALENCIA BMW FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AND HAS BEEN PROMISED TOMORROW 07/23/12. THE MILEAGE IS 21619. AFTER 5 REPAIRS FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT OUR SAFETY MAY BE AT RISK. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER A FACTORY 50000 MILE WARRANTY. SINCE THE NUMBER OF REPAIRS ARE EXCESSIVE, UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW WE MUST NOW DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION WHEN SELLING THE CAR. THE VALUE OF THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN DIMINISHED ADVERSELY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR RANDOMLY ACCELERATES FOR AN ADDITIONAL SECOND AFTER RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL.
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 CAR WAS PURCHASED 02/27/11. WE FIRST NOTICED THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WAS NOT WORKING THE FIRST WEEKEND OF OCT. 2011. WE TOOK THE CAR TO VALENCIA BMW ON 10/08/11. THE CAR FAILED AN ELECTRICAL TEST AND A NEW TOP WAS ORDERED BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW AND CONVERTIBLE TOP ARE ONE PIECE. CAR WAS RETURNED ON 10/10/11. THE MILEAGE WAS 10273.ON 11/22/11, THE TOP WAS REPLACED AND CAR RETURNED ON 11/23/11. THE MILEAGE WAS 12168. ON 12/01/11, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FABRIC ON THE NEW TOP DETACHED ON THE FREEWAY ON 11/30/11 (TERRIFYING). REPAIRS WERE MADE AND CAR RETURNED SAME DAY. I POINTED OUT TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT SYMMETRIC TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOP. THE REPAIRED SIDE DID NOT TUCK UP TIGHT TO THE REAR WINDOW AND MY CONCERN WAS THAT THE TOP WOULD FLY APART AGAIN. THE MILEAGE WAS 12495. ON 12/20/11, THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE FABRIC WAS SECURED AGAIN AND REINSTALLED. THE MILEAGE WAS 13116. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS NOT PUT DOWN AGAIN UNTIL MAY 2012. (ALL O.K.) DEFROSTER WAS FIRST USED AGAIN JUNE 2012 AND DIDN'T WORK AGAIN. BMW N.A. WAS CONTACTED BY EMAIL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. ON 07/19/12, THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO VALENCIA BMW FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AND HAS BEEN PROMISED TOMORROW 07/23/12. THE MILEAGE IS 21619. AFTER 5 REPAIRS FOR CONVERTIBLE TOP AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT OUR SAFETY MAY BE AT RISK. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER A FACTORY 50000 MILE WARRANTY. SINCE THE NUMBER OF REPAIRS ARE EXCESSIVE, UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW WE MUST NOW DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION WHEN SELLING THE CAR. THE VALUE OF THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN DIMINISHED ADVERSELY. *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 .