RoadVitals

2011 BMW 135I 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.
27
Latest Mar 25, 2026
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.
3
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.
1
Reports on file since Nov 7, 2012

What this page shows

Our database holds 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 BMW 135I. 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 27 · page 1 of 2

Electrical
Filed Mar 25, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 135I. The contact stated that the A/C system and the blower motor were intermittently inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the blower motor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V579000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 66,800.

NHTSA ID
11727086
Incident
Dec 31, 2024
Mileage
66,800 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 26, 2024

BMW Series 135I2011 - Engine/Vanos bolts failed/failing! When it's started, you can total tell there is an issue with it...Car is basically NON-Drivable due to this condition due to safety concerns! The vin is not being covered by the recall due to but this is a SERIOUS issue! This needs to be covered by BMW! We've taken it to the mechanic who said this needs to be towed to the dealership due to the recall and because of the specific issue but once at the dealership, where it's sitting now, they are saying due to vin not popping up, they can't cover it as well as BMW's customer service line but this is SERIOUS and needs to be covered!

NHTSA ID
11616579
Incident
Sep 25, 2024
Engine
Filed Jan 20, 2024

the vanos bolts failed.

NHTSA ID
11566657
Incident
Dec 26, 2019
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 7, 2022

I had two situations in which my car would unexpectedly lurch forward after coming to a complete stop with my foot on the brake pedal, and another case in which I could not place the vehicle in park with the DCT Shift lever malfunctioning and making the car undrivable.

NHTSA ID
11460025
Incident
Mar 31, 2022
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2022

Sudden catastrophic engine shutdown After 3weeks of investigation came back as bad crank posisition sensor

NHTSA ID
11453558
Incident
Aug 2, 2021
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 11, 2021

The headlights are failing due to wiring rotting and falling aaprt inside the headlight units similar to the wiring failure in the blower motor

NHTSA ID
11424303
Incident
Jul 10, 2021
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2020

ROD BEARINGS FAILURE WHICH COULD CAUSE ENGINE SEIZING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11321309
Incident
Mar 23, 2020
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 14, 2020

VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WHEN PASSING VEHICLES OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN WHEN VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING 99% OF THE TIME. WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED VEHICLE WILL TRY TO SURGE FORWARD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. SHAME ON BMW FOR NOT RECALLING ALLOF THESE MODELS!

NHTSA ID
11299283
Incident
Jan 4, 2020
Mileage
56,300 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 12, 2019

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE - CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ID
11268125
Incident
Jul 13, 2016
Mileage
73,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 5, 2019

I HAVE BEEN HAVING MISFIRES. FIRST CYLINDER 3&5. CHANGED ALL PLUGS AND COIL PACKS. RAN WELL FOR A COUPLE DAYS. THEN BOOM. MISFIRES AGAIN. LONG COLD START CRANKS. I CAN BRING THE RPMS ALL THE WAY UP TO REDLINE AS LONG AS I DON'T STEP ON THE THROTTLE MORE THAN 25%. AS SON AS I GO TO PUT SO THROTTLE INTO IT. IT'S HESITATES/STUTTERS. THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND CEL LIGHT COME ONE. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS THE CULPRIT. SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS I HAD ON MY N54 MOTOR. I THOUGHT BMW FIXED THIS ISSUE. GUESS THEY NEED A RECALL ON THESE AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
11174596
Incident
Feb 4, 2019
Mileage
110,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 6, 2019

TWO TIMES WITHIN A YEAR THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION OF POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON 4-3-18 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MODESTO BMW DEALER AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED WHICH I DID SPENDING $1355. LATE IN DECEMBER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND I AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALER WHO NOW ADVISED ME I NEEDED THE "HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP " REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1750. THIS CAR HAS 57,000 MILES. I AM AWARE THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE SAME VEHICLES IN THE YEARS PRECEDING 2011 AND WONDER IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUED WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS LOSING POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
11165487
Incident
Dec 20, 2018
Mileage
56,900 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2018
Fire reported

FAN BLOWER WIRE CAN CATCH FIRE, BMW 3 SERIES E90 2006 TO 2013 ALREADY GOT THE RECALL DONE, PLEASE RECALL THIS.

NHTSA ID
11112792
Incident
Jul 20, 2018
Mileage
20,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2018
Fire reported

BLOWER MOWER WIRING OVERHEATING AND BURNING/CORRODING WHILE FAN WAS ON LOW SPEED.

NHTSA ID
11112733
Incident
Jul 20, 2018
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2018

THE SAME BLOWER MOTOR WIRING ISSUE IN THE BMW 3 SERIES THATS CAUSING THEM TO CATCH ON FIRE AND BURN TO THE GROUND. I HAVE COMPARED THE PROBLEM WITH ANOTHER 3 SERIES WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. ALTHOUGH THE WIRING PART NUMBER IS DIFFERENT, THE PLUG AND WHERE THE NEGATIVE AND POS TERMINALS ARE PLACED IS THE SAME EXACT SPOT AS THE 3 SERIES. THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF FROM VOLTAGE SPIKES WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSE SPARKS AND ARCHING NOISES WHERE THERE NEG AND POS WIRES MEET CAUSING BOTH OF THE WIRING HOUSINGS TO MELT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE TAKEN OFF THE KICK PANEL THAT COVERS THE WIRES AND NOTICED THE KICK PANEL ITSELF WAS BURNT AND MELTED. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER 1 SERIES OWNERS AND THEY ALSO HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT IT'S NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE.

NHTSA ID
11112731
Incident
Jul 20, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 26, 2018

WATER PUMP AND MUCH MORE

NHTSA ID
11104100
Incident
May 16, 2018
Electrical
Filed Jun 26, 2018

SOMETIMES THE BLOWER MOTOR WILL NOT WORK AT THE SPEED SELECTED. A FEW TIMES HAVE SMELLED A ODD BURNT PLASTIC SMELL. BMW WON'T HELP THIS ISSUE AS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CERTAIN MODEL. I HAVE TOOK THE TIME TO ACTUALLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. WIRING TO BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR MODULE AFFECTED. CANNOT EVEN UNPLUG THE CONNECTION. HAS BROWN AREAS ON THE RESISTER BY GROUND WIRE OF SIGNS OF EXTREME HEAT.

NHTSA ID
11104028
Incident
Jun 23, 2018
Mileage
126,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 3, 2017

TAKATA RECALL NEVER PERFORMED

NHTSA ID
10992978
Incident
Jun 3, 2017
Airbags
Filed Apr 10, 2017

RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER MARCH 2016.SIX MONTHS LATER A QUICK FIX. TALK TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS

NHTSA ID
10971654
Incident
Apr 9, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10958394
Incident
Mar 16, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I LIVE IN A GULF STATE, SARASOTA COUNTY. RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL IN MARCH 2016. IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED DEALER. AGAIN IN APRIL. THEY WERE TO CALL ME TO INSTALL NEW AIRBAG. OCT 24 CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN. NO RETURN CALL AS PROMISED. CALLED 10/27 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ORIGINAL LIST OF RECALLED BMW'S FROM MARCH WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND SINCE I HAD CALLED IN AGAIN THEY WOULD NOW PUT BE ON A LIST FOR THE SAFETY RECALL. THIS CONTINUING DELAY AND GAME PLAYING ON THE PART OF BMW NORTH AMERICA AND MY DEALER BMW OF SARASOTA IS UNACCEPTABLE. IF I HADN'T CALLED AGAIN I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BUT ON THEIR "LIST" FOR THE PART TO BE ORDERED. NO OTHER ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED BY THE DEALER. MY SAFETY IS AT RISK AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10919278
Incident
Mar 2, 2016
Mileage
18,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 135I. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
10783391
Incident
Oct 17, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 19, 2015

PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT INDICATED THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY ANOTHER ADULT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10706494
Incident
Apr 10, 2015
Mileage
57,300 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 22, 2015

VEHICLE WILL "JOLT" FORWARD. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO ME OVER 100 TIMES. THE ISSUE IS BEST DESCRIBED LIKE THIS. I WILL DRIVE THROUGH A FAST FOOD DRIVE-THRU LINE AND THERE WILL BE 1 OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WILL PULL UP AND BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP TO ORDER. THE OTHER VEHICLE IS AT THE RESTAURANT WINDOW PAYING SO THAT CAR IS ONLY ABOUT 20 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. SINCE THE GAP BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER CAR ARE SO CLOSE I WILL NOT GIVE MY VEHICLE ANY GAS, I WILL ONLY LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MOVE FORWARD AT IDLE SPEEDS. ONCE I REACH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I PROCEED WITH PRESSING THE BRAKE (USUALLY "PULSING" THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SCOOT FORWARD SAFELY ONCE I'M VERY CLOSE). AT THAT POINT MY VEHICLE WILL JOLT FORWARD AS IF I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY IN AND OUT QUICKLY. SINCE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE "SCOOTING" SAFELY, MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY MOVE. THIS DRIVE-THRU EXAMPLE HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES. I'VE ALSO BEEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH A SIDE WALK IN FRONT OF IT. WHEN PULLING INTO THE SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND MOVING AT IDLE SPEEDS MY VEHICLE TRIED TO JUMP FORWARD AND SOMEONE HAPPENED TO BE WALKING BY AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HIT THEM IN MY CAR.I'VE HAD THE ISSUE HAPPEN IN REVERSE GEAR AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT ON BMW FORUMS SUCH AS WWW.BIMMERPOST,COM AND WWW.1SERIESONLINE.COM AND I'VE TALKED WITH BMW DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR IT AND CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM FEELS TO BE A FAULT IN THE DCT TRANSMISSION. WHEN MY VEHICLE JOLTS FORWARD, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE ITS TRYING TO SHIFT UP AND THEN SHIFT DOWN QUICKLY CAUSING IT TO JOLT FORWARD. THE PROBLEM WORSENS IF I HAVE MY A/C ON AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10700986
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
30,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 7, 2013

WHEN MOVING SLOWLY AND THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATING, SUCH AS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD, THE CAR SEEMS TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL FOR A SOLID 2 SECONDS, SO THE CAR ACTUALLY SLOWS RATHER THAN SPEEDS UP. THE DRIVER, WHEN TRYING TO TURN IN TRAFFIC, WILL PANIC AND PRESS HARDER ON THE GAS AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN UNTIL THE 2 SECONDS IS OVER, AND THEN THE CAR SUDDENLY TAKES OFF INTO TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY AND IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC. BMW HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT UNSUCCESSFULLY AND NOW SAYS IT IS "NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE GEARBOX AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REMOVE THIS SENSATION". THIS CAR HAS THE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION (DCT). *TR

NHTSA ID
10551409
Incident
Nov 7, 2012
Mileage
21,184 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I WAS HIT IN THE REAR. STARTING TO BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT AND STILL THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIX IT AND LIES ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND I'M REALLY CLOSE TO THE LEMON LAW I THINK. BMW N AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE WON'T LET ME PASS ANYONE OTHER THAN THE CALL CENTER. DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. ALSO I HAVE ASKED FOR A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE 3 TIMES AND THEY WILL NOT COMPLY. THE DEALERSHIP ONLY FIXES THINGS I NEVER ASKED THEM TO FIX AND CAN'T FIX WHAT WRONG. THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ALSO STILL DOES NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505289
Incident
Oct 30, 2011
Mileage
5,000 mi

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.

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