2011 Bmw 1 SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
24,974 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 33 complaints (45.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 12.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System) | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
Air Bags: 15; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2; Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System): 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 11; 2017: 4; 2018: 4; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10632063 · 2014-09-10 (September 10, 2014)
THIS CAR HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL DEFECTS. IT'S LEFT ME STRANDED AT LEAST 4 TIMES JUST DYING. ONCE WHEN IT WAS 14 BELOW ZERO. THE CAR WILL JUST DIE WHEN IT'S DRIVING. EACH TIME BMW HAS A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS LEAVING PEOPLE IN A CAR WITHOUT POWER NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. ONCE THE CAR DIES, IT HAS THIS BIG EXCLAMATION POINT IN THE INSTRUMENT CONTROLS INSIDE A TRIANGLE AND IT WILL NOT MOVE. IT'S VERY HARD TO E…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10725065 · 2015-06-12 (June 12, 2015)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360031 · 2010-10-11 (October 11, 2010)
DEFECTIVE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON BMW 2011 335I AFTER 4500 MILES NOTE: THIS WAS A 335I. YOUR MODEL SELECTION DOESN'T NOT INCLUDE 3-SERIES SO I CLICKED 1-SERIES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788317 · 2015-11-04 (November 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 EXPERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,974 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560143 · 2014-01-15 (January 15, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10811348 · 2015-12-20 (December 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.)…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811348 at NHTSA ↗