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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Bmw 128I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

50 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

87,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 50 complaints (28.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation612.0%
Braking behavior48.0%
Electrical and battery issues48.0%
Transmission and shifting12.0%
Steering behavior12.0%

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.

Air Bags
14
Engine And Engine Cooling
14
Engine
12
Electrical System
7
Unknown Or Other
3
Exterior Lighting
2
Power Train
2
Service Brakes
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags14
Engine And Engine Cooling14
Engine12
Electrical System7
Unknown Or Other3
Exterior Lighting2
Power Train2
Service Brakes2

Air Bags: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Engine: 12; Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 33 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.

2012
1
2013
1
2014
2
2015
1
2016
8
2017
7
2018
4
2019
1
2020
3
2021
2
2022
7
2023
2
2024
10
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20131
20142
20151
20168
20177
20184
20191
20203
20212
20227
20232
202410
20251

2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 8; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 7; 2023: 2; 2024: 10; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10514370 · 2013-05-30 (May 30, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ENTERING A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO TURN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514370 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11001540 · 2017-06-26 (June 26, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A RED LIGHT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND STALLED WHILE MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALUMINUM BOLTS IN THE VARIABLE CAM SHAFT TIMING ADJUSTMENT HOUSING HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK TO A BMW DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK DONE UNDER A RECALL. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO BMW OF TULSA LOCATED AT 9702 S MEMORIAL D…

Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001540 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10595117 · 2014-06-12 (June 12, 2014)

2011 BMW 128I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AS HE APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED AN ADDITIONAL THREE FEET, LEAVING HIM TO TAKE DEFENSIVE MEASURES, SUCH AS PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL MODE. AT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE DROPPED BACK TO ITS NORMAL STATUS. AFTER KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS, THEY DETERMINED THE HIGH IDLING OF THE ENGINE WAS CAUSED BY THE FLOOR MAT JAMMING T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10595117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10702456 · 2015-03-29 (March 29, 2015)

LED RUNNING LIGHTS IN PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWS THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT HOUSES THE LED TUBE LIGHTS HAS A MALFUNCTION DUE TO POORLY SOLDERED CIRCUIT BOARD. LEFT TAIL LIGHTS RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION FAILS COMPLETELY (BLINKER, AND BRAKES ARE STILL RETAINED). LED TUBES DO NOT LIGHT UP AT ALL MAKING THE CAR LESS VISIBLE AT NIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10702456 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11064648 · 2018-01-24 (January 24, 2018)

REFERENCE PCV VALVE HEATER RECALL. MY CAR STARTED SMOKING BETWEEN A MONTH AND A HALF TO TWO MONTHS AGO. I HAVE TALKED TO BOTH REGIONAL AND LOCAL BMW. THEY SAID THERE WERE GOING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM SINCE 1/16/18. MY CAR IS NOTICEABLY SMOKING WHILE STATIONARY, AND YOU CAN SMELL PLASTIC BURN SMELL WHEN DRIVING. AT FIRST, I CONTACTED REGIONAL BMW SOMETIME DURING EARLY DECEMBER. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT MY LOCAL BMW IN REFERENCE TO GETTING ME INTO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION UNTIL MY REC…

Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064648 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11481718 · 2022-08-29 (August 29, 2022)

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idle at a red light and attempting to accelerate to make a right turn, the traction control warning light and the ABS warning light flashed with an error message.…

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11481718 at NHTSA ↗