2011 Bmw 1 SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT TEST DROVE A 2011 BMW 135I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN AFTER DRIVING FOUR MILES AND THE SPEED INCREASED UP TO 80 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS WITH HIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80.

Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341539 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347499 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON MY 2011 BMW 335I WILL TELL YOU TO TURN THE WRONG WAY, AND THEN TELL YOU TO MAKE A U-TURN. I HAVE BEEN TURNING ONTO THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY AND IT WILL SAY TO MAKE A U-TURN. YOU CANNOT TRUST WHERE YOU WILL END UP IF YOU FOLLOW THE SYSTEM. IT COULD LEAD YOU TO A LOCATION THAT IS NOT SAFE. I NOTIFIED MY DEALER WHO THEN TESTED OTHER 2011'S WITH THE SAME RESULT AND TESTED 2010'S WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. THE DEALER AND I HAVE NOTIFIED BMW NA, YET NOW ALMOST 5 MONTHS LATER THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TALKED T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10373797 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464836 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 12,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487977 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2010-06-10 (June 10, 2010)

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 1-SERIES VEHICLES. IN A CRASH OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY, DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PRE-TENSIONER AND LOAD-LIMITER OCCURS.

Consequence: THE INSULATION AROUND THE PRE-TENSIONER COULD IGNITE.

Remedy: VEHICLES PRODUCED UP THROUGH DECEMBER 2009 WILL RECEIVE NEW FRONT SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR UNITS AND A MODIFICATION TO THE SOUND INSULATION NEAR THE UNITS, WHILE VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN JANUARY 2010 AND MAY 2010 WILL RECEIVE A MODIFICATION TO THE SOUND INSULATION NEAR THE UNITS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2023-10-20 (October 20, 2023)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.

Consequence: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.