2011 BMW 1 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2011 BMW 1 Series, and owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2011 BMW 1 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
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…
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…
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Retractor (seat belts)
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.
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…
33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2011 BMW 1 Series have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 38,181 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 11 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I just had the bolts on both the (intake and exhaust replaced) this is listed in the unspecified recall and no one notified me on this recall i drive the 2011 128i series coupe and this cost me out of”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 1, 2019 · Air bags
“I bring in to longbeach BMW dealers and they mass up the car and they wanted 10,000 dallors to fixed it and i only bring to in for recalls i don't let me pick up the car”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 1, 2019 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2011 BMW 1 Series (128ci Convertible, 128i, 135i, 135i Convertible, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 25–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Automatic (S7); Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 1 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 1 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 2005 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 2006 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 5 |
| 2007 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 6 |
| 2008 BMW 1 Series | 2 | 18 |
| 2009 BMW 1 Series | 1 | 18 |
| 2010 BMW 1 Series | 2 | 8 |
| 2011 BMW 1 Series | 2 | 33 |
| 2012 BMW 1 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2011 BMW 1 Series
How do I know if my 2011 BMW 1 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2011 BMW 1 Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 10V254000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.