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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 BMW 1 Series Recalls & Complaints

The 2011 BMW 1 Series has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 33 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 BMW 1 Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2011 BMW 1 Series owner complaints

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 1 Series, describing incidents dated July 3, 2010 to April 9, 2019.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 15 complaints
  • Electrical System 7 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 5 complaints
  • Engine 4 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints
  • Equipment 2 complaints

Of the 33 complaints on file, 2 report a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11204967 · Filed

    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 POCKET $1,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS I…

  • ODI #11193250 · Filed

    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

  • ODI #11161297 · Filed

    THE CAR WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH AC RUNNING. SMOKE PLUMED FROM VENTS AND UNDER FRONT PASSENGER FOOTWELL. ELECTRICAL FIRE STEMMING FROM BLOWER MOTOR FINAL STAGE UNIT AND WIRING HARNESS.

Read all 33 complaints

Camshaft Timing Bolts May Loosen Causing Stall

NHTSA #23V707000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported October 20, 2023 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 157,796 vehicles

Repair completion: 35.88% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified June 19, 2024

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Engine Cooling Fan Assemblies/Service Parts

NHTSA #12E029000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Fan · NHTSA notice

Reported August 10, 2012 · Valeo

Potentially affected: 585 vehicles

Repair completion: 33.1% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified August 22, 2012

Defect description

This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.

Safety consequence

This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.

Manufacturer remedy

Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

SOUND INSULATION BELT RETRACTOR UNIT

NHTSA #10V254000 · Seat Belts — Front — Retractor · NHTSA notice

Reported June 10, 2010 · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Potentially affected: 31,935 vehicles

Owners notified August 23, 2010 · Vehicles built December 1, 2007 – May 27, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE INSULATION AROUND THE PRE-TENSIONER COULD IGNITE.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other BMW 1 Series model years

Check your 2011 BMW 1 Series VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 1 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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