This page covers 3 recalls and 33 owner complaints for the 2011 BMW 1 Series.
Airbag complaints dominate the 2011 BMW 1 Series owner reports, making up the largest share of the 33 filed. Most of those reports don't describe a specific airbag malfunction during driving, instead, owners report uncertainty about whether their airbags are functioning correctly and describe difficulty getting service appointments or parts to address the concern. The fuel system is the next most-reported area, where owners describe the high-pressure fuel pump failing, sometimes repeatedly. Symptoms they report include extended cranking before the engine starts, followed by a complete no-start or stall while driving. A smaller cluster of complaints describes the HVAC blower motor resistor and wiring harness overheating, with owners reporting smoke coming from the vents or the front passenger footwell and melted wiring near the blower motor circuit.
33
Total Complaints
2
Fire-Related
By System
The 2011 BMW 1 Series has 3 recalls, the most serious involving the rear driveshaft CV joint, which can break over time and cause a sudden and complete loss of drive power.
The CV joint failure leaves the vehicle unable to accelerate or maintain speed, raising the risk of a crash. On the engine side, bolts securing the variable valve timing unit can work loose or break, which can cause the engine to stall without warning while driving. The third recall involves the front seatbelt pretensioners: in a sufficiently severe crash, the pretensioner fires as designed to pull the belt tight, but the insulation surrounding the mechanism can ignite in the process, creating a fire risk inside the cabin at the moment occupants are most vulnerable.
At a glance
What can fail
The aluminum bolts securing the variable camshaft timing adjustment housing can loosen and break over time, potentially causing the unit to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace all four VANOS bolts at no cost to you.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rivet connections holding the CV joint on the rear driveshaft may weaken over time. This can cause the CV joint to break, resulting in loss of power to the wheels.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the CV joint with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In severe crashes, the front safety belt pre-tensioner and load-limiter may deploy unexpectedly, potentially causing injury.
What the fix does
Install new front safety belt retractor units and modify sound insulation (vehicles through December 2009), or modify sound insulation only (January–May 2010 vehicles). Service is free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
