2011 Bmw 135i problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (8) · Electrical System (5) · Air Bags (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 135i model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (6)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-01-15 · campaign 20V017000 · 59,965 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical System:wiring 2019-08-06 · campaign 19V579000 · 41,981 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
Risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall number 17V-676.
Power Train:driveline:constant Velocity Joint 2017-02-02 · campaign 17V067000 · 8,752 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.
Risk: If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-05 · campaign 16V071000 · 840,000 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2014-04-10 · campaign 14V176000 · 156,137 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and
Risk: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers 2013-02-07 · campaign 13V044000 · 516,791 vehicles
Defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2
Risk: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Service bulletins (103)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2024-01-11 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the electrical system of bmw vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. this has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. this document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle ã¢ââdischarged batteryã¢ââ complaints.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2021-05-01 · B011321 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
class action settlement: n54/n54t/n55 electric engine coolant pump . with the court's final approval, bmw of north america, llc (bmw na) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: oliver, et al v. bmw na, et al
Fuel System, Gasoline 2021-05-01 · B011321 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
class action settlement: n54/n54t/n55 electric engine coolant pump . with the court's final approval, bmw of north america, llc (bmw na) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: oliver, et al v. bmw na, et al
Power Train 2020-04-01 · B110208 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
power reduction fc2a82 intake vanos and/or fc2 a87 exhaust vanos camshaft fault: the "service engine soon" (mil) lamp is illuminated and engine power reduction is perceived. this situation can occur after driving for some time with the engine at full operating temperature. if the ignition is cycled
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2019-07-12 · 651512 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service action: cic - install navigation road map database 2013. before delivering affected vehicles to the customer, the car information computer (cic) road map database 2013 must be installed onto the cic internal hard disc drive (hdd).
Electrical System 2019-07-10 · 613312 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"erroneous cc message "remote control! do not switch off the engine" is displayed. an erroneous cc message, "remote control!" " do not switch off the engine" is displayed in the central information display (cid). the engine can still be started, even with the cc message displayed. cause: car access
Showing the 6 most recent of 103 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-25 · Electrical System · 66,800 mi“the contact owns a 2011 bmw 135i. the contact stated that the a/c system and the blower motor were intermittently inoperable. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the blower motor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact related the failure to nhtsa campaign number: 19v579000 (electr…”
2024-09-26 · Engine“bmw series 135i2011 - engine/vanos bolts failed/failing! when it's started, you can total tell there is an issue with it...car is basically non-drivable due to this condition due to safety concerns! the vin is not being covered by the recall due to but this is a serious issue! this needs to be covered by bmw! we've taken it to the mechanic who said…”
2022-04-07 · Unknown Or Other“i had two situations in which my car would unexpectedly lurch forward after coming to a complete stop with my foot on the brake pedal, and another case in which i could not place the vehicle in park with the dct shift lever malfunctioning and making the car undrivable.…”
2022-02-23 · Engine“sudden catastrophic engine shutdown after 3weeks of investigation came back as bad crank posisition sensor …”
2021-07-11 · Exterior Lighting“the headlights are failing due to wiring rotting and falling aaprt inside the headlight units similar to the wiring failure in the blower motor…”
2020-04-16 · Engine · 88,000 mi“rod bearings failure which could cause engine seizing while driving.…”
2020-01-14 · Engine · 56,300 mi“vehicle hesitates when pressing the accelerator when passing vehicles or merging into traffic on the highway nearly causing collision with other vehicles. check engine light comes on when when vehicle is accelerating 99% of the time. when vehicle is stopped vehicle will try to surge forward. extremely dangerous vehicle. shame on bmw for not recalli…”
2019-10-12 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 73,000 mi“high pressure fuel pump failure - car went into limp mode while driving on a city street.…”
2019-02-05 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 110,000 mi“i have been having misfires. first cylinder 3&5. changed all plugs and coil packs. ran well for a couple days. then boom. misfires again. long cold start cranks. i can bring the rpms all the way up to redline as long as i don't step on the throttle more than 25%. as son as i go to put so throttle into it. it's hesitates/stutters. then service engin…”
2019-01-06 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 56,900 mi“two times within a year the vehicle has experienced a reduction of power and the check engine light came on. on 4-3-18 i took the vehicle to the modesto bmw dealer and was advised i needed the fuel pump replaced which i did spending $1355. late in december the same problem occurred and i again took it to the same dealer who now advised me i needed …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.