2011 BMW 128I Problems: Engine (49 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2011 BMW 128I is Engine (47% of 49 owner reports). There are 7 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 49 complaints · 7 recalls
What problems show up on the 2011 BMW 128I?
23 of 49 filings named Engine (47% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Airbags (15 reports).
There are 7 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Airbags, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2010 has 22 reports on file; this year has 49. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Engine 23 complaints · 46.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 0
- Fires 3
- Injuries 0
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine (ENGINE) | 23 | 46.9% | 0 crashes · 3 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 15 | 30.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 2 | 4.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 2 | 4.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 2 | 4.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 2 | 4.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 5 | 10.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 17V683000 was reported 1,055 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V579000 was reported 2,259 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V017000 was reported 1,322 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V119000 was reported 2,639 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V044000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V176000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V071000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V683000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V579000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V017000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V119000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 |
Safety Recalls (7)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Airbags, and Electrical.
-
Recall campaign 13V044000
Safety recall 13V044000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 14V176000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 16V071000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 17V683000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
- Remedy:
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
-
Recall campaign 19V579000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 20V017000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 22V119000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
- Remedy:
- This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 10 of 49 complaints · page 1 of 2
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128I. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated. The contact stated that on one occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and then stalled. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 128I. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. While at a stop sign, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed no parts were available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128I. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was jerking and there was a hard vibration. The contact also stated that the vehicle experienced an intermittent unintended acceleration. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the contact heard an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the check engine warning was illuminated. The contact stated that he depressed the accelerator when the traffic signal changed, and the rattle was louder. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence and parked. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Engine noise.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Three recall notices have been mailed to me. The BMW dealers say “remedy is not available”. My BMW has not been fixed. I have to drive 854 miles. Who is responsible if this VANOS assembly gives way on this lengthy drive?
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2011 BMW 128I?
Owners named Engine most often — 23 of 49 reports (47%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2011 BMW 128I?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Airbags, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2011 BMW 128I?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.