2011 BMW 135I Problems and Recalls (27 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2011 BMW 135I is Engine (30% of 27 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
What problems show up on the 2011 BMW 135I?
8 of 27 filings named Engine (30% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Airbags (5 reports).
There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Airbags, Transmission / driveline, and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2010 has 15 reports on file; this year has 27. 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
- Crashes 1
- Fires 2
- Injuries 1
- Deaths 0
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) | 8 | 29.6% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 5 | 18.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 5 | 18.5% | 0 crashes · 2 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 4 | 14.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 2 | 7.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 1 | 3.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 1 | 3.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 3 | 11.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
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 14V176000 was reported 519 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 16V071000 was reported 292 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 17V067000 was reported 683 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 19V579000 was reported 406 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 20V017000 was reported 1,732 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V044000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V176000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V071000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V067000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V579000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V017000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 |
Safety Recalls (6)
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, Transmission / driveline, 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 17V067000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2011 BMW 135I?
Owners named Engine most often — 8 of 27 reports (30%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2011 BMW 135I?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Airbags, Transmission / driveline, 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 135I?
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
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.