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Electrical systemPart report

2011 BMW 1 Series Electrical system Problems

Complaints
7about this part
Share
21%of 33 total for the year
Median mileage
15,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electrical system of the 2011 BMW 1 Series, 21% of the 33 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The vehicle was in motion and the blower motor resistor harness began to smoke heavily. The A/C stopped working. I pulled over and disconnected the wiring harness and pulled the fuse. The wires melted, the connector melted, and the resistor is broken. After some research I see that Bmw has recalled other cars for this exact same issue, but not the 1 SERIES.”

NHTSA complaint #11153013, filed 2018-11, 90,000 miles

“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”

NHTSA complaint #11193250, filed 2019-04, 55 miles

“This car has some serious electrical defects. It's left me stranded at least 4 times just dying. Once when it was 14 below zero. The car will just die when it's driving. Each time Bmw has a different reason for the electrical failures but I believe there is an underlying design defect that is very dangerous leaving people in a car without power no matter where they are, even in the middle of a busy highway. Once the car dies, it has this big exclamation point in the instrument controls inside a triangle and it will not move. …”

NHTSA complaint #10632063, filed 2014-09, 10,000 miles

“I was accelerating into heavy traffic and my door flew open as I hit 45 MPH. I immediately pulled over when safe, and found my door would not latch. I drove home slowly holding onto the door. After some playing with the buttons, it finally caught. I called the dealer and they repaired it on 3/25/16 for >$500. Again 6/14/16, I went to get in my car to go to work and the door would not latch. No injuries occurred but a serious safety hazard. I took the car back in 6/17/16 and they still have it. Told me there was water in the actuator . Very worried about this fix.”

NHTSA complaint #10875826, filed 2016-06, 45,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #11161297, filed 2018-12, 92,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2011721%
2010113%
2009422%
2008211%
2007233%
2006120%

Other parts of the 2011 BMW 1 Series

Air bags
15 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsEngine
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 BMW 1 Series

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology