2011 BMW 128I Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 BMW 128i most often describe airbag recall repairs held up because replacement parts were not available, and many say the manufacturer took longer than a reasonable time. Many complaints also describe engine recall repairs waiting on parts, and some report smoke or burning smells linked to the crankcase ventilation recall, as well as stalling, hesitation and loss of power. Where mileage is given, the engine-related reports mostly fall between about 100,000 and 150,000 miles, while most complaints do not list mileage at all.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine recall repairs held up by missing parts

   • 16 complaints (32%)
   • median 113,000 mi at 11.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners describe engine and cooling recall campaigns where the replacement part was not yet available and the dealer could not say when the repair would be done. Many say the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair, and some say a VIN check confirmed that no parts were available. Some describe stalling, lost power, smoke or engine failure while the repair was still pending. According to complaints, the manufacturer or dealer sometimes said no remedy was available yet, with no estimated date given. Where mileage is listed, it falls between about 96,000 and 140,000 miles, and many of these owners say they had not yet experienced a failure.

   Recall 22V119000Recall 14V176000

   What to check: Check the VIN for open engine and cooling recalls, and ask the dealer whether parts for each campaign are now in stock. Ask for records showing the recall work is complete, and whether any stalling or warning light was diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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?”

   NHTSA complaint #11564009, filed 2024-01

   “2011 Bmw 128I. Consumer writes in regards to a recall notice concerning assembly bolts. The dealer informed the consumer, the parts were not available. Recall # 14v176000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10655443, filed 2014-12
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag recall repairs held up by missing parts

   • 12 complaints (24%)
   • typically at 5.5 yrs old
   • filed 2016–2017

   Owners describe receiving driver-side airbag recall notices and being told the replacement parts were not available or could not be scheduled. Many say the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair, and some report calling the dealer repeatedly without getting a date. According to complaints, dealers gave estimated part dates that were not met, and some owners say the recall repair was still not done years after the notice. Mileage is not listed in these complaints, and many say the owner had not experienced a failure while waiting for the repair.

   Recall 16V071000Recall 20V0170003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN for open airbag recalls and ask the seller for proof that the recall repair was completed. Ask whether the replacement part was actually installed, since several complaints describe long waits for parts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall the takata airbags on my car were recalled in feb 2016. I have spoken to my local Bmw dealership multiple times and the replacement parts are still on a national backorder. This has almost been 2 years without a resolution - this is completely unacceptable.”

   NHTSA complaint #11054214, filed 2017-12

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Bmw 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v071000 (air bags). However, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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. Parts distribution disconnect.”

   NHTSA complaint #10933853, filed 2016-12
3. 3
   Engine

   Stalling, hesitation or rough running

   • 9 complaints (18%)
   • median 111,000 mi at 12.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe the engine hesitating, shuddering, stalling, or losing power, sometimes with a check engine warning light. Some say the car stalled at low speed or at traffic lights, and in some cases it could not be restarted and had to be towed. According to complaints, dealers sometimes found no fault, while in other cases diagnosis pointed to internal engine parts and a replacement was recommended. Mileage ranges from about 29,000 to about 149,000, with most reports between about 100,000 and 150,000 miles, and some while stopped at traffic lights.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the VANOS camshaft fault bulletin was applied and whether stored fault codes were read. On a test drive, watch for hesitation, rough running or stalling at low speed, and ask the dealer to scan for stored faults.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received error code P052B and the car had a high pitched whistle and was way down on power. I had it towed to the nearest dealer for service. After speaking with the technician, they told me they'd gone through with a boroscope and saw nothing out of the ordinary and recommended a new valve cover since the PCV was bad. I opted to order replacement spark plugs, coils, an eccentric valve sensor, and figured why not replace the Vanos bolts while in there too. Unfortunately after getting the cover off, it's been discovered that 7! …”

   NHTSA complaint #11428492, filed 2021-08

   “The vehicle's ignition coil and spark plugs have had to be replaced several times. Car lost power while driving. Stalled engine at red lights and green. The PCV Valve Heater is causing the ignition coil and spark plugs to malfunction, leading to expensive repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #11503353, filed 2023-01
4. 4
   Engine

   Smoke and burning smell linked to PCV recall

   • 9 complaints (18%)
   • median 104,500 mi at 9.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2023

   Owners describe smoke from under the hood, smoldering, and a burning plastic or electronics smell linked to the crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve heater recall. Some report smoke while the car was parked and others while driving, and some say promised alternative transportation was never arranged. According to complaints, ignition coils and spark plugs were replaced several times, and some owners say the car lost power or stalled. Where mileage is listed, reports are at about 87,000 and 118,000 miles, and smoke is described both while stationary and while driving.

   Recall 17V683000Recall 22V119000

   What to check: Ask whether the crankcase ventilation recall repair is complete, and check for a burnt plastic smell or smoke after the engine warms up. Ask for documentation of any PCV-related or ignition repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Reference pcv valve heater recall. My car started smoking between a month and a half to two months ago. I have talked to both regional and local Bmw. They said there were going to make arrangements for alternative transportation but I haven't heard from them since 1/16/18. My car is noticeably smoking while stationary, and you can smell plastic burn smell when driving. At first, I contacted regional Bmw sometime during early december. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11064648, filed 2018-01, 87,000 miles

   “I received a recall notification for my vehicle since March 2022 and up to now, I keep getting told that a remedy is not available. This is alarming since the safety risk states the PCV valve heater could overheat, lead to smoldering, and possibly start melting. In extremely rare cases, this could increase the risk of a fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #11501929, filed 2023-01
5. 5
   Engine

   VANOS camshaft adjustment failures

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 96,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2024

   Owners describe a failing variable camshaft adjustment (VANOS) system, with loud knocking, whistling, or other engine noise before power loss. In some cases the failure involved aluminum bolts in the camshaft timing adjustment housing, and in others the bolts or assembly were reported as likely to give way. Some owners say the repair cost is high and that an extended warranty was not honored. Where mileage is listed, reports are at about 81,000 and 111,000 miles, and owners describe loud noise or whistling before the failure.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the VANOS camshaft and timing bolts have been inspected and whether any warranty claim was accepted. Listen for knocking or whistling at idle and under acceleration during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vanos failed on 2011 Bmw 128I, manufacture offered extended warranty and failed to honor said warranty. Vehickle makes loud noise. Car will eventually break making car undrivable ever again, with 7k repair cost which exceeds value of car with less than 100k miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11364505, filed 2020-10, 81,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Bmw 128I. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a red light at 5 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled while making a loud knocking noise. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the aluminum bolts in the variable cam shaft timing adjustment housing had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic advised the contact to speak to a Bmw dealer in order to have the repair work done under a recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11001540, filed 2017-06, 111,000 miles

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year should check the VIN for open recalls on the airbag, engine and crankcase ventilation campaigns, and ask for proof that the work was completed. Complaints describe long waits for recall parts and engine concerns at higher mileage, so a pre-purchase inspection that includes reading engine fault codes is worth requesting.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.