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BMW 135IModel year report

2011 BMW 135I Problems

Compared with other BMW 135I years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

31/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
27filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
57,100miles, 18 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 19 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 BMW 135I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2011 BMW 135I. The part named most often is engine, with 11 complaints (41% of the total), followed by electrical system (7) and air bags (6). 18 of the complaints include a mileage, and 39% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 57,100 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 103 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 15 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the fuses and circuit breakers and 35 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 BMW 135I model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 31 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine: “Vehicle will jolt forward. This issue has happened to me over 100 times. The issue is best described like this. I will drive through a fast food drive-thru line and there will be 1 other vehicle in front of me. I will pull up and brake to a complete stop to order. The other vehicle is at the restaurant window paying so that car is only about 20 feet in front of me. Since the gap between me and the other car are so close I will not give my vehicle any gas, I will only lift my foot off the brake and move forward at idle speeds. …”

NHTSA complaint #10700986, filed 2015-03, 30,000 miles

Electrical system: “Sometimes the blower motor will not work at the speed selected. A few times have smelled a odd burnt plastic smell. Bmw won't help this issue as there is no recall on this certain model. I have took the time to actually diagnose the issue. Wiring to blower motor resistor module affected. Cannot even unplug the connection. Has brown areas on the resister by ground wire of signs of extreme heat.”

NHTSA complaint #11104028, filed 2018-06, 126,000 miles

Air bags: “Takata recall I live in a gulf state, sarasota county. Received safety recall in march 2016. Immediately contacted dealer. Again in april. They were to call me to install new airbag. Oct 24 contacted dealer again. No return call as promised. Called 10/27 and was informed that the original list of recalled Bmw's from march was not available and since I had called in again they would now put be on a list for the safety recall. This continuing delay and game playing on the part of Bmw north america and my dealer Bmw of sarasota is unacceptable. …”

NHTSA complaint #10919278, filed 2016-10, 18,000 miles

Fuel system: “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 engine soon and cel light come one. The high pressure fuel pump is the culprit. Same type of problems I had on my n54 motor. I thought Bmw fixed this issue. Guess they need a recall on these as well.”

NHTSA complaint #11174596, filed 2019-02, 110,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

39% of the 18 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 88,000 miles.

17%0–1017%10–256%25–5028%50–7517%75–10017%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (18 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 57,100 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2013201620185202020222026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 BMW 135I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
135i RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual202823$3,550
135i RWD3.0L 6-cyl7-speed automatic182520$4,100
135i Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual192822$3,750
135i Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl7-speed automatic182520$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 BMW 135I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 103 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 103 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 135I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20131226,1062—22—Not enough data
20121950,0006—22—Falling
20112757,1006—2231 · FewerFalling
2010157,5404—20—Stable
2009299,0004—2063 · TypicalFalling
20085142,0004—2050 · TypicalFalling

All BMW 135I model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 BMW 135I have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2011 BMW 135I as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 BMW 135I is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 11 complaints (41% of the total), followed by electrical system with 7.

Has the 2011 BMW 135I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 BMW 135I get?

The EPA rates the 2011 BMW 135I (135i Convertible, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 BMW 135I reported?

Among the 18 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 57,100 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 88,000 miles; 39% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.