MODELYEARINDEX

BMW 1 Series

94 complaints across 4 scored model years and 3 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · BMW 1 Series Full report
C
Grade 2010–2013
2011 vs model median 0.9×
Model median3× median
Engine 7
Electrical 5
Speed Control 3
Weakest

2011 · 2012

Best

2010 · 2013

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.69× 15 B
2011
0.94× 27 C
2012
1.06× 20 C
2013
1.10× 32 C

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG21.5
City / Highway18.5 / 28
Engine3L, 6 cyl
DriveRear-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$3,525

Recalls

3 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
23V707000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 2010–2012 157,796
10V254000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR 2010, 2011 31,935
12E029000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN 2010, 2011 585

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura ILX
20142016
C
Audi A3
20152017
C
BMW I3
none flagged
C
Buick Verano
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Bolt EV
2017
C
Chevrolet Cobalt
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Cruze
20112012
C
Chevrolet HHR
none flagged
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2011 1 Series
Complaints in window
27
Severity-weighted
39
Model median (weighted)
41
vs model median
0.94×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
3
Open investigations
1
Score 65.7 C