2011 BMW 328iCompeting with vehicles such as the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the BMW 328i has established itself as a mainstay in the BMW lineup with its own dedicated customer base. However, the 2011 model has proven quite problematic, causing over 600 complaints and 11 recalls.There are reports of airbag, engine, and powertrain problems. Another notable issue is vanos bolt failure. It was discovered that when this component breaks or comes loose, the engine may stall. This is because it holds the variable camshaft timing adjustment unit in place. In fact, this problem is common with many BMW models that were released between 2010 and 2012.It was not until October of 2023 that a recall on the vanos bolt was made. However, months later, owners still raise concerns about the company's failure to adhere promptly to the recall, rendering some owners incapable of driving their cars.2011 BMW 335iSince the 335i belongs to the BMW Series 3, it shares similar problems to the BMW 328i. It has also been subject to 11 recalls, and while it has fewer NHTSA complaints than the 328i, they're still enough to signify that this is a model to steer clear of.The 335i is also vulnerable to the vanos bolt issue. On top of that, there are several persistent airbag complaints, and the footwell module, which is a pretty integral part of the electrical system, is prone to fail, causing a host of problems such as inoperative windows, headlights, and door locks.While the recalls are enough to signify that this is a bad egg, it's also of no help that the average maintenance cost is $1,022 annually. This explains the model's 2/5 rating on RepairPal, placing 28th out of 31 rated luxury midsize cars. 2011 BMW X5BMW added a bunch of upgrades for the 2011 BMW X5 model — a 300-horsepower turbocharged six-cylinder base model engine, interior and exterior styling changes, and a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. The idea was to give the vehicle not just more power and torque but also better fuel economy.However, if there is any BMW model that should sound a warning alarm to buyers, it's this one. With over 300 complaints and 15 recalls reported by NHTSA, the car is nothing short of a red flag on four wheels. The first recall was in June 2010, when it was found that the tires had incorrect labeling and violated the federal safety standards. Since then, there have been recalls on the airbag inflator due to the risk of explosion, the fuel pump wiring, the electric auxiliary water pump, and a risk of fire involving the PCV heater, among several others.To top it off, the BMW X5 is pretty expensive to maintain, considering the frequency and severity of the repairs that it requires. It has an average annual repair cost of $1,218 and is rated 2.0 out of 5.0 for reliability on RepairPal.2011 BMW 528iDespite making it to this list, there are many things to like about the BMW 528i. For starters, the material quality and interior design are clean and comfortable, it has a decent amount of tech features, and the fuel economy is reasonable. However, it has its fair share of low points and there are many complaints associated with this vehicle.Apart from a good number of engine-related complaints and recalls, this model is also likely to experience some steering problems. There are instances where it jerks violently or causes the vehicle to veer to the right by itself. Owners in this situation may find it especially difficult to control their vehicle.This defect has been found even in vehicles with very low mileage. It is often detected by an unusual noise coming from the steering. Despite the major safety hazard posed, there has been no recall for this issue. A number of complaints stressed how unresponsive BMW was to this complaint, in some cases only offering a software update that didn't make matters any better.2011 BMW 135iGiven that a couple of 2011 models have made it to this list so far, it's pretty obvious that this wasn't BMW's best year. The 2011 BMW 135i might not be a terrible car, but it's an underwhelming one. The performance is decent, thanks to its 3.0-liter inline-6 engine, but it's still a vehicle that could hurt your pocket with maintenance costs.On RepairPal, the BMW 135i is rated 2.0 out of 5 for reliability and is ranked the worst model among 17 luxury compact cars. It is estimated that, on average, owners spend about $1061 annually maintaining this car. In addition, it is also subject to the vanos bolt issue affecting a number of 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, X3, and a few other BMW models produced within this period. So far, nine recalls have been made on this model, so it's unlikely to be a wise purchase if you're looking for a hassle-free choice. For a luxury compact car, alternatives like the Lexus ES, Lexus IS, and Acura TL are more reliable options.
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