RoadVitals

2009 BMW 1 Series Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest May 22, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 BMW 1 Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags730.4%
  • Exterior lighting626.1%
  • Electrical417.4%
  • Interior & seats14.3%
  • Other / unspecified14.3%
  • Seat belts14.3%
  • Tires & wheels14.3%
  • Driver assistance14.3%
  • Engine14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FOR LAST 16 MONTHS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS NOT FIX THE PROBLEM ON EXPENSE OF MY OWN SAFETY. WHEN VISITED BMW DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THAT BMW HAS NO SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM YET. I AM DRIVING EVERY DAY THIS CAR COMPROMISING MY OWN SAFETY. WHEN I WANT TO SELL THIS CAR I CAN'T GET FAIR VALUE PRICE DUE TO THE RECALL PROBLEM. POTENTIAL BUYER CHECK CAR SAFETY RECALL AND DO NOT BUY CAR WHICH IS LISTED AS A UNSAFE. BMW IGNORE ALL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID 10986311 · filed May 18, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. NOTHING HAS HAPPEN JUST WANT MY AIRBAGS REPLACED BEEN WAITING A LONG, LONG TIME AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A THING ON RECALL REPAIRS

NHTSA ID 10938357 · filed Dec 28, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RIGHT REAR ROADSIDE PARKING AND TAIL LAMP LED FAILED. THESE LAMPS SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN THIS TIME FRAME. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE UNTIL I WAS WAMING UP CAR AND CLEANING OFF SNOW WHEN I SAW THE DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ID 10935634 · filed Dec 16, 2016

I HAVE A 2009 528I . WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD MY HEADLIGHTS WHEN ON LOWBEAMS GO OUT . THE BRIGHTS WORK BUT NOT THE LOWBEAMS THE CAR CONTROL SAYS LOWBEAM MALFUNCTION . FIRST IT WAS THE LEFT LIGHT AND THEN THE RIGHTFRONT. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR LONG AND ITS A WONDERFUL CAR. BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE AND NEED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS FOR THIS OR WHAT CAN BE DONE.

NHTSA ID 10875973 · filed Jun 22, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 1 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE AIR CONDITIONER, BUT NO AIR FLOWED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRONIC BURNING ODOR AND TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BAYSIDE (LOCATED AT 266 E SHORE RD, GREAT NECK, NY 11023, (516) 304-3700) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,657.

NHTSA ID 11209347 · filed May 22, 2019

I WAS DRIVING 40MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY ALL LIGHT CONTROLS LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD AFTER I NOTICED I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE, THEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON SLOWLY WITHOUT MYSELF OPERATING THEM , AS MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP/ENGINE OFF. AFTER CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAITING 10 MINS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. RECENTLY REPAIRED PVC RECALL AND UNCERTAIN IF PCV WAS DETRIMENTAL TO OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WERE NOT REPLACED DUE TO THE PCV. BATTERY READ AS GOOD PER MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID 11072056 · filed Feb 10, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ON NOVEMBER 28, 2014, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2009 BMW 1-SERIES CONVERTIBLE FROM A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER. WE ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY CONTRACT THROUGH THE DEALER. A FEW WEEKS LATER, MY WIFE NOTICED THE AIR BAG ICON ON THE DASHBOARD WAS LIT AND A AIR BAG "OFF " LIGHT LOCATED ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR STAYED ON. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY DID HAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT TO DO SO.THEY SUGGESTED THAT WE TAKE TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT HAD THE EQUIPMENT TO TEST IT. AFTER THE REPAIR SHOP TESTED THE SYSTEM IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER'S WARRANTY COMPANY WAS THEN CONTACTED BY THE REPAIR SHOP TO NOTIFIED THEM ABOUT THE FAILURE AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $1,800.00. WE WERE THEN NOTIFIED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. WE THEN RE-CONTACTED THE DEALER TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR BY THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REFUSED, SAYING THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE TYPE OF WARRANTY THAT WE HAD PURCHASED. OUR CONCERN IS THAT BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY, THERE MAY BE A CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS AND POSSIBLY INJURY. I READ ON THE NHTSA'S WEBSITE THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS ON BMW'S, ID # 10052013 AND THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10683388 · filed Feb 13, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED I PASSED OVER THE TRANSITIONED BETWEEN A MILLED ROAD SURFACE TO EXISTING PAVEMENT. ON DAY ONE I NOTICE A SMALL PIECE OF RUBBER HANGING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE (LEFT) RIM BUT THE TIRE WAS HOLDING AIR. ON DAY TWO THE PASSENGER SIDE, RIGHT FRONT TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW. THE DRIVING SURFACE APPEARED NORMAL. DAMAGE WAS NOT VISIBLE TO THE RIGHT TIRE HOWEVER PASSPORT BMW TOLD ME THAT THE TIRE HAD A RIP AROUND THE RIM. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE RUN FLAT MODEL 215/40R18 85Y. THE TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 85 % OF IT'S TREAD AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 15,000 MILE =/-. I DO NOT THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER STANDARD / NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10629242 · filed Aug 28, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE AIRBAGS RECALL OVER THREE MONTHS AGO, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER, REEVES BMW, THAT THE PROMISE PARTS WERE TO BE RECEIVED BY END OF SUMMER, ARE NOT YET RECEIVED AND THEY CANNOT REPAIR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID 10905060 · filed Sep 9, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED I PASSED OVER THE TRANSITIONED BETWEEN A MILLED ROAD SURFACE TO EXISTING PAVEMENT. ON DAY ONE I NOTICE A SMALL PIECE OF RUBBER HANGING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE (LEFT) RIM BUT THE TIRE WAS HOLDING AIR. ON DAY TWO THE PASSENGER SIDE, RIGHT FRONT TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW. THE DRIVING SURFACE APPEARED NORMAL. DAMAGE WAS NOT VISIBLE TO THE RIGHT TIRE HOWEVER PASSPORT BMW TOLD ME THAT THE TIRE HAD A RIP AROUND THE RIM. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE RUN FLAT MODEL 215/40R18 85Y. THE TIRES HAD APPROXIMATELY 85 % OF IT'S TREAD AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 15,000 MILE =/-. I DO NOT THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IN WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER STANDARD / NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10629242 · filed Aug 28, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR UP TO 100,000.I KEPT EXPERIENCING THE CAR VIBRATING AS WELL AS THE LOW OIL LIGHT APPEARING WITHIN WEEKS OF SERVICING THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY . IN JULY APRROX AT 106,000 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED WAS TAKEN ONLY TO BMW FOR SOLVE THE ISSUE HAVE PAID OVER $3800.00 FOR REPAIR AND LIGHT IS STILL ON. WAS TAKEN ON FRIDAY SEPT 18 AND ON SUNDAY SEPT 20 THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE WITH 2 MONTHS THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT. THE CAR APPARENTLY HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND IS UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID 10766298 · filed Sep 21, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A ELECTRICAL RECALL. DEALER DID A RECOMMENDED SERVICE CHECK. LISTED 3 MAJOR ISSUES THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH A CAR THAT HAS 61,452. 1. REPLACE OIL PAN GASKET 2. REPLACE OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKETS 3. REPLACE VALVE COVER GASKET. ALL OF THESE ISSUES DUE TO OIL LEAKS. HOW IS IT THAT A CAR BUILT TO LAST CAN HAVE MAJOR FLAWS LIKE THIS. THIS CAR IS NOT DRIVEN ON A RACETRACK NOR DRIVEN IN EXTREME CLIMATES FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE COST TO REPLACE THESE IS OVER 2700 PLUS TAX. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING TO MANY BMW OWNERS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL.

NHTSA ID 10781451 · filed Oct 12, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .