RoadVitals

2009 BMW 128I US

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
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Latest Apr 9, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 BMW 128I US, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and brakes categories. 84 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags120.0%
  • Body & structure120.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Electrical120.0%
  • Exterior lighting120.0%

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

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed Apr 9, 2019

EXTERIOR HEATED MIRRORS WITH DIMMING HAVE TURNED A DARK BROWN COLOR. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS MODELS/YEARS BMW'S. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM OFTEN BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT DEAL WITH IT. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH A CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A SUPERVISOR THAT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS A SAFETY ISSUE. (KATRINA EMPLOYEE # 8936 AND RENZO EMPLOYEE # 7647.) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITH THESE DEFECTIVE MIRRORS AND I HAVE HAD TO ORDER REPLACEMENT OF THE MIRROR GLASS FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. I AM ATTACHING PHOTOGRAPHS TO SHOW THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11195275
Incident
Mar 18, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 8, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL"

NHTSA ID
10993984
Incident
Apr 1, 2009
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Mar 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I US. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER REAR BRAKE LIGHT LENS WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LENS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID
10850853
Incident
Jul 21, 2009
Mileage
93,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 2011
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHTS FAILED AND TOXIC BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTING INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES BUT OPTED TO PLACE DEODORANT TO THE AIR CONDITIONER AS A REMEDY. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT ONE POUND OF FREON HAD LEAKED THAT THE VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE AND SHE WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ID
10381186
Incident
Nov 26, 2010
Mileage
9,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE AND DUE TO THE DESIGN HE WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

NHTSA ID
10374754
Incident
Dec 27, 2010
Mileage
6,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

B340414

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC; STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

B110208

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Power Reduction, FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The ?Service Engine Soon? (MIL) lamp is illuminated and engine power reduction is perceived. This situation can occur after driving for some time with the engine at full operating temperature. If theignition is cycled, the engine then usually performs normally.

B110208

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN

Power Reduction FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2 A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The "Service Engine Soon" (MIL) lamp is illuminated and engine power reduction is perceived. This situation can occur after driving for some time with the engine at full operating temperature. If the ignition is cycled the engine then usually performs normally.

512012

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Rattling Noise from Underneath the Instrument Panel. A rattling or clattering noise may be heard from the driver's or passenger foot well area while driving. CAUSE Tolerance excessive between the footwell air duct and the securing hooks.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 128I US by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011700
2009Viewing500

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.