2008 BMW 128I Owner Complaints

The contact owned a 2008 BMW 128i. The contact stated that after driving at an undisclosed speed in inclement weather, she parked and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle later caught fire when she returned. A bystander witnessed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact noticed there were flames coming from the engine compartment. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered credit toward the purchase of another vehicle. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) and related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11510649

Incident

Mar 9, 2022

Mileage

120,000 mi

I was out of town and my Drivers Side Door locked and would not open, not even with the key. It is making a sound when I try to unlock and once I start the car and drive, it makes the same clicking sound. If I were in a wreck and both doors locked and would not unlock, is that not a safety problem if I could not get out of the car? Who would design such a locking feature that the door would not unlock from the inside for sure. I realize that things will break, but, all cars should be able to be unlocked from the inside no matter what. But, now I have to pay to get fixed when I don't have the money and if I could just unlock the door, I could live with that, but that can't be done.

NHTSA ID

11497698

Incident

Dec 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The consumer stated no contact from dealer in regards to the part being available.

NHTSA ID

11476470

Incident

Jul 29, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 128I. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local BMW dealer. The dealer diagnosed the root cause of the warning light to be a failure of the passenger seat occupancy detection mat. When this part fails the passenger side air bags will be permanently deactivated. This will increase the risk of personal injury for any passenger in the event of a crash. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000 (Air Bags), 17V428000 (Air Bags), and 17V605000 (Air Bags). However, these NHTSA campaigns, for the exact same issue, only cover various other BMW models, but not any BMW 1 series cars. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired due to the very high dealer estimate of over $3,300 for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 77,250.

NHTSA ID

11457813

Incident

Mar 22, 2022

Mileage

77,250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT. BRIAN HARRIS BMW LOCATED AT (12336 AIRLINE HWY, BATON ROUGE, LA 70817, (225) 612-0285) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,500.

NHTSA ID

11311856

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

67,500 mi

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT KEPT BURNING OUT. SO I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAD COMPLETELY DETERIORATED IN SOME AREAS LEAVING THE BARE METAL WIRES EXPOSED. IN OTHER AREAS THE INSULATION WAS CRACKING OR FALLING OFF. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE IN A SEALED ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING? THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO CEASE FUNCTIONING LEADING TO A CRASH, OR A SHORT WHICH WOULD CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11265501

Incident

Sep 24, 2019

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. A PLASTIC BURNING ODOR PERMEATED THROUGH THE VENTS AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER SOME TIME, THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (ATHENS BMW, 3040 ATLANTA HIGHWAY ATHENS, GEORGIA 30606). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCV HEATER HAD A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE BMW FALSELY STATED THAT THE CONSUMER'S PCV VALVE WAS OK BUT THE CONSUMER STATED IT WASN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID

11084893

Incident

Apr 9, 2018

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AND THE LOCK FAILED TO OPERATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER AND EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,325.

NHTSA ID

11031956

Incident

Oct 3, 2017

Mileage

67,325 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (BARON BMW IN MERRIAM, KS) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED. *JS

NHTSA ID

11012849

Incident

Feb 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN THE RAIN, BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS TURNED BROWN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE MIRRORS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10993298

Incident

Jun 5, 2017

Mileage

43,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SPECIFIC INCIDENT REGARDING THE RECALL- HOWEVER, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, BMW HAS MISSED THE DEADLINE SET BY THE NHTSA TO AMASS PARTS FOR AND REPAIR AFFECTED VEHICLES LIKE MINE. I OWN A 2008 BMW 128I. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN FLORIDA (A VERY HUMID STATE) AND THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER LEFT THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THIS SHOULD PLACE MY VEHICLE IN PRIORITY GROUP 1 FOR THE AIRBAG REPAIR- HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY INDICATION THAT THE REPAIR WILL TAKE PLACE ANY TIME SOON. MY LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER HAS SAID THAT IT MAY BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS STATED THAT I MAY RECEIVE A LETTER NOTIFYING ME THAT THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE NEXT 2 MONTHS, BUT THAT IT MAY BE LONGER. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY AIRBAG, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE SAME TYPE OF AIRBAG HAS KILLED 11 PEOPLE SO FAR. TRADING IN THE VEHICLE (AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER BMW) IS NOT AN OPTION DUE TO THE STOP SALE PLACED ON RECALLED VEHICLES BY BMW. THE LACK OF A REMEDY ON BMW'S PART CONTINUES TO COST ME TIME, MONEY (VEHICLES WITH AN ACTIVE RECALL ARE WORTH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THOSE WITHOUT) AND PEACE OF MIND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10933755

Incident

Dec 7, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10919342

Incident

Oct 27, 2016

RECEIVED LETTER FROM BMW MARCH 2016 GIVING DESCRIPTION OF RECALL DUE TO AIRBAGS. CALLED DEALERSHIP, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST, NO PARTS TO FIX IT, NO IDEA WHEN IT CAN BE FIXED. EMAILED BMW, CUSTOMER RELATIONS, TOLD PARTS WOULD BE IN END OF SUMMER, EMAILED AGAIN END OF AUGUST, TOLD PARTS WON'T BE IN UNTIL NEXT YEAR. UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR, CAN'T SELL THIS CAR, NO ONE CARES.

NHTSA ID

10899545

Incident

Aug 30, 2016

WARNING LIGHT SAYS SOS WITH A BAR THROUGH A TELEPHONE HANDSET. THE HANDS FREE FUNCTION STOPS WORKING AND THE GARAGE DOOR FUNCTION WILL NOT OPERATE.

NHTSA ID

10806552

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FRONT SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR UNIT WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

10669674

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO GO INTO LOWES. WHEN I LOCKED THE DOORS THE WINDOW WENT DOWN MAKE A POP NOISE. I TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK TO THE CAR BECAUSE I NOTICED THE WINDOWS DOWN. ATTEMPTED TO LET THE WINDOW UP WITHOUT SUCCESS. THIS COULD HAVE CREATED A THEFT ISSUE IF I WOULD HAVE NOT NOTICED THE DEFICIENT WINDOW. WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES PURCHASED NEW THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667096

Incident

Oct 25, 2014

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR SEPARATED FROM THE WINDOW. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT AN ORIGINAL EQIPMENT MANUFACTURER'S WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. P

NHTSA ID

10643617

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

36,000 mi

WARNING LIGHTS FOR SEATBELT TENSIONER AND AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. MANUAL SUGGEST THAT AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TENSIONER MAY NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY IN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533329

Incident

Jul 24, 2013

Mileage

51,235 mi