2009 BMW 128I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 BMW 128I, 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
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE AIRBAG ON MY VEHICLE WAS REPLACED DURING THE FIRST AIRBAG RECALL. DOES THE AIRBAG NEED TO REPLACED AGAIN?
DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF. IF THE ELECTRONIC SENSING MAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILS, THIS WILL DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VANOS chamshaft bolts broke, and had to pay $3,200 to replace assembly, and restore timing in engine. There is currently an open recall for 2010+ models but the problem still occurs on 2009 models as well. This is a huge risk for drivers as the car can randomly stall and cause fatal accidents and/or financial burden. This problem has been addressed for earlier models, and needs to be held to the same standard for later models with the same engine.
The contact owns a 2009 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
My electric water pump failed and my car overheated 3 times (once resulting in thick white smoke coming from the engine) tow trucks were called and fire department notified. Car is now unused on drive way as it just overheats constantly when turned on.
PURCHASED THIS CAR YESTERDAY (06/08/2019), AND AFTER BUYING IT NOTICED THAT THE PROMETER WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE WIPERS, WHICH THEY SAID WOULD BE FIXED, HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE CAR DIED ON ME WHEN WE WERE DRIVING AT AROUND 35 MPH AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASH BOARD. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID I BOUGHT THE CAR AS IS AND DID NOT LET ME EVEN TELL HIM ABOUT THE ODOMETER. HE PROMISED TO FIX THE WIPERS ON THURSDAY, THOUGH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED THIS CAR YESTERDAY (06/08/2019), AND AFTER BUYING IT NOTICED THAT THE PROMETER WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE WIPERS, WHICH THEY SAID WOULD BE FIXED, HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE CAR DIED ON ME WHEN WE WERE DRIVING AT AROUND 35 MPH AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASH BOARD. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID I BOUGHT THE CAR AS IS AND DID NOT LET ME EVEN TELL HIM ABOUT THE ODOMETER. HE PROMISED TO FIX THE WIPERS ON THURSDAY, THOUGH.
WHEN WE SAW THE CAR WE NOTICED THE WIPERS WERE ON AND WOULD NOT QUIT. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALER TOLD US HE WOULD GET IT FIXED, THAT THIS WAS NO PROBLEM. WHEN WE CAME BACK, THE WIPERS WERE OFF AND WE DID NOT CHECK THEM. AFTER WE LEFT, THE CAR DIED ON US AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASH. WE DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WE WANTED OUR MONEY BACK, BUT HE SAID THAT WE HAD BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS" AND THAT MEANT THAT WE HAD NO RECOURSE. I TOLD THEM THAT IF I BUY A CAR FOR THE SAKE TO BE GOOD THE CAR MUST BE ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT HE SAID THAT HE WOULD FIX THE WIPERS ON THURSDAY, BUT THAT'S ALL HE'D DO FOR US.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FIRST WE HAD THE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT ERROR CODE, WE ALSO HAD FREQUENT BLOWN BULBS. AFTER PULLING THE COMPLETE UNIT OUT FROM THE CAR NOTICED THAT ALL THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRUMBLING AND FALLING OFF THE WIRING LOOM. MULTIPLE WIRE WERE BONDED TOGETHER CAUSING HEAT AND SHORT CIRCUITS.
TAIL LIGHTS DOESN'T WORK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Water pump failure Radiator hose disconnected Thermostat Assembly
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Water pump failure Radiator hose disconnected Thermostat Assembly
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .