Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 51 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 BMW 135I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 51 · page 1 of 3
When the car was in a local Tire Discounters for an unrelated repair the mechanics noted that the rear subframe had significant degradation and the car was unsafe to operate without immediate replacement of the entire subfrane - at a cost of roughly $5,000. I know there have been subframe recalls of BMWs in the past. While this vehicle was not part of those recalls its obviously been an area of concern with this auto maker.
Center High Mounted Stop Lamp, (CHMSL), lense breaks/detaches repeatedly.
The owns a 2008 BMW 135I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. On several occasions the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and decelerated to approximately 35 MPH. The contact performed a diagnostic test on the vehicle and determined that the fuel injectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 135I. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the passenger occupancy sensor mat to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V428000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,850.
MY VEHICLE IS A LOW MILEAGE (36K) WELL MAINTAINED CAR. MY LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER AIR BAG UNDER A RECALL JUNE 29, 2020. SHORTLY AFTER WITHIN 250 MILES/2 MONTHS A SRS/AIR BAG SYSTEM FAULT/WARNING STARTED HAPPENING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY PASS OCCUPANCY SENSOR THAT THEY WANT $3600 TO REPLACE. UNFAIR, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PASS OCCUPANCY SENSOR RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME VINTAGE (2006-2008). THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 15 YR EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY OFFERED TO OTHER BMW MODEL OWNERS.
MISSING
AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IGNITED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT AND PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. FLAMES CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT AND FLOORBOARD. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL SKIN GRAFTS. THE CAR WAS MOVING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE.
MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY THEN THE ENGINE DIED.
THE PLASTIC INSULATION ON THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HAS FLAKED OFF LEAVING THE WIRES COMPLETELY BARE IN SOME PLACES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF A DRL, HEADLIGHT BALLAST, AND ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT MOTOR. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ONLINE, FROM BMW OWNERS OF MULTIPLE YEARS/SERIES. IN FACT, THERE IS ALREADY AN NHTSA COMPLAINT ON THE EXACT SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS I HAVE. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS IN MULTIPLE WAYS. THE LOSS OF LIGHTING AT NIGHT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, HARMING BOTH THE OCCUPANTS AND PEOPLE NEARBY. THE HIGHLY CHARGED BARE WIRING COULD SHORT, SPARK, AND CAUSE A FIRE. THE CONTINUED DESTRUCTION OF HEADLIGHT BULBS, MOTORS, ETC IS HARMFUL TO THE CONSUMERS AND ECONOMY AS THOSE PARTS CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
2008 BMW 135I AND MY BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING A FEW MOMENT LATER AND I STARTED TO HEAR SPARK AND SMELT BURNING WIRES SO I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF THE SAFETY RECALL THAT IS BEING DONE ON THE 3 SERIES BMW'S I INSTANTLY TURNED OFF THE CLIMATE CONTROL AND FAN SPEED AND SHUT THE CAR OFF I LOOKED OVER AND SAW A LITTLE BIT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SO I WENT INTO THE TRUNK AND TOOK THE NEGATIVE CABLE OFF THE BATTERY I THEN WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TOOK THE KICK PLATE OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BLOWER MOTOR AND I FIND BURNT BROKEN WIRES COMING FROM THE PART OF THE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS INTO THE BLOWER MOTOR I INSTANTLY UNPLUGGED IT AND TAPE IT UP WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE ONCE DONE I PROCEEDED TO CALL UP MY NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP AND AFTER EXPLAINING TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BUT PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE MY CAR WASN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL SO I HUNG UP THE PHONE AND CALL BMW OF USA HEADQUARTERS AND SPOKE TO SOME GUY THAT PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THE SAME THING THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET A DIAGNOSIS DONE TO PROVE IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED ON THE 3 SERIES EVEN THO IT'S THE SAME PART NUMBERS AND SAME SYMPTOMS. I ASKED HIM IF I WENT THERE AND PROVED THAT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE WOULD I BE COVERED AND HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME NO THAT A RECALL IS BASED OFF OF STATISTICS AND THAT EVEN IF MY CAR WENT ON FIRE LIKE A LOT OF THE 3 SERIES DID THAT THERE IS STILL NOTHING I COULD DO BECAUSE MY CAR WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW I35I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED KNEE AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED OF THE ACCIDENT DAMAGE, THEN LATER WAS TAKEN TO MOMENTUM BMW DEALER, LOCATED ON 10002 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77074, PHONE: (855) 645-6452, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OF A FAULTY AIR BAG AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (BMW OF ALEXANDRIA, 499 S. PICKETT STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304) WAS CONTACTED 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL. DISABLE & ENABLE AIR BAG SYSTEM 2 SCAN SRS, DRIVERS SIDE DURING ACCIDENT PART TYPE 72 12 6 981 121
CARS' IDLE HAS BEEN FLUCTUATING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AT IDLE. VEHICLES FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES ALREADY THROUGH OUT IT'S LIFE. LAST WEEK (JULY 13,2017) CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I HAD TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAME MORNING. DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE ANY INITIATIVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT ALL. I HAVE SOFTWARE WHERE IT SHOWS THAT THE CARS VEHICLES HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS FAILING. CAR IS THROWING CODES TOO. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN FUEL PUMP DIED ON ME IN A CITY STREET.
SEAT BELTS/AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE HARNESS IN THE SEAT, BELT BUCKLE, RESET THE LIGHT AND NOW THEY SAY THE SEAT BELT MODULE NOW HAS TO BE FIXED. I BELIEVE THIS IS FROM THE RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE ON THE CAR WHICH IS THE AIRBAG MODULE. THE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN YOU SAT IN THE SEAT OR JUST DRIVING ALONG
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 135I. 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
BMW ISSUED A RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH 2016 FOR DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG MODULE. AS OF MAY 15, 2017, 14 MONTHS LATER, BMW DEALER REPORTS NO PARTS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY DEALERS IN NORTH AMERICA TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR, AND NO INFORMATION ON WHEN PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE.
MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS DYING ...IVE HAD THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP CHANGED AND I'M STILL EXPERIENCING A ROUGH COLD START AND HALF BLOCK ENGINE LIGHT SYMBOL ...CAR HAS A IDLE PROBLEM AT START COME AND GO AND NOW I CAN ONLY FILL A HALF TANK OF GAS ...
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM BMW IN MARCH 2016 CONCERNING THE NEED TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG ON OUR CAR. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM BMW. I RECENTLY SENT AN EMAIL TO THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONS. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I THINK THAT NEARLY A YEAR TO REPLACE THIS AIRBAG IS UNREASONABLE.
TAKATA RECALL NOTIFIED BY BMW IN MARCH 2016 BUT STILL NOT REPAIRED.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ UPDATED 09/28/16.*JB
TAKATA RECALL BMW HAS STONEWALLED ME! THEY SAY I CAN HAVE A LOANER. WONDERFUL, EXCEPT IT'S NOT A BMW SINCE ALL LATE MODEL BMWS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I CAN'T SELL MY CAR BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD WANT IT PENDING A RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY BMW OR TAKATA. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THE RECALL LOANER AGREEMENT, I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT FOR A 2-3 YEAR RENTAL AND NOT DRIVE MY CAR EXCEPT FOR A WEEKLY STARTUP AND BACK AND FORTH IN THE DRIVEWAY TO BE SURE THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. I AM NOW LOOKING INTO A CLASS ACTION SUIT. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH MORE RECENT MODELS SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL AND THEY ARE HOPPING MAD AND READY TO GO TO COURT. IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT NEITHER COMPANY, BMW AND TAKATA, HAVE OWNED UP AND SHOWN WHAT THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. INSTEAD, ALL WE CUSTOMERS HEAR IS "YES, IT'S A TERRIBLE SITUATION, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO BUT OFFER YOU THE LOANER." WELL, THERE IS SOMETHING WE OWNERS CAN DO. WE ARE A LITIGIOUS BUNCH!!
AFTER HITTING ROAD POTHOLE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT WARNING LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED. PLACEMENT OF COMPLETE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY QUOTED AT OVER $2100 PLUS TAX. DEALER REPAIRED HEADLAMP MECHANISM MORE THAN ONCE FOR ABOUT $700 EACH TIME BUT PROBLEM WITH WATER INTRUSION RESULTING IN ADAPTIVE HEADLAMP WARNING LIGHT OCCURRED AFTER CAR WENT THROUGH AUTOMATED CAR WASH (EACH TIME AFTER REPAIR IT ONLY TOOK ONE WASH TO SET OFF THE WARNING). MECHANISM CLEARLY IS AFFECTED BY WATER INTRUSION. GOOD THING IS HEADLAMP STILL WORKS AND CAR RUNS FINE. BAD THING IS THAT PROPER REPAIR IS EXORBITANT AND ADAPTIVE HEADLAMP WARNING LAMP IS BLOCKING OTHER KEY DISPLAY INFORMATION -- TIME, TEMPERATURE, RADIO STATION INFO, STATUS OF BLUETOOTH. VERY ANNOYING AND DEALER SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT REPAIRING THE HEADLIGHT. I FEEL LIKE I AM ALMOST BEING FORCED TO MAKE THE REPAIR SIMPLY TO RESTORE VEHICLE DASHBOARD INFORMATION. AGAIN, HEADLAMP WORKS, JUST NOT THE ADAPTIVE MECHANISM. I WANTED ERROR "CODED OUT" BUT DEALER REFUSED SAYING IT MUST BE REPAIRED.
AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. POSSIBLE LOOSE CONTACT PIN TENSION FOR LEFT SIDE AIRBAG CIRCUIT. DRIVERS SEAT AIRBAG CONTACTS ON WIRING HARNESS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED.
THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS CRACKED AT 5 PLACES AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE AND LOST TIRE PRESSURE, DISCOVERED BY COSTCO TIRE CENTER IN EVERETT WASHINGTON WHEN BROUGHT IT IN, IN AUGUST 2014, THINKING THAT THE TIRE GOT A NAIL. BMW SEATTLE DECLINED TO COVER THE TIRE BY WARRANTY STATING THAT I BOUGHT IN 2009 AND IT IS ABOVE 5 YEARS SO NO WARRANTY ON IT, I HAD TO BUY THE AFTER MARKET SET OF RIMS (VMR MODEL 701) THAT DOES NOT FIT TOTALLY WITH THE CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO REVERT TO USE THE ORIGINAL SET WITH A REPLACED REAR RIGHT RIM. I TOOK PICTURES AND SENT IN 2 DAYS AGO TO BMW AS THE SET OF RIMS I BOUGHT FOR THE CAR DO NOT REALLY FIT. THE ORIGINAL CRACKED RIM HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS SHOWN IN MY PHOTOS TAKEN FROM INSIDE THE RIM LOOKING OUT: THE ALUMINUM MATERIAL SHOW A RIDDLE IRREGULARITY AT SEVERAL PLACES. BMW CALLS ME TODAY TO RE-ITERATE THE REFUSAL FOR THE RIM REPLACEMENT.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .