BMW 135i Complaints (2008)

51 consumer complaints on file.

#11710933January 14, 2026
SUSPENSION
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11641816February 10, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE:BODY
Center High Mounted Stop Lamp, (CHMSL), lense breaks/detaches repeatedly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11515609April 5, 2023
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11494665November 23, 2022
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353369September 5, 2020
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11322928May 1, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MISSING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218082June 5, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11196604April 16, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY THEN THE ENGINE DIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11194766April 8, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11103045June 21, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052453December 5, 2017
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11032886October 11, 2017
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11015878August 17, 2017
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. DISABLE & ENABLE AIR BAG SYSTEM 2 SCAN SRS, DRIVERS SIDE DURING ACCIDENT PART TYPE 72 12 6 981 121
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11006048July 17, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10991133May 23, 2017
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10990927May 22, 2017
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985663May 15, 2017
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10983894May 7, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 ...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10949846February 6, 2017
AIR BAGS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10893459August 5, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL NOTIFIED BY BMW IN MARCH 2016 BUT STILL NOT REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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