2008 Bmw 135i problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel System, Gasoline (10) · Air Bags (10) · Fuel/Propulsion System (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 135i model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
43 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-01-15 · campaign 20V017000 · 59,965 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical System:wiring 2019-08-06 · campaign 19V579000 · 41,981 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
Risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall number 17V-676.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-05 · campaign 16V071000 · 840,000 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers 2013-02-07 · campaign 13V044000 · 516,791 vehicles
Defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons manufactured March 2007 through June 2011; and 2009-2011 Z4 vehicles manufactured March 2009 through June 2011. In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles. In July 2
Risk: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Service bulletins (102)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2024-01-11 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 ã¢ââdischarged batteryã¢ââ complaints.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2021-05-01 · B011321 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
class action settlement: n54/n54t/n55 electric engine coolant pump . with the court's final approval, bmw of north america, llc (bmw na) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: oliver, et al v. bmw na, et al
Fuel System, Gasoline 2021-05-01 · B011321 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
class action settlement: n54/n54t/n55 electric engine coolant pump . with the court's final approval, bmw of north america, llc (bmw na) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: oliver, et al v. bmw na, et al
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar 2021-04-01 · B340414 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2020-10-01 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-09-01 · B110208 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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,
Showing the 6 most recent of 102 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-14 · 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 par…”
2025-02-10 · Structure:body“center high mounted stop lamp, (chmsl), lense breaks/detaches repeatedly.…”
2023-04-05 · Engine · 100,000 mi“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 …”
2022-11-23 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification · 39,850 mi“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…”
2020-09-05 · Air Bags · 35,100 mi“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 occupa…”
2019-06-05 · Electrical System · 90,000 mi · 🔥 fire“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.…”
2019-04-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 116,010 mi“my car suddenly lost acceleration while i was driving on a freeway then the engine died.…”
2019-04-08 · Exterior Lighting · 90,000 mi“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…”
2018-06-21 · Electrical System · 112,000 mi · 🔥 fire“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 com…”
2017-12-05 · Air Bags · 48,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 indepe…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.