NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 BMW 1 Series Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 BMW 1 Series has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 18 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 BMW 1 Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 BMW 1 Series owner complaints

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 BMW 1 Series, describing incidents dated August 8, 2008 to May 1, 2019.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 6 complaints
Exterior Lighting 5 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Seats 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 2 complaints

Of the 18 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11205112 · Filed May 1, 2019
MAJOR FUELING ISSUES WITH MY CAR. SO FAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE INJECTORS, LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, FUEL CONTROL MODULE, AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. FROM READING THE FORUMS ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE THAT ALL THESE PARTS ARE VERY FAULTY ON THE CAR ESPECIALLY THE…
ODI #11192692 · Filed March 30, 2019
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A QUITE COMMON OCCURRENCE ON ALL BMW VEHICLES. THE MAT WILL SEND A TROUBLE SIGNAL TO THE DASH THAT BRINGS UP THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WILL NOT GO OFF.
ODI #11150285 · Filed November 9, 2018
CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE WHEN PASSING CAR AND GOES INTO LIMP GETTING ON INTERSTATE. THE CAR HAS SHOWN BAD HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP BUT BMW WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THERE BAD PUMPS.

Read all 18 complaints

Engine Cooling Fan Assemblies/Service Parts

NHTSA #12E029000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Fan · NHTSA notice

Reported August 10, 2012 · Valeo

Potentially affected: 585 vehicles

Repair completion: 33.1% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified August 22, 2012

Defect description

This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.

Safety consequence

This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.

Manufacturer remedy

Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

SOUND INSULATION BELT RETRACTOR UNIT

NHTSA #10V254000 · Seat Belts — Front — Retractor · NHTSA notice

Reported June 10, 2010 · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Potentially affected: 31,935 vehicles

Owners notified August 23, 2010 · Vehicles built December 1, 2007 – May 27, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 1-SERIES VEHICLES. IN A CRASH OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY, DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PRE-TENSIONER AND LOAD-LIMITER OCCURS.

Safety consequence

THE INSULATION AROUND THE PRE-TENSIONER COULD IGNITE.

Manufacturer remedy

VEHICLES PRODUCED UP THROUGH DECEMBER 2009 WILL RECEIVE NEW FRONT SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR UNITS AND A MODIFICATION TO THE SOUND INSULATION NEAR THE UNITS, WHILE VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN JANUARY 2010 AND MAY 2010 WILL RECEIVE A MODIFICATION TO THE SOUND INSULATION NEAR THE UNITS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FRONT SIDE AIRBAGS & FRONT SAFETY BELT TENSIONERS

NHTSA #09V257000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported July 8, 2009 · BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Potentially affected: 2,350 vehicles

Owners notified September 16, 2009 · Vehicles built May 23, 2008 – July 21, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

BMW IS RECALLING 2,350 MY 2008 1-SERIES AND 3- SERIES PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT CRIMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SIDE AIR BAG AND BELT TENSIONER WIRING. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CRIMP CONNECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING PLUG MAY NOT OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.

Safety consequence

IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SIDE AIR BAG AND/OR THE SAFETY BELT TENSIONER NOT TO DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 BMW 1 Series. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

18 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 BMW 1 Series.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11205112

Incident: May 1, 2019 · Filed: May 1, 2019

MAJOR FUELING ISSUES WITH MY CAR. SO FAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE INJECTORS, LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, FUEL CONTROL MODULE, AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. FROM READING THE FORUMS ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE THAT ALL THESE PARTS ARE VERY FAULTY ON THE CAR ESPECIALLY THE INJECTORS AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP.

Air Bags; Seat Belts; Seats

ODI #11192692

Incident: January 4, 2019 · Filed: March 30, 2019

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A QUITE COMMON OCCURRENCE ON ALL BMW VEHICLES. THE MAT WILL SEND A TROUBLE SIGNAL TO THE DASH THAT BRINGS UP THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WILL NOT GO OFF.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11150285

Incident: May 7, 2018 · Filed: November 9, 2018

CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE WHEN PASSING CAR AND GOES INTO LIMP GETTING ON INTERSTATE. THE CAR HAS SHOWN BAD HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP BUT BMW WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THERE BAD PUMPS.

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11080886

Incident: November 17, 2017 · Filed: March 22, 2018

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR BEGAN TO SOUND OFF TO SECURE THE SEAT BELT THOUGH NO ONE SAT THERE. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO BMW WHEN I GOT THE TAKATA AIRBAG REPLACED AND GOT A QUESTIONS ABOUT MY OPINION ON WHETHER I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY ISSUE. I DECLINED TO SAY AND THEY JUST SENT ME AWAY. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THAT EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER SAT THERE THE AIRBAG ACTIVATION DID NOT TURN OFF AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A REPAIR ON THE SEAT AND TOLD THEM THAT THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT AT THEIR EXPENSE 11/17/2017. I TOLD THEM OF A RECALL FOR THE SEAT SENSOR ON A MINI COOPER(SI-D651013TSB) ANOTHER BMW PRODUCT AND THEY SAID WITHOUT SPECIFIC RECALL ON MY 128I, THEY WOULD DECLINE TO REPAIR IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT DESPITE THE LIGHT NOT GOING OUT WITH SEAT OCCUPATION, YET DECLINED TO GIVE ME THAT STATEMENT IN WRITING. I THEN REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO BMW OF AMERICA IN LATE 2017 AND GOT A SIMILAR RESPONSE. COMPLAINT #36102215.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10985925

Incident: May 1, 2017 · Filed: May 16, 2017

"3RD BRAKELIGHT" LENS CONTINUES TO BREAK. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JULY OF 2008 AND WILL SOON BE ON ITS 3RD LENS. THIS IS A BMW DEFECT AND IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT RE-REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE PART OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND IF I CHOOSE NOT TO, OTHERS BEING ABLE TO SEE ME WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES! THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS OWNERS WHO I'M SURE LIKE ME, HAVE HAD NO FAULT(LIKE AN ACCIDENT) IN THE BREAKAGE. NO SPECIFIC DATE ON WHEN IT BREAKS AS IT IS PROBABLY CAUSE BY NORMAL ROAD VIBRATIONS. LIGHT HAS BROKEN DUE TO NORMAL DRIVING A FEW OCCASIONS ALREADY.

Electrical System

ODI #10948849

Incident: January 1, 2017 · Filed: February 1, 2017

WIRING INSULATION (IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT) TO HEADLIGHTS IS DETERIORATING. NOW, MANY EXPOSED AND UNINSULATED WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HEADLIGHTS ARE NOW RENDERED UNRELIABLE AND UNWORKING. I HAVE TRIED TO WRAP ELECTRICAL TAPE AROUND THE EXPOSED WIRES (SEE PHOTO). I WILL NEXT TRY LIQUID TAPE. SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10946617

Incident: January 11, 2017 · Filed: January 20, 2017

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LENS CRACKS AND ALLOWS RAIN WATER INTO UNIT. AFTER HAVING THE DEALER REPLACE THE LENS TWICE I DECIDED TO DO IT MYSELF. THE SUPPLIER "ECS TUNING" FEATURES THE LENS ASSEMBLY WITH THE WORDS -- "REPLACE YOUR CRACKED LENS." THIS MADE ME THINK THE PROBLEM IS MORE THAN A COUPLE OF ASSEMBLIES. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10926094

Incident: May 27, 2016 · Filed: November 15, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. BMW IS PROVIDING REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS TO THEIR DEALERS AND THE DEALERS ARE USING THEM TO REPLACE AIR BAGS ON THEIR CARS BEING SOLD, NOT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. I RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE MAY 27TH 2016 AND AM STILL WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT.

Air Bags

ODI #10914061

Incident: March 31, 2016 · Filed: October 5, 2016

BMW NORTH AMERICA ISSUED RECALL RE: DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG MODULE LAST MARCH 2016. TO DATE THE BMW HAS BEEN OUT OF PARTS TO COMPLY WITH THIS RECALL. I BELIEVE BMW NORTH AMERICA IS NOT TAKING THIS RECALL SERIOUSLY. ACCORDING TO THE SAFETY RISK: INFLATOR MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING DRIVER. THAT SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS RISK TO GO UNRESOLVED FOR 6 MONTHS. GIVEN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THIS RISK, I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA PUT PRESSURE ON BMW NORTH AMERICA TO GET THE [XXX] PARTS AND MAKE THE REPAIRS. RECALLS ARE USELESS IF CAR MFG DON'T MAKE THE REPAIRS TIMELY. DO YOUR JOB AND REQUIRE BMW NORTH AMERICA TO MAKE THE REPAIRS TIMELY OR FACE FINES AND PENALTIES CONSIDERING THE SAFETY RISK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10899462

Incident: August 30, 2016 · Filed: August 30, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 1. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Other BMW 1 Series model years

Check your 2008 BMW 1 Series VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 1 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a BMW VIN