2008 BMW 135I Recalls & Complaints

Incident: May 15, 2025 · Filed: January 14, 2026

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.

Incident: February 10, 2025 · Filed: February 10, 2025

Center High Mounted Stop Lamp, (CHMSL), lense breaks/detaches repeatedly.

Incident: June 1, 2022 · Filed: April 5, 2023

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.

Incident: November 9, 2022 · Filed: November 23, 2022

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.

Incident: August 3, 2020 · Filed: September 5, 2020

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.

Incident: February 1, 2020 · Filed: May 1, 2020

MISSING

Incident: June 4, 2019 · Filed: June 5, 2019

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.

Incident: April 13, 2019 · Filed: April 16, 2019

MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY THEN THE ENGINE DIED.

Incident: April 8, 2019 · Filed: April 8, 2019

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.

Incident: June 21, 2018 · Filed: June 21, 2018

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.