Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reports
100,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Unknown Or Other
EXTERIOR HEATED MIRRORS WITH DIMMING HAVE TURNED A DARK BROWN COLOR. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS MODELS/YEARS BMW'S. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM OFTEN BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT DEAL WITH IT. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERI…
Read full complaint
EXTERIOR HEATED MIRRORS WITH DIMMING HAVE TURNED A DARK BROWN COLOR. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A LARGE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS MODELS/YEARS BMW'S. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM OFTEN BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT DEAL WITH IT. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH A CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A SUPERVISOR THAT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS A SAFETY ISSUE. (KATRINA EMPLOYEE # 8936 AND RENZO EMPLOYEE # 7647.) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITH THESE DEFECTIVE MIRRORS AND I HAVE HAD TO ORDER REPLACEMENT OF THE MIRROR GLASS FOR BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. I AM ATTACHING PHOTOGRAPHS TO SHOW THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11195275
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2017
Air Bags
"TAKATA RECALL"
NHTSA ODI #10993984
93,000 miles · Mar 21, 2016
Exterior LightingStructure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I US. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER REAR BRAKE LIGHT LENS WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LENS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I US. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER REAR BRAKE LIGHT LENS WAS DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LENS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #10850853
9,000 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHTS FAILED AND TOXIC BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTING INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES BUT OPTED TO PLACE DEODORANT TO THE AIR CONDI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHTS FAILED AND TOXIC BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTING INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES BUT OPTED TO PLACE DEODORANT TO THE AIR CONDITIONER AS A REMEDY. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT ONE POUND OF FREON HAD LEAKED THAT THE VALVE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNSATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE AND SHE WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
NHTSA ODI #10381186
6,000 miles · Jan 5, 2011
Exterior Lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE AND DUE TO THE DESIGN HE WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILAB…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE AND DUE TO THE DESIGN HE WAS UNABLE TO REPLACE THE BULB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 6,000.
NHTSA ODI #10374754
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2009 BMW 128I Us Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year