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2009 BMW 3 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 BMW 3 Series do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

38 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

8 reports
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78,000 miles · Sep 25, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

RECALL # 17V676, 17V683 IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A YEAR AND I'M STILL UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIR APPOINTMENT WITH BMW DEALER FOR REASON OF PARTS UNAVAILABLE. MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COULDN'T KEEP CAR COOL ENOUGH AS HEAT FROM THE ENGINE IS HIGH.

NHTSA ODI #11131585

149,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017
Electrical System

MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING PLASTIC BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE FROM THE COOLING VENTS, BMW HAS OPENED A RECALL BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #11052160

89,000 miles · Feb 20, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

NOTICED A VERY SLIGHT TAPPING WHEN THE CAR WAS FIRST CRANKED--BUT NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MILES, A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING "CHARGING MALFUNCTION" FLASHED ON, AND THE BATTERY SYMBOL APPEARED. BECAUSE I WAS THE PASSENGER, I GOOGLED "BMW 328I CHARGING MALFUNCTION" AND THE FIRST RESULT THAT CAME UP RE…

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NOTICED A VERY SLIGHT TAPPING WHEN THE CAR WAS FIRST CRANKED--BUT NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A FEW MILES, A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING "CHARGING MALFUNCTION" FLASHED ON, AND THE BATTERY SYMBOL APPEARED. BECAUSE I WAS THE PASSENGER, I GOOGLED "BMW 328I CHARGING MALFUNCTION" AND THE FIRST RESULT THAT CAME UP READ "BMW/ JANUARY 2013/ RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 12V-550: ENGINE BELT IDLER PULLEY BOLT" FOR MYS 2009-2012 BMW X5 XDRIVE 35S SAVS. BEFORE I COULD INFORM DRIVER, HE COMPLAINED THAT HE HAD LOST POWER STEERING. AS WE WERE LITERALLY YARDS FROM OUR DESTINATION, WE PARKED, AND RETURNED TO THE CAR TWO HOURS LATER. WHEN WE RECRANKED THE CAR, SAME WARNINGS. WE DECIDED TO DRIVE TO LOCAL BMW SERVICE STATION. AT A STOP LIGHT A FEW MILES FURTHER, MANY WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON, BUT THE PANEL SAID IT WAS STILL DRIVABLE AND NEEDED SERVICE SOON. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, THE PANEL WENT OFF, AND THE CAR WAS STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR ROAD. PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO FIND THE BOLT BROKEN AND THE PULLEY AND BELT LOOSE. UPON HAVING IT TOWED TO BMW REPAIR, WE WERE TOLD THE A/C COMPRESSOR W/CLUTCH, BELT TENSIONER AND BELT, AND OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $5090. (CAR HAD BEEN GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH DURING LAST OIL CHANGE, AND THE A/C WAS WORKING WELL EARLIER THAT MORNING.) WONDERING WHY THE EBIP BOLT WAS RECALLED IN SO MANY OTHER BMW MODELS THAT YEAR BUT NOT IN OURS. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THEIR RECALL NOTIFICATION EXACTLY MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION OF OUR PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10837318

10 miles · Jan 23, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

HE TENIDO VARIOS PROBLEMAS CON EL CARRO, CORRIENDO AL VOLTEAR SE ME APAGO DOS VECES Y FUE MUY PELIGROSO PORQUE LOS CARROS QUE IBAN ATRAS CASI ME PEGAN Y CLARO SE MOLESTARON MUCHO AL SACAR LA VUELTA RAPIDO PARA NO GOLPEAR MI CARRO, LO LLEVE AL MECANICO Y TARDO MUCHO PARA HALLAR EL PROBLEMA, LA FLECHA DERECHA (BLINKING LIGHT) ESTA…

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HE TENIDO VARIOS PROBLEMAS CON EL CARRO, CORRIENDO AL VOLTEAR SE ME APAGO DOS VECES Y FUE MUY PELIGROSO PORQUE LOS CARROS QUE IBAN ATRAS CASI ME PEGAN Y CLARO SE MOLESTARON MUCHO AL SACAR LA VUELTA RAPIDO PARA NO GOLPEAR MI CARRO, LO LLEVE AL MECANICO Y TARDO MUCHO PARA HALLAR EL PROBLEMA, LA FLECHA DERECHA (BLINKING LIGHT) ESTA QUEBRADA LO HACE MUY RAPIDO Y AL CHECAR ME DIJERON QUE SE TIENE QUE REPARAR TODO INCLUIDO EL FOCO DE ATRAS, PROBLEMA CON LOS CABLES DE BATERIA ESO SI ME LO ARREGLARON GRATIS PORQUE TIENE RECALL, PERO LUEGO LA BATERIA EMPEZO A FALLAR Y HUBO QUE CAMBIARLA, EL VOLANTE ESTA MUY DURO Y AL VOLTEAR TENGO QUE HACERLO CON MUCHO CUIDADO PARA NO PEGARLE AL DEL OTRO CARRIL, EL MECANICO NO HA PODIDO COMPONER ESE PROBLEMA, A VECES SE HACELERA SOLO CUANDO ESTOY HACIENDO UN ALTO Y NO SE NI PORQUE LO HACE, Y TAMPOCO SE CUANDO VA A PASAR.

NHTSA ODI #10821858

40,000 miles · Jan 9, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

COUPE OF TIME THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE RESULT SRS & AIRBAG LIGHT NOW STAY ON.

NHTSA ODI #10819107

80,000 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Electrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobilityExterior Lighting

UPON RETURNING TO SEATTLE, WA, SINCE I FLEW DOWN TO BERKLEY, CA TO PURCHASE MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED EXCESSIVE HEADLAMP SHAKE WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY EXPANSION JOINTS. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMPS SHAKE EQUALLY AS BAD, AND I CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND SEA…

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UPON RETURNING TO SEATTLE, WA, SINCE I FLEW DOWN TO BERKLEY, CA TO PURCHASE MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED EXCESSIVE HEADLAMP SHAKE WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY EXPANSION JOINTS. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMPS SHAKE EQUALLY AS BAD, AND I CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND SEARCHING MANY ONLINE FORUMS, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY ISSUES WITH THE ADAPTIVE HEADLAMP BRACKET ARMS BEING BROKEN. CPO WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER HEADLAMPS ACCORDING TO BMW, AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR BOTH REPLACEMENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667652

32,500 miles · Dec 22, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2009 BMW 328I, THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHT AT TIMES BLINKS RAPIDLY AND A WARNING OF LIGHT PROBLEM ILLUMINATES. THE DIRECTIONAL BLINKS FAST AND LIGHT IS DULL ON EXTERIOR TAIL AND FRONT LAMPS. AT TIMES WORKS NORMALLY AND THEN BEGINS TO BLINK RAPIDLY WITH A BELL WARNING AND ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHT SIGN DISPLAYS. THIS PROBLEM HAS KNOWN T…

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2009 BMW 328I, THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHT AT TIMES BLINKS RAPIDLY AND A WARNING OF LIGHT PROBLEM ILLUMINATES. THE DIRECTIONAL BLINKS FAST AND LIGHT IS DULL ON EXTERIOR TAIL AND FRONT LAMPS. AT TIMES WORKS NORMALLY AND THEN BEGINS TO BLINK RAPIDLY WITH A BELL WARNING AND ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHT SIGN DISPLAYS. THIS PROBLEM HAS KNOWN TO BMW AS THE SERVICE DEALERS RECEIVED A BULLETIN. WILL NOT COVER IF OUT OF WARRANTY BUT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE ENUMERATED BY MANY CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556983

59,000 miles · Sep 16, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2009 BMW328XI, WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR. I ONLY HAVE 59,000 MILES. ON AUGUST 3, 2013 THE CAR TEMPERATURE LIGHT WENT ON, FIRST YELLOW AND NOT EVEN TWO SECONDS LATER RED. WITH OUT WARNING THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. THINKING THE CAR IS OVER HEATING. INSTEAD, AF…

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I HAVE A 2009 BMW328XI, WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR. I ONLY HAVE 59,000 MILES. ON AUGUST 3, 2013 THE CAR TEMPERATURE LIGHT WENT ON, FIRST YELLOW AND NOT EVEN TWO SECONDS LATER RED. WITH OUT WARNING THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. THINKING THE CAR IS OVER HEATING. INSTEAD, AFTER GETTING IT TOWED FOUND OUT THE WATER PUMP AND ELECTRIC THERMOSTAT WENT. I AM VERY UNHAPPY THAT A 4 AND HALF YEAR OLD CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS. I'VE HAD MANY HIGH END CARS IN THE PAST FOR 11 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM IN SUCH A SHORT LIFE OF A CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543851

Official recalls

1

22V119000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Mar 2, 2022

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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.