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2008 BMW 1 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 14 of 18 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2017
Exterior Lighting

"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 HAPPEN…

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"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.

NHTSA ODI #10985925

60,000 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Exterior Lighting

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

NHTSA ODI #10946617

6,160 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Exterior Lighting

THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON THE 2008 BMW ONE SERIES IS NOW BEING REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME (THREE IF YOU COUNT THE FACTORY). THE FIST TIME THE CAR HAD 6K MILES ON IT THE SECOND TIME (AUG 2015) IT HAS 50K MILES. PER THE DEALER THIS IS BEING CAUSED BY A BAD HOUSING IN THE TAILLIGHT KIT. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN REPLACED AT THE DEAL…

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THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON THE 2008 BMW ONE SERIES IS NOW BEING REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME (THREE IF YOU COUNT THE FACTORY). THE FIST TIME THE CAR HAD 6K MILES ON IT THE SECOND TIME (AUG 2015) IT HAS 50K MILES. PER THE DEALER THIS IS BEING CAUSED BY A BAD HOUSING IN THE TAILLIGHT KIT. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN REPLACED AT THE DEALER USING BMW PARTS. CURRENTLY BOTH TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #10760007

34,000 miles · Sep 25, 2013
Exterior Lighting

THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE TRUCK LID, CRACKED AND FELL OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY BMW DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH IS STILL VALID) AND THAT BIT WOULD COST 360 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID A SEARCH ON LINE AT HTTP://WWW.1ADDICTS.COM/FORUMS AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER 1 SERIES BMW OWNER…

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THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE TRUCK LID, CRACKED AND FELL OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY BMW DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH IS STILL VALID) AND THAT BIT WOULD COST 360 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID A SEARCH ON LINE AT HTTP://WWW.1ADDICTS.COM/FORUMS AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER 1 SERIES BMW OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS SOME DID HAVE THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED BY BMW WITHOUT CHARGE AND OTHERS DID NOT. ON THE FORUM I ALSO LEARNED BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BROKEN TAIL LIGHT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1 SERIES BMWS BETWEEN 2008 AND 2011. GIVEN THIS IS A BRAKE LAMP THIS ISSUE ALSO PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CALLED DIRECTLY TO BMW AT 1-800-831-1117 AND SPOKE WITH A COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE. AFTER EXPLAINING THE ISSUE HE ADVISED ME THAT BMW DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY WOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT MY EXPENSE. I CONTEND THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S FLAW AND BECAUSE IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER A RECALL. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVE MY ISSUE WITH BMW. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545380

20,000 miles · Mar 30, 2010
Exterior Lighting

"3RD BRAKELIGHT" LENS CONTINUES TO BREAK. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE OF 2008 AND IT IS ON ITS 3RD REPLACEMENT LENS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS BEING ABLE TO SEE ME WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES!

NHTSA ODI #10322804

Official recalls

2

10V254000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Jun 10, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE INSULATION AROUND THE PRE-TENSIONER COULD IGNITE.

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.

09V257000 · Air Bags:frontal; Seat Belts:front

Jul 8, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:front

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.

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.

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.

Air Bags:frontal

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.

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.

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.

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.