IllustrationSTEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP *WHILE DRIVING*, GOT STUCK IN A TURN AND CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT.
2008 BMW 1 Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 1 Series years →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
What owners actually said
18 reportsTHE 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.
MY CAR WARNING MESSAGE STATED FAULT IN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG/BELT TENSIONER, SERVICE ASAP, CONTINUE TO WEAR SAFETY BELT (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DIAGNOSED WITH PASSENGER SEAT MAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILURE. QUOTED $2600.00 FOR REPAIR. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE PAST AND CURRENTLY A RECALL PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED…
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MY CAR WARNING MESSAGE STATED FAULT IN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG/BELT TENSIONER, SERVICE ASAP, CONTINUE TO WEAR SAFETY BELT (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DIAGNOSED WITH PASSENGER SEAT MAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILURE. QUOTED $2600.00 FOR REPAIR. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE PAST AND CURRENTLY A RECALL PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED OVER 200,000 VEHICLES DUE TO A FAULTY/POORLY DESIGNED PART. DEALER AND BMW OF NA STATE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE, IT SHOULD NOT TAKE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, INJURIES, OR DEATHS BEFORE CARS HAVING THIS ISSUE ARE PLACED ON THE RECALL LIST! IN ADDITION A REPAIR TO A SAFETY COMPONENT SHOULD NOT BE PUT SOMEONE NEARLY $3000 IN DEBT! NHTSA PLEASE ENCOURAGE BMW TO ENFORCE THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY TO ALL VEHICLES HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE, THERE A HUNDREDS OF THREADS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING BMWS OF ALL MAKES AND MODELS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS FAILING. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PART NOT ALLOWING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY! *TR
ELECTRIC WATER PUMP FAILED WITH NO WARNING, SENDING THE CAR INTO "LIMP MODE" WITH DRAMATICALLY REDUCED POWER. NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH AS THIS WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY BRIDGE WITH NO SHOULDERS. *TR
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. *TR
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
BMW HFPF FAILURE, HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALONG WITH VARIOUS SOFTWARE UPDATES. NOW IT APPEARS TO BE HAVING ISSUES AGAIN. *TR
"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!
Official recalls
210V254000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.