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2009 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 →
18Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
20066
200718
200818
20098
201033
20110
2012
Compare all 1 Series years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
7Exterior Lighting
6Electrical System
4Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine
1
All reported categories
Seat Belts
1Seats
1Tires
1Wheels
1

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: 8 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR UP TO 100,000.I KEPT EXPERIENCING THE CAR VIBRATING AS WELL AS THE LOW OIL LIGHT APPEARING WITHIN WEEKS OF SERVICING THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY . IN JULY APRROX AT 106,000 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR…

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CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR UP TO 100,000.I KEPT EXPERIENCING THE CAR VIBRATING AS WELL AS THE LOW OIL LIGHT APPEARING WITHIN WEEKS OF SERVICING THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY . IN JULY APRROX AT 106,000 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED WAS TAKEN ONLY TO BMW FOR SOLVE THE ISSUE HAVE PAID OVER $3800.00 FOR REPAIR AND LIGHT IS STILL ON. WAS TAKEN ON FRIDAY SEPT 18 AND ON SUNDAY SEPT 20 THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE WITH 2 MONTHS THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT. THE CAR APPARENTLY HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND IS UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #10766298

Official recalls

1

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.

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.