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
What owners actually said
18 reports
108,657 miles · May 22, 2019
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 1 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE AIR CONDITIONER, BUT NO AIR FLOWED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRONIC BURNING ODOR AND TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BAYSIDE (LOCATED AT 266 E SHORE RD, GREAT NECK, NY 11023, (516) 304-3700…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 1 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE AIR CONDITIONER, BUT NO AIR FLOWED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ELECTRONIC BURNING ODOR AND TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BAYSIDE (LOCATED AT 266 E SHORE RD, GREAT NECK, NY 11023, (516) 304-3700) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,657.
NHTSA ODI #11209347
122,000 miles · Feb 10, 2018
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING 40MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY ALL LIGHT CONTROLS LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD AFTER I NOTICED I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE, THEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON SLOWLY WITHOUT MYSELF OPERATING THEM , AS MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP/ENGINE OFF. AFTER CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAITING 10 MINS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. RECE…
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I WAS DRIVING 40MPH AND THEN SUDDENLY ALL LIGHT CONTROLS LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD AFTER I NOTICED I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE, THEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON SLOWLY WITHOUT MYSELF OPERATING THEM , AS MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP/ENGINE OFF. AFTER CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAITING 10 MINS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. RECENTLY REPAIRED PVC RECALL AND UNCERTAIN IF PCV WAS DETRIMENTAL TO OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WERE NOT REPLACED DUE TO THE PCV. BATTERY READ AS GOOD PER MECHANIC.
NHTSA ODI #11072056
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2017
Air Bags
FOR LAST 16 MONTHS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS NOT FIX THE PROBLEM ON EXPENSE OF MY OWN SAFETY. WHEN VISITED BMW DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THAT BMW HAS NO SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM YET. I AM DRIVING EVERY DAY THIS CAR COMPROMISING MY OWN SAFETY. WHEN I WANT TO SELL THIS CAR I CAN'T GET FAIR VALUE PRICE DUE TO THE RECALL PROBLEM. P…
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FOR LAST 16 MONTHS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS NOT FIX THE PROBLEM ON EXPENSE OF MY OWN SAFETY. WHEN VISITED BMW DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THAT BMW HAS NO SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM YET. I AM DRIVING EVERY DAY THIS CAR COMPROMISING MY OWN SAFETY. WHEN I WANT TO SELL THIS CAR I CAN'T GET FAIR VALUE PRICE DUE TO THE RECALL PROBLEM. POTENTIAL BUYER CHECK CAR SAFETY RECALL AND DO NOT BUY CAR WHICH IS LISTED AS A UNSAFE. BMW IGNORE ALL PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ODI #10986311
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2016
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL. NOTHING HAS HAPPEN JUST WANT MY AIRBAGS REPLACED BEEN WAITING A LONG, LONG TIME AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A THING ON RECALL REPAIRS
NHTSA ODI #10938357
44,000 miles · Dec 16, 2016
Exterior Lighting
RIGHT REAR ROADSIDE PARKING AND TAIL LAMP LED FAILED. THESE LAMPS SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHIN THIS TIME FRAME. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE UNTIL I WAS WAMING UP CAR AND CLEANING OFF SNOW WHEN I SAW THE DIFFERENCE.
NHTSA ODI #10935634
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2016
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL: MY DRIVER AIR BAG HAVE YET TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2016. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR OUTSIDE OF MY TOWN FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SIN!!! IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR. I AM EVEN WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING IN TOWN BUT TRUSTING MY LORD AND SAVIOR FOR MY LIFE SAFETY. TAKATA NEEDS TO GET THE JOB DONE FOR ALL O…
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TAKATA RECALL: MY DRIVER AIR BAG HAVE YET TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2016. I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR OUTSIDE OF MY TOWN FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SIN!!! IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR. I AM EVEN WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING IN TOWN BUT TRUSTING MY LORD AND SAVIOR FOR MY LIFE SAFETY. TAKATA NEEDS TO GET THE JOB DONE FOR ALL OF US. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10934930
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts
WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE AIRBAGS RECALL OVER THREE MONTHS AGO, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER, REEVES BMW, THAT THE PROMISE PARTS WERE TO BE RECEIVED BY END OF SUMMER, ARE NOT YET RECEIVED AND THEY CANNOT REPAIR VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10905060
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2016
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL WE WERE ADVISED BY LETTER IN FEBRUARY 2016 THAT OUR MODEL HAD A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG, AND THAT WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN A SOLUTION WAS AVAILABLE. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER AND STILL NO NOTICE FROM BMW. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT OLDER MODEL CARS AND CARS IN DAMP HUMID CLIMATES (WE LIVE IN FLORIDA) WOULD RECEIVE FIRST PRIOR…
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TAKATA RECALL WE WERE ADVISED BY LETTER IN FEBRUARY 2016 THAT OUR MODEL HAD A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG, AND THAT WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN A SOLUTION WAS AVAILABLE. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER AND STILL NO NOTICE FROM BMW. CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT OLDER MODEL CARS AND CARS IN DAMP HUMID CLIMATES (WE LIVE IN FLORIDA) WOULD RECEIVE FIRST PRIORITY, SHOULDN'T WE HAVE HEARD BACK FROM BMW BY NOW?
NHTSA ODI #10903555
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2016
Exterior Lighting
I HAVE A 2009 528I . WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD MY HEADLIGHTS WHEN ON LOWBEAMS GO OUT . THE BRIGHTS WORK BUT NOT THE LOWBEAMS THE CAR CONTROL SAYS LOWBEAM MALFUNCTION . FIRST IT WAS THE LEFT LIGHT AND THEN THE RIGHTFRONT. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR LONG AND ITS A WONDERFUL CAR. BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE AND NEED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN…
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I HAVE A 2009 528I . WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD MY HEADLIGHTS WHEN ON LOWBEAMS GO OUT . THE BRIGHTS WORK BUT NOT THE LOWBEAMS THE CAR CONTROL SAYS LOWBEAM MALFUNCTION . FIRST IT WAS THE LEFT LIGHT AND THEN THE RIGHTFRONT. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR LONG AND ITS A WONDERFUL CAR. BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE AND NEED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS FOR THIS OR WHAT CAN BE DONE.
NHTSA ODI #10875973
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2016
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 123-I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
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.
2009 BMW 1 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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