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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.

About this comparison →

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

Air Bags complaints

15 reports
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84,000 miles · May 9, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

HELLO, MY 2009 BMW E92 328I IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TO NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME DESIGN AND PARTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERE…

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HELLO, MY 2009 BMW E92 328I IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TO NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME DESIGN AND PARTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. (HTTPS://BRANDILAW.COM/2013/12/26/BMW-RECALLS-76565-VEHICLES-DUE-TO-A-FRONT-PASSENGER-SEAT-ELECTRONIC-SENSING-MAT-FAILURE/) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE RECALL DATE. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND INFORM THE NTSB TO REVIEW THIS INCIDENT WITHIN OTHER BMW MODELS AND TO HOPEFULLY REMEDY ANY AFFECTED CARS. THE DESIGN OF THE SENSOR IS VERY POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, LEAVING MANY OWNERS TO SIMPLY FOREGO MAKING THE NECESSARY FIXES. IN FACT, SEVERAL MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT CUSTOMERS TYPICALLY AVOID MAKING THE FIX DUE TO HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS, RUNNING THE RISK OF THEIR PASSENGER NOT BEING PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I HOPE THE NTSB CAN LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT [XXX] FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11092723

102,000 miles · Nov 26, 2017
Air BagsSeats

FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DISABLES PASSENGER AIRBAG CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERABLE FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANCY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT EXPERIENCED BY PREVIOUS MODELS. COST OF REPAIR IS EXCESSIVE..

NHTSA ODI #11048471

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A RECALL IN 2016 AND BMW STILL HAS NOT CONTACTED ME TO SERVICE THE RECALL

NHTSA ODI #11019604

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL -- I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION MARCH, 2016, AND HAVE YET TO HAVE MY AIR BAG REPLACED. WHEN WILL THIS BE RESOLVED?

NHTSA ODI #11010360

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE VIA MAIL 07-03-2017 THAT NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL WERE AVAILABLE BUT BMW DEALERSHIP IN BIRMINGHAM, AL STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN I CALLED TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE BMW REP TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IN A FEW WEEKS - PARTS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. I'M CONFUSED A…

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TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE VIA MAIL 07-03-2017 THAT NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL WERE AVAILABLE BUT BMW DEALERSHIP IN BIRMINGHAM, AL STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN I CALLED TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE BMW REP TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IN A FEW WEEKS - PARTS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY I WOULD RECEIVE THIS NOTICE IF PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11002848

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2017
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OVER A YEAR AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY APPOINTMENT TO FIX THE MATTER. WHEN THE RECALL FIRST HAPPENED I WAS VERY PREGNANT AND I CALLED BMW TELLING THEM I WAS CONCERNED. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED BY 9/16 AND I AM STILL WAITING AND MY BABY WILL TURN 1 ON JULY 1,2017. WHEN WILL MY AIR BAGS…

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THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OVER A YEAR AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY APPOINTMENT TO FIX THE MATTER. WHEN THE RECALL FIRST HAPPENED I WAS VERY PREGNANT AND I CALLED BMW TELLING THEM I WAS CONCERNED. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED BY 9/16 AND I AM STILL WAITING AND MY BABY WILL TURN 1 ON JULY 1,2017. WHEN WILL MY AIR BAGS BE FIXED? THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #11001847

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN OVER 1Y. SINCE OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED OF RECALL. DEALER HAS NOT CONTACTED ME ON REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10966666

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL. I LIVE IN A HIGH HUMIDITY AREA 5 MILES FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO IN NORTH WEST FLORIDA. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH HUMIDITY I FEEL I AM AT HIGH RISK OF A TAKATA AIRBAG RUPTURE. IN MARCH OF 2016 I RECEIVED MY INITIAL LETTER FROM BMW USA INFORMING ME OF THE POTENTIAL DANGEROUS TAKATA AIRBAG MODULE IN MY 2009 BMW 328I. I …

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TAKATA RECALL. I LIVE IN A HIGH HUMIDITY AREA 5 MILES FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO IN NORTH WEST FLORIDA. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH HUMIDITY I FEEL I AM AT HIGH RISK OF A TAKATA AIRBAG RUPTURE. IN MARCH OF 2016 I RECEIVED MY INITIAL LETTER FROM BMW USA INFORMING ME OF THE POTENTIAL DANGEROUS TAKATA AIRBAG MODULE IN MY 2009 BMW 328I. I AM REQUESTING IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG MODULE IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10924390

16,800 miles · Oct 22, 2016
Air Bags

RECALL ON FEBRUARY 5, 2016, BMW HAS FAILED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG IN ALMOST NINE MONTHS! WHAT GOOD IS A POSSIBLE DEATH RECALL IF THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT REPLACE THE AIRBAG?

NHTSA ODI #10918032

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2016
Air Bags

SPOKE TO BMW TODAY THEY ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE PARTS NOT COMING IN UNTIL 2017. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MONTH SO I COULD STILL BE OVER A YEAR AWAY FROM RESOLVING THIS. I CANT EVEN SELL THE CAR OR TRADE IT IN BECAUSE THEY CANT RESALE IT WITHOUT CORRECTING THE RECALL. ACURA WAS PAYING FOR A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WAS CORRECT…

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SPOKE TO BMW TODAY THEY ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE PARTS NOT COMING IN UNTIL 2017. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MONTH SO I COULD STILL BE OVER A YEAR AWAY FROM RESOLVING THIS. I CANT EVEN SELL THE CAR OR TRADE IT IN BECAUSE THEY CANT RESALE IT WITHOUT CORRECTING THE RECALL. ACURA WAS PAYING FOR A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WAS CORRECTED I GUESS BMW FEELS ITS OWNERS ARE MORE EXPENDABLE??

NHTSA ODI #10915040

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.