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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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98,000 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL: MY LOCAL DEALER STILL SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO SERVICE MY CAR. I WAS NOTIFIED LAST WINTER THAT MY CAR WAS UNSAFE, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE AIRBAG FIXED. I CHECKED THE RECALL SITE AND IT SAYS INTERIM PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT INSTALL THEM! WHEN WILL THIS BE COMPLETE. AM I DRIVING …

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TAKATA RECALL: MY LOCAL DEALER STILL SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO SERVICE MY CAR. I WAS NOTIFIED LAST WINTER THAT MY CAR WAS UNSAFE, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE AIRBAG FIXED. I CHECKED THE RECALL SITE AND IT SAYS INTERIM PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT INSTALL THEM! WHEN WILL THIS BE COMPLETE. AM I DRIVING A TIME BOMB?

NHTSA ODI #10907974

40,000 miles · Jan 9, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

COUPE OF TIME THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE RESULT SRS & AIRBAG LIGHT NOW STAY ON.

NHTSA ODI #10819107

75,000 miles · Sep 18, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE ONE DAY AND A MESSAGE SAYING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEATBELT. BRING TO LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP." THE DAY BEFORE NOTHING HAPPEN AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON. OCCASIONALLY AS I DRIVE WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING GOES AWAY BUT THEN THE…

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I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE ONE DAY AND A MESSAGE SAYING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEATBELT. BRING TO LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP." THE DAY BEFORE NOTHING HAPPEN AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON. OCCASIONALLY AS I DRIVE WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING GOES AWAY BUT THEN THE CHIME GOES OFF AND THE MESSAGE REAPPEARS. THIS HAPPEN ALL IN JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST. NOW EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE WARNING COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THE SEATBELT AS WELL SEEMS TO HAVE NO RESTRAINT AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF I WAS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT WON'T HOLD THE PASSENGER BACK.

NHTSA ODI #10765127

68,000 miles · May 22, 2015
Air Bags

THE CAR WAS STORED OUTSIDE IN EXTREME HEAT DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL - 90+ DEGREES FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. (IN FLORIDA) AIR BAG SENSOR AND SEAT BELT SENSOR ON PASSENGER SIDE, INCORRECTLY ALERTING, WHEN SOMEONE OR NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. NOW THE SENSOR IS ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE FAN WHICH COOLS THE ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND ON EV…

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THE CAR WAS STORED OUTSIDE IN EXTREME HEAT DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL - 90+ DEGREES FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. (IN FLORIDA) AIR BAG SENSOR AND SEAT BELT SENSOR ON PASSENGER SIDE, INCORRECTLY ALERTING, WHEN SOMEONE OR NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. NOW THE SENSOR IS ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE FAN WHICH COOLS THE ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND ON EVERY MORNING WHEN CAR WAS STARTED.

NHTSA ODI #10720954

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN OUR CAR ACCIDENT. WE WERE AT A STAND STILL, OR MOVING VERY SLOWLY AND ANOTHER CAR HIT US IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PANEL NEAR THE TIRE, AT HIGH IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649176

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.