2009 BMW 135I Problems: Fuel system (29 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2009 BMW 135I is Fuel system (52% of 29 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 29 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2009 BMW 135I?

15 of 29 filings named Fuel system (52% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (5 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2008 has 51 reports on file; this year has 29. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2009 BMW 135I

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Fuel system. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Fuel system 15 complaints · 51.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2008 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) appears in 15 of 29 owner complaints (51.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 15 complaints, 51.7% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 15 · 51.7% Engine (ENGINE): 5 complaints, 17.2% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 5 · 17.2% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 3 complaints, 10.3% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 · 10.3% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 3 complaints, 10.3% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 3 · 10.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 6.9% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 · 6.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 16 complaints, 55.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 16 · 55.2% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 15 51.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 5 17.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 10.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 3 10.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 6.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 16 55.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2009; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2013. 2009-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2010-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2009 Apr 2022 Recall campaign 13V044000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V044000 Recall campaign 16V071000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V071000 Recall campaign 19V579000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V579000 Recall campaign 20V017000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V017000 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 19V579000 was reported 3,242 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V017000 was reported 1,351 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2009-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 6
2010-Q1 Owner reports 6
2010-Q3 Owner reports 4
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 2
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 13V044000
Recall campaign 1 16V071000
Recall campaign 1 19V579000
Recall campaign 1 20V017000
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags and Electrical.

  1. Recall campaign 13V044000

    Safety recall 13V044000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 16V071000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 19V579000

    Electrical

    Report date
    Component:
    Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall number 17V-676.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 20V017000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 29 complaints · page 1 of 2
2022-04-18Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11461159
CrashFireInjuryDeath
glass sun roof exploded spontaneously while driving at freeway speeds.
2021-05-05Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11415310
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TAKING HIS VEHICLE FOR SERVICE AT OTTO'S BMW (1275 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER, PA 193820) HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROLL OVER CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WHICH HE DECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. I TOOK MY CAR TO OTTO'S BMW FOR A STATE INSPECTION, NOT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, AND OTTO'S DID NOT INFORM ME THAT THE ROC MODULE HAD FAILED. I FOUND OUT THE MODULE HAD FAILED BY USING MY CODE READER. WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR TO TAKE IT FOR THE STATE INSPECTION, I FOUND THE BATTERY HAD DIED. WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY, I FOUND THAT THE ROC MODULE HAD FAILED JUST BECAUSE MY CAR BATTERY DIED. THE ROC MODULE IS A MAJOR SAFETY MODULE, THAT EXTENDS THE HEAD PROTECTION IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THIS MODULE SHOULDN'T FAIL SIMPLY BECAUSE YOUR CAR BATTERY DIES. RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS MANY OWNERS OF BMW'S EXPERIENCE THIS MODULE FAILURE JUST BECAUSE THEIR BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR THEIR BATTERY HAD FULLY DISHARGED. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANY OTHER CAR THAT A MAJOR SAFETY MODULE FAILED JUST BECAUSE THE BATTERY DISCHARGES. EVERY OTHER CAR, I WOULD SIMPLY REPLACE THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING STILL WORKED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THIS MODULE FAILS, AS THE ROLL OVER PROTECTION DEVICES WILL NOT ACTIVATE IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT, AND THIS CAR IS A CONVERTIBLE. THIS MODULE COSTS OVER $500 AT BMW DEALERS, AND SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE FOR INSTALLATION CHARGES. FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THAT MANY OWNERS FAIL TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE DUE TO THE VERY HIGH COST, OR THEY GO TO A SECONDARY MARKET WHERE THESE MODULES ARE REPAIRED FOR A LOWER PRICE. ALL OF THIS IS SETTING UP OWNERS FOR MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH IF THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT AND THIS MODULE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS OR AT LEAST OFFER A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUT
2021-01-20Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11389074
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TAIL LIGHTS BURN OUT AND REQUIRE ENTIRE HOUSING TO BE REPLACED INSTEAD OF JUST BULBS. LED'S BURN OUT VERY QUICKLY, CONTRARY TO TYPICAL LED'S AND ARE COSTLY TO REPLACE
2019-09-23Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11257434
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE WIRING OF MY 2009 BMW HEADLIGHTS, BOTH SIDES, HAS ITS INSULATION DISINTEGRATE, EXPOSING BARE COPPER WIRE (AS IT IS MADE OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL) TO THE POINT WHERE MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE SHORTED OUT AND THE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT CONTROL ON THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS STUCK AT AN ANGLE THAT IS TOO HIGH. AS THESE ARE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, A SHORT HERE CAN RENDER THE CAR'S HEADLIGHT IN A BLINDING STATE. LOCAL SHOPS WANT TO CHARGE $900+ PER LIGHT HOUSING TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY.
2018-11-08Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11150173
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS BAD IN CAR. THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE ON HIGHWAY WHEN PASSING CAR LEAVING YOU NO POWER TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF CAR GOING 75 MPH. BMW KNOWS IT BAD BUT WILL NOT HELP!
2017-11-03Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11043012
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WIRING INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS INSUFFICIENTLY INSULATED WIRING. THE WIRE INSULATION IS FLAKING OFF DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE FROM NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. FIRE POTENTIAL. LIGHTS COULD STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.
2017-07-24Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11010246
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 135I CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (SUN MOTOR CARS, INC. 6677 CARLISLE PIKE, MECHANICSBURG, PA 17050 ([redacted]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED WITH THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS IN PRIORITY GROUP 5 AND PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2017-07-03Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11002908
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THERE IS A RECALL AND IT IS INCOMPLETE DUE TO IT NOT BEING REPLACED IN A TIMELY MANNER NO INCIDENT AS OF NOW BUT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
2016-05-04Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 10863013
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ UPDATED 07/14/16. *JB
2015-04-13Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10705277
CrashFireInjuryDeath
AT 8,532 MILES MY BMW 135I HAD A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO DECELERATE BELOW THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. AT 24,384 MILES THE CAR ILLUMINATED A ENGINE CAUTION FOR OVER TEMPERATURE. THE ONLY GAUGE AVAILABLE WAS FOR OIL TEMPERATURE WHICH DID NOT INDICATE HOT. THERE WAS NOT A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER FOR 3 MILES. *TR

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2009 BMW 135I?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 15 of 29 reports (52%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2009 BMW 135I?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags and Electrical. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2009 BMW 135I?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources