BMW 128I US Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints across the 2 model years of the BMW 128I US (2009–2011) that have at least 5 complaints. 2011 has the most, with 7. Across all years, the part named most often is air bags (5 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All 128I US model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 | 35,136 | 0 | 96 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 5 | 51,000 | 0 | 84 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Air bags5 36%
- Body and structure2 14%
- Exterior lighting2 14%
- Electrical system2 14%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)1 7.1%
- Other or unknown1 7.1%
- Fuel system1 7.1%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2009: “Exterior heated mirrors with dimming have turned a dark brown color. After searching the internet I have discovered that this is a large problem with various models/years Bmw's. I contacted the local Bmw dealer and was told they have seen this problem often but Bmw north america will not deal with it. I called Bmw north america and was told by both a customer service and a supervisor that they do not consider the exterior mirrors a safety issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11195275, filed 2019-04, 100,000 miles2011: “The car was purchased 02/27/11. We first noticed the rear window defroster was not working the first weekend of oct. 2011. We took the car to valencia Bmw on 10/08/11. The car failed an electrical test and a new top was ordered because the rear window and convertible top are one piece. Car was returned on 10/10/11. The mileage was 10273.on 11/22/11, the top was replaced and car returned on 11/23/11. The mileage was 12168. On 12/01/11, the car was taken to the dealer because the fabric on the new top detached on the freeway on 11/30/11 (terrifying). Repairs were made and car returned same day. …”
NHTSA complaint #10466966, filed 2012-07, 10,273 milesOther BMW models
3,165 complaintsBMW 328I
2,576 complaintsBMW X3
2,016 complaintsBMW 325I
1,377 complaintsBMW Z4
1,271 complaintsBMW 3 Series
832 complaintsBMW 528I
830 complaintsBMW 330I
813 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology