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BMW 128IModel year report

2009 BMW 128I Problems

Compared with other BMW 128I years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

22/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
26filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
72,879miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 BMW 128I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2009 BMW 128I. The part named most often is air bags, with 10 complaints (38% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and engine (5). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 72,879 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 91 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the fuses and circuit breakers and 32 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 3 BMW 128I model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 22 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “I recently had to purchase a new passenger airbag on my 2009 Bmw 1 series, since the entire passenger airbag system malfunctioned. I understand that there are certain Bmw vehicles which had a recall due to malfunctioning passenger airbags. When I took my vehicle to the dealership, the persons at the dealership mentioned that the 2009 1 series has not been affected by the passenger airbag recall.”

NHTSA complaint #10749301, filed 2015-08, 64,800 miles

Electrical system: “Purchased this car yesterday (06/08/2019), and after buying it noticed that the prometer was disconnected and the wipers, which they said would be fixed, had been disconnected. The car died on me when we were driving at around 35 MPH and all lights came on on the dash board. I went back to the dealer and he said I bought the car as is and did not let me even tell him about the odometer. He promised to fix the wipers on thursday, though.”

NHTSA complaint #11218814, filed 2019-06, 75,758 miles

Engine: “Nalley Bmw is saying they do not have this recall on my car, but it is coming up in the recall database and I am hearing a noise in my car (a whirring / high pitching humming sound) positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) valve heater : this recall involves an engine component known as the positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) valve heater.”

NHTSA complaint #11043652, filed 2017-11, 78,500 miles

Exterior lighting: “First we had the adaptive headlight error code, we also had frequent blown bulbs. After pulling the complete unit out from the car noticed that all the wiring insulation is crumbling and falling off the wiring loom. Multiple wire were bonded together causing heat and short circuits.”

NHTSA complaint #11361671, filed 2020-09, 100,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,000 and 78,500 miles.

0%0–108%10–2517%25–5025%50–7542%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 72,879 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

201420162018520202024
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 BMW 128I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
128i RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182822$3,750
128i RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual182821$3,900
128i Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual182821$3,900
128i Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182721$3,900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 BMW 128I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 91 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 91 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 128I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20133631,1503—2256 · TypicalRising
20123130,5005—2244 · TypicalFalling
20115087,0007—2259 · TypicalStable
20102295,0007—22—Rising
20092672,8796—2122 · FewerFalling
20081867,4126—21—Falling

All BMW 128I model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 BMW 128I have?

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2009 BMW 128I as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 BMW 128I is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 10 complaints (38% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2009 BMW 128I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 BMW 128I get?

The EPA rates the 2009 BMW 128I (128i, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 BMW 128I reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 72,879 miles and the middle half falls between 55,000 and 78,500 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.