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BMW 135IModel year report

2009 BMW 135I Problems

Compared with other BMW 135I years

Typical for this model

63/100 1.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011

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
29filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
9,000miles, 25 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns 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
20 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 BMW 135I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 2009 BMW 135I. The part named most often is fuel system, with 16 complaints (55% of the total), followed by electrical system (4) and air bags (3). 25 of the complaints include a mileage, and 76% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 9,000 miles. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 102 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the fuses and circuit breakers and 33 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 BMW 135I model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 63 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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

Fuel system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10705277, filed 2015-04, 8,500 miles

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11043012, filed 2017-11, 70,000 miles

Air bags: “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 updated 07/14/16.”

NHTSA complaint #10863013, filed 2016-05

Engine cooling: “I was driving my 2009 335i Bmw on highway 92 at ralston ave exit, and my car lost power when I stepped on the accelerator, the engine light came on and the malfunctioning engine warning. I felt very frightened thinking I would have.”

NHTSA complaint #10285682, filed 2009-09, 4,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

76% of the 25 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,500 and 27,056 miles.

52%0–1020%10–254%25–5012%50–758%75–1004%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (25 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 9,000 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.

20092010102015201620172018201920212022
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 135I 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
135i RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual172520$4,100
135i RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182520$4,100
135i Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual172620$4,100
135i Convertible RWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172620$4,100

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 135I → · 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. 102 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 102 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 135I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20131226,1062—22—Not enough data
20121950,0006—22—Falling
20112757,1006—2231 · FewerFalling
2010157,5404—20—Stable
2009299,0004—2063 · TypicalFalling
20085142,0004—2050 · TypicalFalling

All BMW 135I model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 BMW 135I have?

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 2009 BMW 135I as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 BMW 135I is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 16 complaints (55% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.

Has the 2009 BMW 135I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 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 135I get?

The EPA rates the 2009 BMW 135I (135i, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 BMW 135I reported?

Among the 25 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 9,000 miles and the middle half falls between 4,500 and 27,056 miles; 76% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. 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.