2008 BMW 1 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2008 BMW 1 Series, and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2008 BMW 1 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Retractor (seat belts)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 1-series vehicles. In a crash of sufficient severity, deployment of the front pre-tensioner and load-limiter occurs.
Remedy: Vehicles produced up through december 2009 will receive new front safety belt retractor units and a modification to the sound insulation near the units, while vehicles produced between january 2010 and may 2010 will…
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Seat belts: front and air bags: frontal
BMW is recalling 2,350 my 2008 1-series and 3- series passenger cars. Incorrect crimp connectors may have been used on the side air bag and belt tensioner wiring. As a result sufficient contact between the crimp connectors and the corresponding plug may not occur which could lead to an increase in the electrical resistance of that…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2009. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services toll-free at 1-800-525-7417.
18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 BMW 1 Series have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 72,079 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Major fueling issues with my car. So far i've had to replace injectors, low pressure fuel pump, fuel control module, and now i'm being told i need to replace the high pressure fuel pump. From reading”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 1, 2019 · Fuel/propulsion system
“The passenger seat occupancy sensor mat is defective and is a quite common occurrence on all BMW vehicles. The mat will send a trouble signal to the dash that brings up the AIRBAG light on the instrum”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 30, 2019 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 BMW 1 Series (128i, 128i Convertible, 135i, 135i Convertible). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–19 / 25–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 1 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 1 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 2005 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 2006 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 5 |
| 2007 BMW 1 Series | 0 | 6 |
| 2008 BMW 1 Series | 2 | 18 |
| 2009 BMW 1 Series | 1 | 18 |
| 2010 BMW 1 Series | 2 | 8 |
| 2011 BMW 1 Series | 2 | 33 |
| 2012 BMW 1 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2008 BMW 1 Series
How do I know if my 2008 BMW 1 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2008 BMW 1 Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 09V257000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.