2009 BMW 1 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2009 BMW 1 Series, and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2009 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…
18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2009 BMW 1 Series have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 50,491 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 BMW 1 series. While driving 25 MPH, the contact activated the air conditioner, but no air flowed into the vehicle. The contact smelled an electronic burning odor and turned”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 22, 2019 · Electrical system
“I was driving 40mph and then suddenly all light controls lit up on my dashboard after i noticed i was not able to accelerate, then my windshield wipers came on slowly without myself operating them , a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 10, 2018 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2009 BMW 1 Series (128i, 128i Convertible, 135i, 135i Convertible). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–18 / 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 2009 BMW 1 Series
How do I know if my 2009 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2009 BMW 1 Series; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 10V254000).
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.