2010 BMW 128I Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2010 BMW 128I, and owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

owner complaints to NHTSA

1 / 2

complaints citing a crash / fire

7 safety recalls for the 2010 BMW 128I

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)

NHTSA 22V119000 Reported March 2, 2022 917,106 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i…

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of…
Inflator module (air bags)

NHTSA 20V017000 Reported January 15, 2020 59,965 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi,…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may…
Electrical system: wiring

NHTSA 19V579000 Reported August 6, 2019 41,981 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…
Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)

NHTSA 17V683000 Reported October 30, 2017 740,561 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may…
Inflator module (air bags)

NHTSA 16V071000 Reported February 5, 2016 840,000 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive,…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service…
Engine (engine and engine cooling)

NHTSA 14V176000 Reported April 10, 2014 156,137 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles…
Cables (electrical system) and 2 other components

NHTSA 13V044000 Reported February 7, 2013 516,791 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured December 2007 through September 2011; and 2007-2011 3-Series coupes and convertibles manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sedans manufactured March 2007 through October 2011; 2007-2011 3-Series sports wagons…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or…

22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2010 BMW 128I have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 84,482 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 6 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Air bags9
Engine5
Engine and engine cooling5
Electrical system2
Air bags: occupant classification1
Electronic stability control (esc)1
Exterior lighting1
Exterior lighting: headlights1

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2010 BMW 128I. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the headlights and taillights became inoperable. The engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 2, 2024 · Electrical system

“First notified of recall in October, 2023. After 8 months, BMW tells me there is no remedy available. Eight months is more than a reasonable amount of time to remedy this defect. Please help! Thank yo”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 13, 2024 · Engine

Compare BMW 128I model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 128I model year in NHTSA's database.

Model year	Recalls	Complaints
2007 BMW 128I	0	1
2008 BMW 128I	6	18
2009 BMW 128I	6	26
2010 BMW 128I	7	22
2011 BMW 128I	7	50
2012 BMW 128I	5	31
2013 BMW 128I	3	36

Checking a specific 2010 BMW 128I

How do I know if my 2010 BMW 128I 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. 7 campaigns currently list the 2010 BMW 128I; 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 13V044000).

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.