2008 BMW 135I Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2008 BMW 135I, and owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

owner complaints to NHTSA

3 / 2

complaints citing a crash / fire

4 safety recalls for the 2008 BMW 135I

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

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…
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…
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…

51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2008 BMW 135I have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 44,901 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 9 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Air bags13
Fuel system, gasoline10
Fuel/propulsion system7
Wheels5
Electrical system4
Engine4
Exterior lighting4
Exterior lighting: tail lights2

What owners are reporting

“When the car was in a local Tire Discounters for an unrelated repair the mechanics noted that the rear subframe had significant degradation and the car was unsafe to operate without immediate replacem”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 14, 2026 · Suspension

“Center High Mounted Stop Lamp, (CHMSL), lense breaks/detaches repeatedly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 10, 2025 · Service brakes

Compare BMW 135I model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 135I model year in NHTSA's database.

Model year	Recalls	Complaints
2007 BMW 135I	0	1
2008 BMW 135I	4	51
2009 BMW 135I	4	29
2010 BMW 135I	4	15
2011 BMW 135I	6	27
2012 BMW 135I	6	19
2013 BMW 135I	2	12

Checking a specific 2008 BMW 135I

How do I know if my 2008 BMW 135I 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 2008 BMW 135I; 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.