BMW 3-SERIES · model year

2009 BMW 3-SERIES

74 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009BMW3-SERIES carries 74 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 3 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 3-SERIES is air bags with 15 filings, followed by electrical system (8) and fuel/propulsion system (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 2009 3-SERIES. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

74
Complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

74 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6
ENGINE5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
SEAT BELTS3
SEATS3
STEERING3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
STRUCTURE1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20190417FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 MONTHS AGO MY CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY MECHANIC CHANGED FUEL PUMP , COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT IT HAPPENS AGAIN I TOOK IT BACK AND THE MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING IS OK , I WENT HOME AND TODAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED AGAIN, I WAS SO SCARED I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF YOU GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM

Mileage: 89,800

20180930FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I TOOK MY CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP IN CANNONSBURG, PA. HAD NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER DROPPING IT OFF. I HAD DRIVEN 3 HOURS TO GET TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL. BY THE END OF THE DAY I RECEIVED A CALL TELLING ME MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING AND NOT DRIVABLE. HOW IS THAT MY RESPONSIBILITY? WHEN OBVIOUSLY I DROVE IT A LONG DISTANCE TO GET 3 RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. I WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP, I THINK WAS NOT WORKING? IT WAS WORKING WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF? IF IT WAS OVERHEATING I COULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT OUR TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I NEED MY CAR AND I'M REGRETTING TAKING IT IN FOR A RECALL NOW.

Mileage: 1,410,000

20180925ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RECALL # 17V676, 17V683 IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A YEAR AND I'M STILL UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIR APPOINTMENT WITH BMW DEALER FOR REASON OF PARTS UNAVAILABLE. MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COULDN'T KEEP CAR COOL ENOUGH AS HEAT FROM THE ENGINE IS HIGH.

Mileage: 78,000

20180925ENGINE

RECALL # 17V676, 17V683 IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A YEAR AND I'M STILL UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIR APPOINTMENT WITH BMW DEALER FOR REASON OF PARTS UNAVAILABLE. MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COULDN'T KEEP CAR COOL ENOUGH AS HEAT FROM THE ENGINE IS HIGH.

Mileage: 78,000

20180920ENGINE

IN NOVEMBER 2017 I RECEIVED TWO (2) RECALL NOTICES FOR MY 2009 BMW 328I. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING (RECALL CAMPAIGN # 17V-676) AND PCV VALVE HEATER (RECALL CAMPAIGN # 17V-676) WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT NO REMEDY FOR EITHER DEFECT WAS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND BEEN ADVISED THAT AT THIS TIME A REMEDY REMAINS UNAVAILABLE. I AM CONSIDERING SELLING OR TRADING IN MY VEHICLE BUT BECAUSE THIS RECALL HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED MY RESALE PRICE MAY BE LOWERED. IF TWO (2) RECALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED 10 MONTHS AFTER A RECALL NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED, WHY BOTHER ISSUING THE RECALL NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 2017 IF IT IS FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN BUREAUCRATIC PAPER SHUFFLING FOR BMW TO CLAIM TO THE NHTSA THAT BMW IS GOING TO FIX A DEFECT WHILE ACTUALLY DOING NOTHING TO REMEDY THE DEFECT?

20180726FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL INJECTORS BEGAN LEAKING AND HAVE BECOME FAULTY CAUSING MIS-FIRING. BMW HAD A SIMILAR RECALL INVOLVING CARS WITH THE SAME MODEL YEAR AND ENGINE AS MY CAR BUT HAS REFUSED TO CLAIM IT WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE RECALL.

Mileage: 1

20180622FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MARCH 28, 2018 - DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, CAR SUDDENLY COMES TO A STOP AND SHOWS MESSAGE FUEL PUMP WITH CAR ON ROCK ICON. CAR GETS TOWED. NEXT DAY MECHANIC SAYS IT RAN OUT OF GAS, ADDED GAS STARTED THE CAR. MARCH 29, 2018 CAR STALLS AFTER 5 MILES NEAR THE RAMP OF EXIT. GET THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. MECHANIC DOES NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. APRIL 14TH, 2018 - CAR STOPS ON THE FREEWAY. TOW IT TO MECHANIC MECHANIC SAYS THAT ITS RELATED TO FUEL TANK SENSOR. THIS CAUSES A WRONG READING OF LEVEL OF GAS IN THE CAR. MECHANIC CHANGES IT AND CAR RUNS OK FOR 2 MONTHS. JUNE 21, 2018 - CAR STOPS ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE SAME MESSAGE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WITH THE CAR ON ROCK ICON. I GET TOWING SERVICE TO ADD GAS AND WAIT FOR AN HOUR. RESTART THE CAR AND IT WORKS. THE MESSAGE IS GONE, THE ICON IS GONE. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME I WAS STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY.

Mileage: 111,318

20180517VISIBILITY/WIPER

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING HOME, POWERFUL IMPLOSION, GLASS EVERYWHERE.

Mileage: 150,000

20180509AIR BAGS

HELLO, MY 2009 BMW E92 328I IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TO NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME DESIGN AND PARTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. (HTTPS://BRANDILAW.COM/2013/12/26/BMW-RECALLS-76565-VEHICLES-DUE-TO-A-FRONT-PASSENGER-SEAT-ELECTRONIC-SENSING-MAT-FAILURE/) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE RECALL DATE. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND INFORM THE NTSB TO REVIEW THIS INCIDENT WITHIN OTHER BMW MODELS AND TO HOPEFULLY REMEDY ANY AFFECTED CARS. THE DESIGN OF THE SENSOR IS VERY POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, LEAVING MANY OWNERS TO SIMPLY FOREGO MAKING THE NECESSARY FIXES. IN FACT, SEVERAL MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT CUSTOMERS TYPICALLY AVOID MAKING THE FIX DUE TO HOW EX

Mileage: 84,000

20180509SEAT BELTS

HELLO, MY 2009 BMW E92 328I IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TO NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME DESIGN AND PARTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. (HTTPS://BRANDILAW.COM/2013/12/26/BMW-RECALLS-76565-VEHICLES-DUE-TO-A-FRONT-PASSENGER-SEAT-ELECTRONIC-SENSING-MAT-FAILURE/) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE RECALL DATE. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND INFORM THE NTSB TO REVIEW THIS INCIDENT WITHIN OTHER BMW MODELS AND TO HOPEFULLY REMEDY ANY AFFECTED CARS. THE DESIGN OF THE SENSOR IS VERY POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, LEAVING MANY OWNERS TO SIMPLY FOREGO MAKING THE NECESSARY FIXES. IN FACT, SEVERAL MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT CUSTOMERS TYPICALLY AVOID MAKING THE FIX DUE TO HOW EX

Mileage: 84,000

20180509SEATS

HELLO, MY 2009 BMW E92 328I IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TO NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME DESIGN AND PARTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. (HTTPS://BRANDILAW.COM/2013/12/26/BMW-RECALLS-76565-VEHICLES-DUE-TO-A-FRONT-PASSENGER-SEAT-ELECTRONIC-SENSING-MAT-FAILURE/) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE RECALL DATE. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND INFORM THE NTSB TO REVIEW THIS INCIDENT WITHIN OTHER BMW MODELS AND TO HOPEFULLY REMEDY ANY AFFECTED CARS. THE DESIGN OF THE SENSOR IS VERY POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, LEAVING MANY OWNERS TO SIMPLY FOREGO MAKING THE NECESSARY FIXES. IN FACT, SEVERAL MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT CUSTOMERS TYPICALLY AVOID MAKING THE FIX DUE TO HOW EX

Mileage: 84,000

20171204ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING PLASTIC BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE FROM THE COOLING VENTS, BMW HAS OPENED A RECALL BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS.

Mileage: 149,000

20171126AIR BAGS

FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DISABLES PASSENGER AIRBAG CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERABLE FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANCY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT EXPERIENCED BY PREVIOUS MODELS. COST OF REPAIR IS EXCESSIVE..

Mileage: 102,000

20171126SEATS

FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DISABLES PASSENGER AIRBAG CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERABLE FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANCY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT EXPERIENCED BY PREVIOUS MODELS. COST OF REPAIR IS EXCESSIVE..

Mileage: 102,000

20170825AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A RECALL IN 2016 AND BMW STILL HAS NOT CONTACTED ME TO SERVICE THE RECALL

20170807EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERMITTENT SIDE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM

Mileage: 72,000

20170724AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL -- I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION MARCH, 2016, AND HAVE YET TO HAVE MY AIR BAG REPLACED. WHEN WILL THIS BE RESOLVED?

20170703AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE VIA MAIL 07-03-2017 THAT NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL WERE AVAILABLE BUT BMW DEALERSHIP IN BIRMINGHAM, AL STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN I CALLED TO MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE BMW REP TOLD ME TO CALL BACK IN A FEW WEEKS - PARTS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY I WOULD RECEIVE THIS NOTICE IF PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

20170628AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OVER A YEAR AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY APPOINTMENT TO FIX THE MATTER. WHEN THE RECALL FIRST HAPPENED I WAS VERY PREGNANT AND I CALLED BMW TELLING THEM I WAS CONCERNED. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED BY 9/16 AND I AM STILL WAITING AND MY BABY WILL TURN 1 ON JULY 1,2017. WHEN WILL MY AIR BAGS BE FIXED? THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS MATTER.

20170602FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

WE CAME HOME AND PARKED THE BMW IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE. TEN MINUTES LATER I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE GARAGE. I LOOKED INTO THE GARAGE AND FOUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE BMW ON FIRE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CAME AS QUICKLY AS A VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT CAN. BY THE TIME THE FIRE WAS OUT BOTH CARS IN THE GARAGE AND THE HOUSE HAD BEEN BADLY BURNED.

Mileage: 115,000

Compare 2009BMW3-SERIES to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 BMW 3-SERIES have?
The 2009 BMW 3-SERIES has 74 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 3 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW 3-SERIES?
The most-complained component for the 2009 BMW 3-SERIES is AIR BAGS with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2009 BMW 3-SERIES safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.