2009 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 388 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 15 involved a crash and 19 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, exhaust system, emission control, crankcase (pcv)Mar 2, 2022
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 xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
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 charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 22V119000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, cooling system, fanAug 10, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Campaign 12E029000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel/propulsion system, May 13, 2017
BMW ISSUED A RECALL - SI B13 14 10 - AND IT COVERS REPLACING INJECTORS, IF THE CAR FALLS UNDER A CERTAIN DATE AND HAS A CERTAIN BATCH OF INJECTOR. MOST IMPORTANTLY, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RECALL BULLETIN STATES: "WARRANTY INFO" - AND IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, "THE REPAIR DESCRIBED IN THIS BULLETIN IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE." THE CAR HAD THE INJECTOR(S) FAIL A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT STEVENS CREEK BMW. THE DEALERS/MANUFACTURER ARE REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL NOTICE THAT I HANDED TO THEM - EVEN THOUGH IT SPECIFICALLY STATES THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT OR MILEAGE LIMIT TO REPLACING THE INJECTORS... 3 OF THE INJECTORS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT 3 WERE NOT, AND THE INJECTOR THAT FAILED IS PART OF THE BATCH THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE TECHNICIAN DECIDED NOT TO YEARS AGO. THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT A RECALL - ALTHOUGH IT CLEARLY SAYS "VOLUNTARY RECALL". BECAUSE THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT AND THE MILES DO NOT COUNT AGAINST THE RECALL (ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN) THE INJECTORS SHOULD BE REPLAECD (AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN) WITHOUT ANY CUSTOMER NEEDING TO PAY ANYTHING, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE RECALL IS FOR AND THAT IS WHAT IT DIRECTLY SAYS. BUT THE DEALERSHIP (STEVENS CREEK BMW) AND BMW NA OR SAYING THEY WON'T HONOR THE RECALL OR TELL ME WHY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE MY CAR IS STRANDED OVER THERE AND THEY WANT $3500 TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT BMW SAYS SHOULD ALREADY BE REPLACED (REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE).
Fuel/propulsion system, May 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE FUEL PUMP INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR A WHILE IN THE PRESENCE OF A POLICE OFFICER, WHO WAS ABOUT TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK WHEN THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, May 3, 2017
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IT LOSES POWER COMPLETELY AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS THE CAR QUICKLY DECELERATES AND POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS. I HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AFTER LOSING POWER EACH TIME (IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY 5 TIMES NOW). THE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER IT LOSES POWER AND PUTS UP A RANDOM CHECK ENGINE ERROR. SOMETIMES, AFTER SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, IT WILL START UP, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY RANDOM, AS IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALWAYS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BMW SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS AND ASSURED ME IT IS FIXED, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I REALIZE THE CAR IS A 2009 MODEL, AND IT HAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT, BUT THIS TYPE OF POWER LOSS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE BMW DEALER. I HAVE SPECIFIED THE LAST INCIDENT IN THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" QUESTION BELOW, BUT THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 11, 2017
WHEN STARTING CAR ENGINE, ITS TAKE A LONG TIME TO CRANK UP AND GET THE ENGINE GOING. IT ALSO SOUND REALLY WEAK UNLIKE WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT. ENGINE ALSO SHOW WARNING ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT UP FROM TIME TO TIME.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 5, 2016
FUEL INJECTORS ARE FAULTY
Fuel/propulsion system, May 9, 2016
DRIVING ALONG AT 80 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, HEADING INTO A CURVE. CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND CAR SHUTOFF. WAS ABLE TO ACTIVATE HAZARDS AND MANEUVER BETWEEN THE CAR AND SEMI NEXT TO ME TO GET TO RIGHT SHOULDER. (DITCH ON LEFT SIDE) ONCE SAFELY OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TRIED TO RESTART AND CAR CRANKED BUT DID NOT START. JUST HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED 6 WEEKS AGO FOR SAME CRANKING, BUT NOT STARTING BEHAVIOR. BMW HAS CONFIRMED THE NEW HPFP THEY PUT IN 6 WEEKS AGO FAILED.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 25, 2016
MY VEHICLES FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS WORSENED. HEADLIGHTS FLICKERS. VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE OFTEN. VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S CHOKING OR RUNNING ON LESS CYLINDERS. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHANGE MY CLOCK. MISFIRING STILL OCCURRING EVEN AFTER TUNE UP. LOSS OF POWER. WASTE GATE RATTLE.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 9, 2015
I HAD JUST LEFT HOME AND HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR FEW MINUTES. WAS WAITING ON TOP OF A SMALL HILL AT A STOP LIGHT AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN IT TURNED GREEN. THAT IS WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF AND STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD DOWN A HILL. HAD TO PUT ON EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TRIED TO TURN ON THE CAR BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. SO HAD TO CRUISE BACKWARDS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER WATING 10 MINUTES TRIED TO RESTART CAR AGAIN AND IT TURNED ON. BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOW 4 MONTHS LATER MY CAR IS NOT WORKING AT ALL.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 28, 2015
WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION ENGINE LOST POWER AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK CAR TO BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND THE PUMP AND TANK HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 27, 2015
THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. ONLY AFTER DISENGAGING THE KEY AND WAITING ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE CAN START UP AGAIN. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED, THIS EVENT WILL HAPPEN WITHIN ABOUT A DAY TO A WEEK. I DROVE THE VEHICLE DAILY ON MY COMMUTE TO WORK. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED ON MY RETURN TRIP IN THE AFTERNOON. THE ERROR CODES THAT SHOWED UP WERE: A GENERIC CODE FOR THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL MODULE CONTROL VOLTAGE TOO HIGH, AND FUEL MODULE CONTROL CURRENT TOO LOW. AFTER TWO TRIPS TO WEATHERFORD BMW, THE PROBLEM WAS TENTATIVELY SOLVED. ON MY FIRST VISIT, THEY MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THAT THE FUEL MODULE CONTROL VOLTAGE WAS OUT OF CALIBRATION. THEY SUPPOSEDLY RECALIBRATED IT, TEST DROVE IT, AND SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED ME THE $210 DIAGNOSTIC FEE BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THE NEXT DAY ON MY AFTERNOON COMMUTE. AFTER BRINGING MY CAR BACK TO THEM. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE (EKPS MODULE). THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE SULEV WARRANTY FOR BMW VEHICLES WITH THE N51 ENGINE. THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME THIS TIME, BUT THEY REFUSED TO CREDIT THE CHARGE ON MY FIRST VISIT, SAYING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO RECALIBRATE THE VOLTAGE ANYWAY. I CONTENDED THAT THE FAULTY MODULE CAUSED THE VOLTAGE TO BE OUT OF CALIBRATION AND THAT A FUNCTIONAL REPLACEMENT MODULE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE VOLTAGE BACK WITHIN SPECIFICATION, AND THAT IF THEY HAD JUST REPLACED THE MODULE ON MY FIRST VISIT THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO RECALIBRATE THE VOLTAGE. HOWEVER, WEATHERFORD BMW INSISTED ON NOT REFUNDING THE CHARGE FOR THE FIRST VISIT, AND I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY TO DISPUTE THE CHARGE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 27, 2015
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BUT STILL RUNNING. AN ERROR MESSAGE "FUEL PUMP FAILURE" POPPED UP ON SCREEN AND THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" TURNED ON; THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESTART. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 19, 2015
CAR TAKEN TO DEALER FOR ROUGH IDLE AND POOR PERFORMANCE. TOLD THAT ISSUE WAS WITH FUEL COILS. PAPERWORK STATES THAT COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEFERRED AS ONE OF THE COULD HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. ON WAY HOME CAR BEGAN TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE. CAR UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ALREADY REPLACED. HIGH RISK FOR ACCIDENT FOR ULTIMATELY TURNED OUT TO BE 5 FAILED FUEL INJECTORS. BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS FOR RECALL. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE PER MULTIPLE WEB SEARCHES. *TR
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 9, 2014
PURCHASED THE CAR USED APPX 4 MONTHS AGO WITH JUST UNDER 25K MILES. LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC APPX 45 - 50 MPH THE CAR STARTED TO SKIP AND LOSE FORWARD POWER. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK THE CAR JUST LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER AS WELL. I COULD HEAR RELAYS CLICKING BUT NOTHING WORKED. AT THE SHOP (NON-BMW) TO BE EVALUATED I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY (THIS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL). FINAL EVALUATION WAS THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH I HAVE NOW PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. I AM AFRAID THAT THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE LURKING AS WELL, BUT SO FAR THE CAR IS DRIVING WELL. SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS BUT NOW I HAVE SEARCHED BY VIN AND FOUND THE RECALL ON THE BATTERY CABLE AND HAVE THAT SCHEDULED. 29,520 MILES IS TOO SOON TO NEED A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT! *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, May 24, 2014
AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR NORMALLY MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF ON ME WHILE GOING 50. ITS TELLING ME ON THE SCREEN ITS THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 19, 2013
I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON RTE 495 IN MA IN THE LEFT LANE AND HAD JUST PASSED THE EXIT RAMP TO RTE 3 WHEN THE CAR SEIZED AND DRAMATICALLY SLOWED DOWN, I WAS GOING 70-75 MPH WITH OTHER CARS BEHIND AND NEXT TO ME GOING THE SAME SPEED. IT'S ONLY DUE TO THE ALERTNESS OF THE DRIVER BEHIND ME THAT BOTH OF US ARE NOT DEAD. HE SWERVED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE AND WENT BY ME. AFTER THAT I CROSSED THREE LINES OF TRAFFIC GOING AT 10-20 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I SURVIVED THE EXPERIENCE, BUT I FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT AND HOPEFULLY SAVE THE LIFE OF SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE FUTURE IF BMW CAN BE COMPELLED TO FIX THEIR FUEL PUMP ISSUE ON THE 328I. I CALLED BMW AS I WAS WAITING FOR A TOW AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE'S A RECALL ON THE 335'S FUEL PUMP, BUT NOT ON THE 328I. I BELIEVE ONLY A DEATH WILL COMPEL THEM TO TAKE ACTION. AS FOR ME, I PAID THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN SUDBURY, MA $800 TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND TRADED IT FOR A CX-5 BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE BMW IS UNSAFE AND A POSSIBLE DEATH TRAP. *TR
Fuel system, Diesel, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 18, 2012
2009 BMW 335D, EGR COOLER CRACKS OPEN AND STARTS FUMING UNFILTERED DIESEL EXHAUST INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND INTO COCK PIT OF CAR. HIGHLY DANGEROUS GAS HAS SEVERE IMPACT TO OCCUPANTS, CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AS EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE OF CAR. BMW REFUSE TO FIX THIS UNDER BELOW MENTIONED RECALL AS IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COOLER. RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 11E-A03: BMW VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN SCR CATALYST, EGR VALVE AND/OR DEF MIXER AND ECU SOFTWARE FLASH FAILED EXHAUST COOLER MAKES THE CAR ILLEGAL ON ROAD AS IT EXCEEDS EMISSION LIMITS AND IS IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND IS A HEALTH HAZARD. *TR
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 6, 2012
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DRY CLEANERS. AS I WAS TRYING TO MERGE INTO THE FREEWAY, THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH ABOUT A 70% REDUCTION IN POWER. I COULDNT MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY SAFELY, AND HAD TO PULL TOT HE SHOULDER. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT BMW DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP. *TR