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
388 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Dec 10, 2016
TAKATA RECALL: I HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED TO HAVE THE AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE REPLACED. MY PARTNER WHO IS AN OCCASIONAL DRIVER AND FREQUENT PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE IS NEWLY PREGNANT. MY CAR IS QUITE OLD. WE LIVE IN HAWAII, A STATE WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF HUMIDITY. A POTENTIAL INFLATOR RUPTURE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO ME, MY PARTNER, OR OUR UNBORN CHILD.
Air bags, Dec 9, 2016
TAKATA RECALL DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 5, 2016
FUEL INJECTORS ARE FAULTY
Air bags, Seat belts, Dec 5, 2016
TAKATA RECALL COMPLAINT ON THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THIS FIXED. I RECEIVED NOTICED AROUND MARCH 2016, IT IS NOW DECEMBER 2016, WHAT IS CONSIDERED A TIMELY REMEDY TO THIS SITUATION? 1 YEAR? IN OTHER WORDS, HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO PUT MY LIFE AT RISK UNTIL THIS BECOMES REMEDIED? I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY THAT CAUSE MY CAR TO BE A TOTAL LOST, SHOULD I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE TAKATA RECALL ISSUE DID NOT KILL ME? JUST WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO TELL ME I CAN BRING MY CAR IN IS DRIVING ME NUTS. THE DEALERS DON'T GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON HOW I CAN GET THIS FIXED ON MY OWN. AND ALL THEY DO IS ASK ME IF I RECEIVED A LETTER YET. WELL ITS BEEN OVER HALF A YEAR AND STILL NO LETTER. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 1, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Air bags, Nov 29, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V06100 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Nov 22, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 10, 2016
RECALL 13V044000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAR IS STILL AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOSING POWER, STALLING, JERKING, SENSORS FAULTY, RECALL16V071000 AIRBAGS UNSAFE HAZZARD MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHTS AND SENSORS STARTED TO GO, THE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, HE MANAGED TO GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETLY STALLED. HE HAD NO LIGHT INCLUDING HAZARDS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED, OR REFUNDED BY BMW IMMEDIATELY. MY SON IS 23 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR FOR HIS LIFE WHENEVER HE DRIVES HIS VEHICLE. BMW CLAIMS THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS OBVIOUSLY NOT REPAIRED AS FAR AS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS. I WAS STALLED AT THE STOP LIGHT AND HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ABANDONED. THE VEHICLE JERKS AND LOSES POWER EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN NOW.
Air bags, Nov 9, 2016
TAKATA RECALL NOT COMPLETE
Air bags, Nov 5, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. I LIVE IN A HIGH HUMIDITY AREA 5 MILES FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO IN NORTH WEST FLORIDA. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH HUMIDITY I FEEL I AM AT HIGH RISK OF A TAKATA AIRBAG RUPTURE. IN MARCH OF 2016 I RECEIVED MY INITIAL LETTER FROM BMW USA INFORMING ME OF THE POTENTIAL DANGEROUS TAKATA AIRBAG MODULE IN MY 2009 BMW 328I. I AM REQUESTING IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG MODULE IN MY CAR.
Air bags, Nov 3, 2016
I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER 4 MONTH AGO AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE MANUFACTURED HAS-NOT SENT THE PARTS, EVERY WEEK I CHECK AND NO RESPONSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Nov 3, 2016
TAKATA RECALL BMW LOCAL DEALER CLAIMS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE TAKATA AIRBAG. MY CAR IS ONE OF THE OLDER MODELS AND I LIVE IN THE GULF COAST AREA.
Electrical system, Nov 3, 2016
ELECTRICAL DAFETY, BATTERY WIRE PULLS LOOSE FROM FUSE BOX, CAUSING CAR TO SHUT DOWN, EVEN WHILE IN MOTION, THEREFORE LOSING BRAKES AND STEERING. THAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR ON THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC. I NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH AND PEAKE BMW IN KENER, LA REFUSES TO TOW THE CAR, FIX IT IN A TIMELY MANNER, OR OFFER A RENTAL OR LOANER AT NO COST.
Air bags, Oct 28, 2016
TAKATA RECALL HAVE BEEN CALLING JULIE AT STEVENS CREEK BMW SAN JOSE CALIFORNIA TELE 408 961 4451 SINCE 2015 ALL OF 2016 APRIL, MAY ,JULY, AUGUST AND NOW OCTOBER ALWAY GET "NOT YET SOON HOPEFULLY ALL I KNOW IS I WANT IT FIXED BEFORE MY FAMILY IS MURDERED BY THIS VILE RECALL NOT BEING CARRIED OUT WHEN WILL THIS BE RESOVED????????
Air bags, Oct 27, 2016
DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED IN MARCH 2016. CALLED AND EMAILED REPEATEDLY TO SEE WHEN I COULD GET THE AIRBAG FIXED, AND WAS CONTINUOUSLY TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. IT IS NOW OCTOBER (7 MONTHS LATER) AND THE AIRBAG HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPLACED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
Visibility, Oct 26, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD AND EXPLOSION. ACTUALLY MY SUNROOF BURST IN TO PIECES WITHOUT ANY REASON. *TR
Air bags, Oct 22, 2016
RECALL ON FEBRUARY 5, 2016, BMW HAS FAILED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG IN ALMOST NINE MONTHS! WHAT GOOD IS A POSSIBLE DEATH RECALL IF THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT REPLACE THE AIRBAG?
Air bags, Oct 20, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. LOCAL BMW DEALER SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS. SAID THEY WOULD PUT ME ON A WAIT LIST. IT HAS BEEN MONTHS. NO CONTACT. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE RISK. HTTP://WWW.BMWMAINLINE.COM/
Air bags, Oct 10, 2016
SPOKE TO BMW TODAY THEY ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE PARTS NOT COMING IN UNTIL 2017. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MONTH SO I COULD STILL BE OVER A YEAR AWAY FROM RESOLVING THIS. I CANT EVEN SELL THE CAR OR TRADE IT IN BECAUSE THEY CANT RESALE IT WITHOUT CORRECTING THE RECALL. ACURA WAS PAYING FOR A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WAS CORRECTED I GUESS BMW FEELS ITS OWNERS ARE MORE EXPENDABLE??
Air bags, Sep 28, 2016
TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND STILL THE OLD AIR BAG HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED...HIGH HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE ZONE A PRIORITY.
Air bags, Sep 28, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Sep 19, 2016
TAKATA RECALL: MY LOCAL DEALER STILL SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO SERVICE MY CAR. I WAS NOTIFIED LAST WINTER THAT MY CAR WAS UNSAFE, AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE AIRBAG FIXED. I CHECKED THE RECALL SITE AND IT SAYS INTERIM PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT INSTALL THEM! WHEN WILL THIS BE COMPLETE. AM I DRIVING A TIME BOMB?
Air bags, Sep 8, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Sep 7, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Sep 1, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.