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.
Electrical system, Nov 4, 2015
CAR EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN (LIGHTS, IGNITION, LOCKS, DASHBOARD, GAUGES, RADIO). CAR COULD NOT BE OPERATED. LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE USING DASH MOUNTED BUTTON, DOOR PULLS OR KEY FOB. DRIVERS DOOR COULD ONLY BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE USING VALET KEY. EMERGENCY LIGHTS INOPERABLE. PROBLEM OCCURRED 10/29, STARTED 2 HOURS LATER. FAILED AGAIN 10/30 AT 5PM. RESTARTED ON 10/31. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. CAR STARTED 11/3 AND FAILED 11/3. BATTERY CHECKED--FINE. IBS CHECKED--FINE. (THIS CAR IS NOT CURRENTLY LISTED AS PART OF THE ONGOING BMW BATTERY CABLE RECALLS, BUT SEEMS TO EXHIBIT EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS).
Electrical system, Service brakes, Oct 23, 2015
BATTERY AND STARTER ALL CHECKED OUT. BUT BREAK PEDAL STIFFENS UP AND CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE READ ON INTERNET AND WATCHED A FEW VIDEOS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO SUFFER AND PAY FOR BMWS PROBLEMS.
Air bags, Oct 16, 2015
PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON. IT STILL ON WHETHER THERE IS SOMEONE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT.
Steering, Oct 14, 2015, crash
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND AT THAT TIME THE BRAKES BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AS WELL. THIS RESULTED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT AS MY CAR ONLY STOPPED BY HITTING ANOTHER CAR WAITING AT THE OPPOSITE LIGHT. IT CAN BE COMPARED TO SLIDING ON A PATCH OF ICE, BUT THERE IS NO OPTION TO MOVE THE WHEEL TO TRY AND REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR CAR. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AS I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE MAKE.
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Sep 18, 2015
I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE ONE DAY AND A MESSAGE SAYING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEATBELT. BRING TO LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP." THE DAY BEFORE NOTHING HAPPEN AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON. OCCASIONALLY AS I DRIVE WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING GOES AWAY BUT THEN THE CHIME GOES OFF AND THE MESSAGE REAPPEARS. THIS HAPPEN ALL IN JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST. NOW EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE WARNING COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THE SEATBELT AS WELL SEEMS TO HAVE NO RESTRAINT AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF I WAS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT WON'T HOLD THE PASSENGER BACK.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 2, 2015, fire
ON 8/21/2015, I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 BMW 335D TO WORK WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STARTED SPEWING SMOKE ON JEFFERSON AVE. I PULLED OVER NEAR MY WORK AND SAW SMOKE SEEPING IN FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I EXITED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. I RAN INSIDE MY WORKPLACE AND GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND CAUTIOUSLY RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER FILING A CLAIM WITH STATE FARM, THE CLAIMS ADJUSTER AND PLAZA MOTOR COMPANY BMW CAME TO THE DETERMINATION THAT THE CAR'S WIRING HARNESS MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE IT. BUT THAT'S NOT MY ISSUE. I'M CONCERNED WITH HOW THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. PLAZA MOTORS NOR STATE FARM CAN TELL ME WHY OR HOW IT HAPPENED BUT THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND HAVE ME DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN WITHOUT ANY ASSURANCES THAT THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND I WAS ALSO FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAD BEEN CLOSE TO A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I FEEL LIKE MY CLAIM IS BEING HANDLED IN A VERY LEISURELY, RUN-OF-THE-MILL MANNER AKIN TO CHANGING A FLAT TIRE OR A DENTED BUMPER. BUT A CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CATCHING FIRE IS ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL. PLAZA MOTORS AND STATE FARM'S CASUAL NATURE IS DISCONCERTING TO SAY THE LEAST. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR EVER AGAIN. I DON'T FEEL LIKE BMW IS TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR CATCH SPONTANEOUSLY CATCHING FIRE. ALSO, ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE FIRE, I HAD A DIAGNOSTICS TEST CONDUCTED ON MY CAR BY AUTOHAUS BMW IN ST. LOUIS, MO AND THE TWO MINOR ISSUES WERE UNRELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL FIRE.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 28, 2015
THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WAS NOT USED. THIS OCCURRED EVEN WHEN PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THIS IS UNSAFE... THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. BMW NEED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.
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.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 25, 2015
BOTH MY REAR TAIL LIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND BMW IS WELL AWARE THAT THE CONTACTS OR WORN OUT AND NEED REPLACING. THERE IS EVEN A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT YET MY SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT $200 APIECE. MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY THROUGH BMW DOES NOT COVER TAILLIGHTS THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AS MY TAIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WORK
Steering, Jul 20, 2015, crash
I LOST ALL STEERING IN MY CAR
Other or unspecified, Jul 15, 2015
HAVE A 2009, BMW WITH 45,000 MILES AND MY AXEL(BOTH) ARE IN NEED OF REPLACING DUE TO RUST. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS I WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING A LOT IN 2009 & 2010 VEHICLES. MARYLAND IS NOT A FLOOD ZONE STATE AND THE VEHICLE IS TOO YOUNG WITH LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS CLEARLY A FACTORY PROBLEM! IT NO WAY A VEHICLE WITH 45,000 MILES IS IN NEED OF AN AXEL REPLACING DUE TO "RUST".
Power train, Jul 8, 2015
2009 BMW 328I SERIES X DRIVE NOT ABLE TO REVERSE OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN PARKING LOT. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. THERE A NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON GM TRANSMISSIONS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS. BMW PRODUCED TO 3/31/2009, EQUIPPED WITH THE 6L45 TRANSMISSION (GA6L45R), MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF NO ENGAGEMENT WHEN SELECTING FORWARD OR REVERSE RANGES.NEED TO DO A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, TRANSMISSIONS BEING REPLACE ON NEW CAR THEY GO OUT AT 100,000 MILES OR LESS.
Air bags, Jul 8, 2015
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THIS IS UNSAFE WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED THE LIKE INDICATES THE AIRBAG IS OFF. BMW NEED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2015
INSIDE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE MELTING
Steering, Suspension, Engine, Jun 19, 2015
TIMING BELT SHREDDED AFTER HITTING A SPEED BUMP FOR THE SECOND TIME AT LOW SPEEDS.
Air bags, May 22, 2015
THE CAR WAS STORED OUTSIDE IN EXTREME HEAT DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL - 90+ DEGREES FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. (IN FLORIDA) AIR BAG SENSOR AND SEAT BELT SENSOR ON PASSENGER SIDE, INCORRECTLY ALERTING, WHEN SOMEONE OR NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. NOW THE SENSOR IS ON ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE FAN WHICH COOLS THE ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND ON EVERY MORNING WHEN CAR WAS STARTED.
Engine, May 4, 2015, crash
DRIVING OR STANDING THE ENGINE STALLS. ONE RECALL WAS DONE AND WITH NO RESULTS. *TR
Air bags, Apr 23, 2015
THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION SENSOR MAT IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO BE DEACTIVATED. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW...RECALLS WERE ISSUES FOR PREVIOUS YEARS (2006-2007) BUT DID NOT COVER 2009. INFORMATION AVAILABLE INDICATES THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY PREVIOUS RECALL/REPLACEMENT INITIATIVES. *TR
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
Exterior lighting, Feb 1, 2015
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF LED'S IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT FOR THE TURN SIGNAL. FIRST STARTED ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO. NOW NEARLY FULL TIME FAILURE. CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN CHANGING LANES AND MAKING TURNS IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE WEB. *TR
Air bags, Jan 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Dec 22, 2014
UPON RETURNING TO SEATTLE, WA, SINCE I FLEW DOWN TO BERKLEY, CA TO PURCHASE MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED EXCESSIVE HEADLAMP SHAKE WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMPS ON THE HIGHWAY, ESPECIALLY EXPANSION JOINTS. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMPS SHAKE EQUALLY AS BAD, AND I CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND SEARCHING MANY ONLINE FORUMS, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING MANY ISSUES WITH THE ADAPTIVE HEADLAMP BRACKET ARMS BEING BROKEN. CPO WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER HEADLAMPS ACCORDING TO BMW, AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR BOTH REPLACEMENTS. *TR
Engine, Dec 9, 2014
ON THE HIGHWAY STUCK IN TRAFFIC GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6-7 TIMES NOW. 2 OF THOSE TIMES I WAS TAKING A SLOW LEFT HAND TURN IT HAS DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALMOST HITTING ME. 2009 BMW 335D. *TR