The Used Car Index

2009 BMW 3 Series problems

NHTSA lists 53 complaints for the 2009 BMW 3 Series, 4 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 4 complaints mention an injury, with 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW 3 SERIES.

At a glance

Complaints
53
With crash
4
With fire
2
With injury (complaints)
4
Injuries
9
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
917,106
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
89

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
AIR BAGS1528.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM815.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM611.3%
ENGINE59.4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING59.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER47.5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING35.7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE35.7%
SEAT BELTS35.7%
SEATS35.7%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
POWER TRAINMANUAL TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFLUID1
VISIBILITYREARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES1
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
VISIBILITYWINDSHIELD1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

1 recalls.

22V119000

Date: 2022-03-02. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: 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 Ser (excerpt)

Consequence: 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. (excerpt)

Remedy: 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 recal (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

89 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22
EXTERIOR LIGHTING8
POWER TRAIN7
STRUCTURE7
EQUIPMENT5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER5

11015849

Date: 2025-03-13. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 186,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

11014417

Date: 2025-02-20. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 240,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

10249437

Date: 2024-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10240305

Date: 2023-08-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, STEERING, SUSPENSION.

Spl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471

10240273

Date: 2023-07-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, STEERING, SUSPENSION.

This is the companion to SPL Parts, Inc.'s SB 23-01 mailed by private label independent distributor Turner Motorsports.

10240266

Date: 2023-07-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, STEERING, SUSPENSION.

SPL Parts, Inc. manufacturers and distributes aftermarket lower control arms for dedicated competition vehicles and "track day" cars some of which may be used on both track and highway. SB 23-01 adresses proper installation torque of cap bolt fasteners attaching SPL's aftermarket lower control arms,

10182619

Date: 2020-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to

10143557

Date: 2018-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

RETRACTABLE HARDTOP STATUS REQUEST SUPPLEMENT

10057527

Date: 2015-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

BMW: SELECTIVE CATALYST REDUCTION MODULE (SCR) HAS A STORED FAULT, PRESSURE BUILD UP IS LOW, CAUSING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
3 SERIES53

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2009

Sources

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