2008 Bmw 135I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
42,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 51 complaints (25.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 31.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 9.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 9.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Wheels | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 2 |
Air Bags: 13; Fuel System, Gasoline: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Wheels: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 6; 2010: 7; 2011: 1; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 9; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10247921 · 2008-11-07 (November 7, 2008)
I WAS GOING APPROX. 65MPH IN 5TH GEAR IN MY 2008 BMW 135I COUPE WHEN THE CAR STUTTERED AND I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. BROUGHT MY CAR TO BMW SERVICE AND MY SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY FUEL PUMP AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS AROUND 5000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259287 · 2009-02-18 (February 18, 2009)
BOUGHT 2008 BMW 135I IN 7/2008. WITHIN FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP MESSAGE CAME UP STATING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION, REDUCE POWER" CAR HAS BEEN IN NUMEROUS OCCASIONS-EACH TIME BMW ASSURES PROBLEM IS TAKEN CARE OF. REASONS GIVEN FUEL PUMP, INJECTORS, GAS ISSUE AND LASTLY ADJUSTMENT NOT DONE AT FACTORY AS IT SHOULD HAVE. SO, CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP AS IT AGAIN SPUTTERS AND SHAKES HEAVILY -TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON TWO LANE HWY- VEHICLE SLOWED ITSELF TO 50 MPH AND I WAS NEARLY KILLED BY HAVING TO PULL BACK IN TRAFFIC AS I COULD NOT PASS DUE TO LACK OF P…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296958 · 2009-12-25 (December 25, 2009)
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ( HPFP ) FAILED. DRIVING MY '08 BMW 135I THE CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. THE NEXT DAY IT STALLED ON A ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A BMW DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HPFP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353641 · 2010-09-03 (September 3, 2010)
VEHICLE IS A BMW 135I, MODEL YEAR 2008, CONVERTIBLE. CAR SUFFERS SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGH SPEED AND OFTEN DURING HIGH-TRAFFIC, RUSH- HOUR SPEEDS ON MODERATE INCLINE SOMETIMES WITH MINIMAL SAFE SHOULDER AND MEDIAN. THIS THE 6TH INCIDENT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. BMW OF SAN DIEGO REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR AND MULTIPLE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS. WE HAVE BARELY AVOIDED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS. WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUR CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789829 · 2015-11-11 (November 11, 2015)
AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. POSSIBLE LOOSE CONTACT PIN TENSION FOR LEFT SIDE AIRBAG CIRCUIT. DRIVERS SEAT AIRBAG CONTACTS ON WIRING HARNESS SIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871091 · 2016-05-26 (May 26, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL BMW HAS STONEWALLED ME! THEY SAY I CAN HAVE A LOANER. WONDERFUL, EXCEPT IT'S NOT A BMW SINCE ALL LATE MODEL BMWS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I CAN'T SELL MY CAR BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD WANT IT PENDING A RECALL THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY BMW OR TAKATA. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THE RECALL LOANER AGREEMENT, I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT FOR A 2-3 YEAR RENTAL AND NOT DRIVE MY CAR EXCEPT FOR A WEEKLY STARTUP AND BACK AND FORTH IN THE DRIVEWAY TO BE SURE THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. I AM NOW LOOKING INTO A CLASS ACTION SUIT. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871091 at NHTSA ↗