BMW 135I Problems by Year
NHTSA has 154 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the BMW 135I, across 7 model years (2007–2013). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (51). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
BMW 135I years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 135I year: 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 135I: 51 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2009 135I: 29 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2011 135I: 27 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2007 135I: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2013 135I: 12 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2010 135I: 15 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 135I problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 35 | 6 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 32 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 29 | 5 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 20 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| Power Train | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Wheels | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 135I model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 135I | 12 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 135I | 19 | 6 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2011 135I | 27 | 6 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 135I | 15 | 4 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 135I | 29 | 4 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | More complaints than other years |
| 2008 135I | 51 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 135I | 1 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 135I years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2008 (51) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 135I year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 135I?
Air Bags, with 35 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 135I have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.