"How reliable is the 2009 Bmw 3 Series?"

"Based on 74 NHTSA complaints, the 2009 Bmw 3 Series has a median complaint mileage of 70000 miles. The most common issue is AIR BAGS."

"What are common problems with the 2009 Bmw 3 Series?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Bmw 3 Series is AIR BAGS, accounting for a significant portion of the 74 total complaints filed."

2009 Bmw 3 Series: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 74 complaints

Total Complaints

70,000mi

Median Mileage

AIR BAGS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

38,000 25th Percentile

70,000 Median Mileage

84,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SEATS

SEAT BELTS

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

STEERING

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"PAINT DEFECT ON NEW CAR, 2009 BMW , PURCHASED ON MARCH 2010. THE PAINT IS PEALING IN 4 PLACES. CAR PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH 2010. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS PEALING IS FROM A "EXTERNAL SOURCE". THIS IS NOT PLAUSIBLE AS PEALING IS IN 4 SPOTS, TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. BMWS OWN WARRANTY VENDOR FOR BODY WORK IND..."

"2009 BMW 335I, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. 9500 MILES ON VEHICLE. ENGINE IS SLOW TO START. WHILE DRIVING AND RPM ABOVE 3000, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE REDUCES POWER SIGNIFICANTLY. IF PUMP WERE TO FAIL COMPLETELY, ENGINE WOULD DIE, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THIS CO..."

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD EXHIBITED SEVERAL CRACKS VARYING IN SIZE FROM A HAIRLINE CRACK TO CRACKS THE SIZE OF A PENNY. THE DEALER ADVISED HE COULD NOT ASSIST AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WOULD ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28