3.1

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,883 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 BMW 128 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 BMW 128 Owner Comments

problem #13

Mar 222022

128 6-cyl

  • 77,250 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 128I. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the passenger-€™s side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local BMW dealer. The dealer diagnosed the root cause of the warning light to be a failure of the passenger seat occupancy detection mat. When this part fails the passenger side air bags will be permanently deactivated. This will increase the risk of personal injury for any passenger in the event of a crash. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000 (Air Bags), 17V428000 (Air Bags), and 17V605000 (Air Bags). However, these NHTSA campaigns, for the exact same issue, only cover various other BMW models, but not any BMW 1 series cars. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired due to the very high dealer estimate of over $3,300 for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 77,250.

- Lincoln, MA, USA

problem #12

Jan 042019

128

  • 145,000 miles
The passenger seat occupancy sensor mat is defective and is a quite common occurrence on all BMW vehicles. The mat will send a trouble signal to the dash that brings up the airbag light on the instrument panel that will not go off.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #11

Nov 172017

128

  • 113,000 miles
The passenger seat occupant sensor began to sound off to secure the seat belt though no one sat there. I reported this problem to BMW when I got the takata airbag replaced and got a questions about my opinion on whether I considered it a safety issue. I declined to say and they just sent me away. A couple months later, I noticed that even when a passenger sat there the airbag activation did not turn off as it should. I took the vehicle in for a repair on the seat and told them that they should repair it at their expense 11/17/2017. I told them of a recall for the seat sensor on a MINIcooper(si-D651013tsb) another BMW product and they said without specific recall on my 128I, they would decline to repair it at their expense. They also told me that the airbag would deploy in an accident despite the light not going out with seat occupation, yet declined to give me that statement in writing. I then reported the problem to BMW of America in late 2017 and got a similar response. Complaint #36102215.

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #10

Feb 052016

128 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted (baron BMW in merriam, ks) and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 10/24/17 the consumer stated the airbag was replaced.

- Belton, KS, USA

problem #9

Dec 072016

128 6-cyl

  • miles
Takata recall. I haven't had any specific incident regarding the recall- however, as far as I can tell, BMW has missed the deadline set by the NHTSA to amass parts for and repair affected vehicles like mine. I own a 2008 BMW 128I. I currently live in Florida (a very humid state) and the vehicle has never left the state of Florida. This should place my vehicle in priority group 1 for the airbag repair- however, I have not been given any indication that the repair will take place any time soon. My local BMW service center has said that it may be several months before the parts are available. BMW customer relations stated that I may receive a letter notifying me that the parts are available within the next 2 months, but that it may be longer. I don't feel comfortable driving a vehicle with a faulty airbag, especially given the fact that the same type of airbag has killed 11 people so far. Trading in the vehicle (at least for another BMW) is not an option due to the stop sale placed on recalled vehicles by BMW. The lack of a remedy on BMW's part continues to cost me time, money (vehicles with an active recall are worth significantly less than those without) and peace of mind.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

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problem #8

May 272016

128

  • miles
Takata recall. BMW is providing replacement air bags to their dealers and the dealers are using them to replace air bags on their cars being sold, not to their customers. I received my recall notice May 27th 2016 and am still waiting for the replacement.

- Lakeland, TN, USA

problem #7

Oct 272016

128

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #6

Mar 312016

128 6-cyl

  • miles
BMW North America issued recall re: Drivers front airbag module last March 2016. To date the BMW has been out of parts to comply with this recall. I believe BMW North America is not taking this recall seriously. According to the safety risk: Inflator may rupture resulting in metal fragments striking driver. That seems like a serious risk to go unresolved for 6 months. Given the serious nature of this risk, I would like the NHTSA put pressure on BMW North America to get the [xxx] parts and make the repairs. Recalls are useless if car mfg don't make the repairs timely. Do your job and require BMW North America to make the repairs timely or face fines and penalties considering the safety risk. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #5

Aug 302016

128

  • miles
Received letter from BMW March 2016 giving description of recall due to airbags. Called dealership, March, April, may, June, July and August, no parts to fix it, no idea when it can be fixed. Emailed BMW, customer relations, told parts would be in end of summer, emailed again end of August, told parts won't be in until next year. Unsafe to drive this car, can't sell this car, no one cares.

- Belding, MI, USA

problem #4

Aug 302016

128

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW 1. the contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

problem #3

Mar 022015

128 6-cyl

  • 118,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car warning message stated fault in passenger side airbag/belt tensioner, service asap, continue to wear safety belt (or something similar). Took vehicle to dealer, diagnosed with passenger seat mat occupancy sensor failure. Quoted $2600 for repair. This has been in the past and currently a recall problem that has affected over 200,000 vehicles due to a faulty/poorly designed part. Dealer and BMW of na state that my vehicle has not yet been included in recall. This is an extreme safety issue, it should not take multiple complaints, injuries, or deaths before cars having this issue are placed on the recall list! in addition a repair to a safety component should not be put someone nearly $3000 in debt! NHTSA please encourage BMW to enforce the recall/extended warranty to all vehicles having this same issue, there a hundreds of threads on the internet regarding bmws of all makes and models having the same problem with the sensors failing. Please do not wait for people to be injured or killed because of a faulty part not allowing the airbag to deploy!

- Riverview, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 012014

128

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 128I. While driving approximately 55 mph, the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired by an independent mechanic. The front safety belt retractor unit was replaced; however, the air bag light continued to illuminate. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was notified of NHTSA campaign number: 13V044000 (electrical system). The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.

- Abingdon, VA, USA

problem #1

Jul 242013

128 6-cyl

  • 51,235 miles
Warning lights for seatbelt tensioner and airbag light illuminated on dash. Manual suggest that airbag and seatbelt tensioner may not operate correctly in a crash.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

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