10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,000 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 135 electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 BMW 135:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 BMW 135 Owner Comments

problem #6

Jun 042019

135

  • 90,000 miles

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

An electrical fire ignited under the passenger seat and passenger floorboard. Flames came out from under the passenger seat and floorboard. The driver sustained 3rd degree burns and was taken to the hospital skin grafts. The car was moving at the time of the fire.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #5

Apr 082019

135

  • 90,000 miles
The plastic insulation on the headlight wiring has flaked off leaving the wires completely bare in some places. This has resulted in the loss of a drl, headlight ballast, and adaptive headlight motor. This is a well documented issue online, from BMW owners of multiple years/series. In fact, there is already an NHTSA complaint on the exact same year and model as I have. This issue is dangerous in multiple ways. The loss of lighting at night could result in an accident, harming both the occupants and people nearby. The highly charged bare wiring could short, spark, and cause a fire. The continued destruction of headlight bulbs, motors, etc is harmful to the consumers and economy as those parts can be very expensive.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #4

Jun 212018

135

  • 112,000 miles
2008 BMW 135I and my blower motor stopped working as I was driving a few moment later and I started to hear spark and smelt burning wires so I immediately thought of the safety recall that is being done on the 3 series BMW's I instantly turned off the climate control and fan speed and shut the car off I looked over and saw a little bit of smoke coming from under the passenger side so I went into the trunk and took the negative cable off the battery I then waited a few seconds and then took the kick plate off the passenger side to take a look at the blower motor and I find burnt broken wires coming from the part of the harness that connects into the blower motor I instantly unplugged it and tape it up with electrical tape once done I proceeded to call up my nearest BMW dealership and after explaining to them what happened they told me that there was nothing I could do but pay out of pocket to get it fixed because my car wasn't covered under recall so I hung up the phone and call BMW of usa headquarters and spoke to some guy that proceeded to tell me the same thing the dealership told me and that I would have to get a diagnosis done to prove it was the same issue that has happened on the 3 series even tho it's the same part numbers and same symptoms. I asked him if I went there and proved that it was the same issue would I be covered and he proceeded to tell me no that a recall is based off of statistics and that even if my car went on fire like a lot of the 3 series did that there is still nothing I could do because my car wasn't on the recall list.

- Red Bank, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jan 012017

135

  • 82,000 miles

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

Wiring insulation (in engine compartment) to headlights is deteriorating. Now, many exposed and uninsulated wires in the engine compartment. Headlights are now rendered unreliable and unworking. I have tried to wrap electrical tape around the exposed wires (see photo). I will next try liquid tape. Safety and fire hazard.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #2

Jun 202014

135 6-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
Electric water pump failed with no warning, sending the car into "limp mode" with dramatically reduced power. Nearly caused a crash as this was on a major highway bridge with no shoulders.

- Menasha, WI, USA

problem #1

Jul 122009

135 6-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 135I. While driving approximately 50 mph, the engine loss power with the illumination of the warning indicator. The vehicle restarted in the low power mode. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The computer software was updated and replacement of the fuel pump. The vehicle exhibited poor acceleration performance after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they informed that the vehicle experienced a turbo lag which was associated with the newly installed fuel pump. The failure continued to occur. The failure mileage was 2,000. Updated 01/13/11 updated 01/24/11

- Peoria , IL, USA

Not what you are looking for?