YearToAvoid

2009 BMW 135i Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 16 fuel system complaints for the 2009 BMW 135i, 55% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 7,750. No related recall is listed for this issue despite the high complaint share.

Fuel System complaints
16
55% of 29 complaints
All complaints this year
29
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
7,750 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failing and causing sudden loss of engine power while driving, sometimes at highway speeds.
  • Several describe the car entering "limp mode" with reduced power, a lit check engine light, and inability to accelerate past a crawl.
  • Cold-weather starts became difficult, with long cranking times before the engine would catch.
  • Multiple owners report the vehicle shaking or vibrating intensely under acceleration just before power loss occurred.
  • Some owners had the fuel pump replaced more than once, with the problem returning after repair.
  • A few describe stalling or near-stalling in traffic, with one noting the car nearly got rear-ended after suddenly losing speed on the highway.

When 2009 BMW 135i fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 25, 2009, latest Nov 8, 2018.

2009 BMW 135i fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2009Nov 2009Jan 2010Jul 2010Sep 2010Nov 2018
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2009 to Nov 2018; peak Jan 2010 (4).

Fuel System recalls for the 2009 BMW 135i

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by 135i model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20071 (100%)
  2. 200818 (35%)
  3. 200916 (55%)
  4. 20108 (53%)
  5. 20114 (15%)
  6. 20125 (26%)
  7. 20130 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are fuel system complaints on the 2009 BMW 135i?
NHTSA lists 16 fuel system complaints for the 2009 135i, making up 55% of all 29 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2009 BMW 135i fuel pump?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this fuel system issue, even though it accounts for over half of all complaints that year.
At what mileage do 2009 BMW 135i fuel pump problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 7,750 miles, and several owners reported issues even earlier, within the first few thousand miles.
What does the fuel pump failure feel like on the 2009 135i?
Owners describe sudden loss of power while driving, vibration under acceleration, long cold starts, and the car entering a reduced-power "limp mode."
Were crashes or injuries reported from this fuel system issue?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries tied to these 16 fuel system complaints, though several owners described near-miss situations.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.