FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW 135I

Owners have filed 199 complaints about the BMW 135I with NHTSA across model years 2007 to 2013. More of them are about the fuel & propulsion than anything else.

Avoid

2008 BMW 135I

62 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly fuel & propulsion.

Cleanest on record

2012 BMW 135I

35 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW 135I year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2013 C 16 0 1 26,106 Airbags
2012 B 35 0 0 50,000 Engine & Cooling
2011 C 35 1 2 56,300 Engine & Cooling
2010 C 16 1 0 7,540 Fuel & Propulsion
2009 C 34 0 0 10,550 Fuel & Propulsion
2008 D 62 3 2 43,050 Fuel & Propulsion
2007 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion

What breaks on a BMW 135I

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 2008

Airbags 37 18.6%

Worst in 2008

Engine & Cooling 33 16.6%

Worst in 2011

Electrical System 20 10.1%

Worst in 2011

Transmission & Drivetrain 13 6.5%

Worst in 2012

Lights 10 5.0%

Worst in 2008

Other & Unspecified 7 3.5%

Worst in 2013

Wheels 6 3.0%

Worst in 2008

Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 2.5%

Worst in 2013

Brakes 3 1.5%

Worst in 2008

Body & Structure 2 1.0%

Worst in 2008

Suspension 2 1.0%

Worst in 2008

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 1.0%

Worst in 2010

Seat Belts 2 1.0%

Worst in 2008

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW 135I, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Nov 2008 peak 8 Mar 2026

Compare the BMW 135I

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.