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BMW 135i VIN Check

NHTSA holds 60 owner complaints on the BMW 135i from 41 production runs; the worst run has 5, the typical one 1.5.

NHTSA complaint records · 60 complaints · 41 runs · 2011–2013 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported 135i run is WBAUC9C56BV (2011 builds) with 5 complaints, 3.3× the typical run. Engine problems make up 29% of reports; 2012 is the worst model year at 1.6 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for 135i model years 2008–2013.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The BMW 135i has 41 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 28% of every 135i complaint on file.

FIG.01·BMW 135i — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
WBAUC9C56BV••••••20115——
WBAUC9C57CV••••••20123——
WBAUC9C57DV••••••20133——
WBAUN7C50CV••••••20123——
WBAUC9C50BV••••••20113——
WBAUN7C54CV••••••20122——
WBAUN7C55CV••••••20122——
WBAUC9C53BV••••••20112——
WBAUC9C54BV••••••20112——
WBAUN7C55BV••••••20112——
WBAUC9C5XBV••••••20112——
WBAUC9C50CV••••••20122——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 29 135i runs has 2 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 15 135i VINs so far, most often 2013, 2012, 2011 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the BMW 135i the gap between build years is 1.3×: a 2012 car draws 1.6 complaints per run, a 2013 one 1.2.

FIG.02·BMW 135i — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20131.21210—
20121.61811—
20111.530201
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2012 at 1.6 complaints per run; lightest is 2013 at 1.2.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 29% of everything BMW 135i owners report: Engine, 24 of 60 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·BMW 135i — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Engine241—
Air Bags17——
Power Train13——
Electrical System11—1
Fuel/propulsion System7——
Vehicle Speed Control4——
Unknown Or Other4—1
Fuel System2——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 6 recall campaigns on the BMW 135i; the 6 below cover build years 2008 to 2013. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·BMW 135i — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
20V017000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module2008–2013
16V071000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module2008–2013
19V579000Electrical System:wiring2008–2012
13V044000Electrical System2008–2012
17V067000Power Train:driveline:constant Velocity Joint2011–2012
14V176000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine2011–2012
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

20V017000 was opened in 2020 on cars built from 2008: 12 years on the road before the recall.

The 135i against its rivals

The 135i draws 1.5 complaints per production run; the Mazda RX-8 6.6. That is the lowest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·BMW 135i VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
BMW 135i60411.51.7%
Mazda RX-8642986.63.7%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 60 reports on the BMW 135i, 1.7% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·BMW 135i — complaint severity
OutcomeBMW 135iAll vehicles
Complaints filed601,116,631
Involved a crash1 (1.7%)64,221 (5.8%)
Involved a fire2 (3.3%)26,977 (2.4%)
Injuries reported158,047
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 71% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The BMW 135i share of that is 60 complaints over 41 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.

Everything on the BMW 135i
Recalls26 campaignsFuel economy23 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems100 complaintsCargo space10 cu ftUsed prices77 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2008–2014

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a BMW 135i VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 60 NHTSA complaints from 41 135i runs and 6 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which 135i production run has the most complaints?

WBAUC9C56BV, a 2011 build, with 5 complaints. The typical 135i run has 1.5.

Which 135i years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2012 is heaviest at 1.6 complaints per run and 2013 lightest at 1.2.

Does the 135i get more complaints than the Mazda RX-8?

No: 1.5 complaints per production run for the 135i against 6.6 for the Mazda RX-8.

How many 135i complaints involve a crash?

1.7% of 60 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 2 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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