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2008 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 528I years

Owner complaints for the 2008 BMW 528I are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

86 reports with mileage · 32 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports16 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2024
Air Bags

My BMW i528 was parked on May 23, 2024, and the driver airbag deflated without being tampered with. The incident is on surveillance camera. Since the car was manufactured in 2008, the insurance company will not cover the cost of the incident because it was not the result of a collision. There was no light that came on prior to t…

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My BMW i528 was parked on May 23, 2024, and the driver airbag deflated without being tampered with. The incident is on surveillance camera. Since the car was manufactured in 2008, the insurance company will not cover the cost of the incident because it was not the result of a collision. There was no light that came on prior to the incident. A diagnostic check was performed and there was no indication of a problem with the airbag.

NHTSA ODI #11594190

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2020
Air Bags

VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT (SRS) FAILURE. 2ND TIME THIS SAFETY RELATED SENSOR HAS FAILED. FIRST TIME DEALERSHIP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FOR REPLACEMENT NOW. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ITEM AND IT HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SAME ITEM HAS BEEN RECALLED FO…

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VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT (SRS) FAILURE. 2ND TIME THIS SAFETY RELATED SENSOR HAS FAILED. FIRST TIME DEALERSHIP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FOR REPLACEMENT NOW. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ITEM AND IT HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT SAME ITEM HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR PRIOR MODELS AND YEARS. I BELIEVE THIS ITEM SHALL BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11329844

119,000 miles · Jan 22, 2020
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED, THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAIN SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT WAS DEACTIVATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED, THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAIN SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT WAS DEACTIVATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

NHTSA ODI #11301050

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2019
Air Bags

FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. THIS STARTED HAPPENING A YEAR AGO AFTER VISITING DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE. I CANNOT HAVE PASSENGER NEXT TO ME BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID OF MALFUNCTION IN AIRBAG SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #11289086

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2019
Air Bags

SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING

NHTSA ODI #11193043

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2019
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

AIR BAG SENSOR FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NOT WORKING. REPLACED ONCE WHILE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. SAME SENSOR MALFUNCTION AGAIN. BMW WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS I PAY, COST OF REPLACING SENSOR OVER 4,000.00. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW SINCE SAME PART IS AGAIN NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #11165539

176,000 miles · Oct 14, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

ERROR CODE 93C8 - DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION

NHTSA ODI #11033324

90,000 miles · Apr 24, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts

CAR HAS PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUCTION SINCE FABRICATION.WAS NEVER HANDLED. I AM NEW OWNER AND TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODELL AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT BUT MY VIN DOESNT FALL UNDER IT. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10980259

136,298 miles · Jan 20, 2017
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SUDDENLY THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT TURNED ON. I DID NOT HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE TRIED SITTING DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND PUT ON MY SEAT BELT TO SEE IF IT WILL GO…

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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SUDDENLY THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT TURNED ON. I DID NOT HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE TRIED SITTING DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND PUT ON MY SEAT BELT TO SEE IF IT WILL GO AWAY BUT NO LUCK. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT GO AWAY EVEN IF I BUCKLE THE DRIVERS SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10946824

90,000 miles · Oct 19, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

I HAVE A 2008 528I AND I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, OR AIR BAG HAD AN ERROR REGARDLESS OF A PASSENGER PRESENT OR NOT ANY TIME THAT CAR IS TURNED ON. I RESEARCHED IT AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON BMWS AND I FEEL AS ITS AN ISSUE WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE CAR AND THE REPAIR SHOU…

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I HAVE A 2008 528I AND I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, OR AIR BAG HAD AN ERROR REGARDLESS OF A PASSENGER PRESENT OR NOT ANY TIME THAT CAR IS TURNED ON. I RESEARCHED IT AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON BMWS AND I FEEL AS ITS AN ISSUE WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE CAR AND THE REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10917423

Official recalls

2

17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Oct 30, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

13V407000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Sep 11, 2013

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.