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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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

What owners actually said

118 reports
60,000 miles · May 25, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

PERMANENT LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY OF REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS TAIL, BRAKE, TURN-SIGNAL, REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI #10721278

100,200 miles · Apr 23, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE INTERIOR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE CHIME SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE INTERIOR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE CHIME SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PADDED SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,200.

NHTSA ODI #10712451

105,000 miles · Apr 19, 2015
Electrical System

INSULATION OF THE WIRES IN THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY FLAKING OFF. ALMOST ALL OF IT IS NOW MISSING. WORRIED IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE. SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706517

132,499 miles · Apr 14, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS: WIRE INSULATION ON HEAD LIGHT CANNON PLUGS IS RETRACTING FROM WIRES. THIS COULD CAUSE AN SYSTEM ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705679

82,000 miles · Apr 7, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I LIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY 2008 BMW FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. MY COWORKER HAS THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, AND IS ALSO EXPERIENCING OR HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. WE BOTH HAVE HAD OUR CARS IN THE SHOP AT THE SAME TIME AND THE VEHICLES ARE NOW REPAIRED. THE ISSUE WITH THE …

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I LIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY 2008 BMW FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. MY COWORKER HAS THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, AND IS ALSO EXPERIENCING OR HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. WE BOTH HAVE HAD OUR CARS IN THE SHOP AT THE SAME TIME AND THE VEHICLES ARE NOW REPAIRED. THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE IS IT BEGINS TO STALL AS DRIVING WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN OUR AREA FOR TRAFFIC. THE CAR WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED WHILE DRIVING AND YOU CAN NOT GO OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR ALSO JERKS. THE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH OUR VEHICLES WERE THE SAME ; OIL LEAK, A TRANSMISSION LEAK, AND A PROBLEM WITH THE CYLINDERS NOT WORKING AS CONNECTED TO THE SPARK PLUGS. AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. AND TIMES WHEN YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR STALLS WHICH ALMOST CAUSES THE CAR BEHIND YOU TO RUN INTO YOU.THE MAINTENANCE FOR MY CAR WAS 3200 DOLLARS AT THE DEALERSHIP. MY COWORKER TOOK HER CAR TO AN IMPORT REPAIR SHOP AND OVER THE COURSE OF 2 TIMES, SHE ENDED UP SPENDING ABOUT 1200 PLUS DOLLARS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE REPORTING IT TO THE RIGHT AUTHORITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704330

65,600 miles · Mar 13, 2015
Engine

MY CAR IS LIKING OIL BY THE ENGINE COVER GASKET AND IS DOING IT ON TOP OF THE EXHAUST, THIS GIVE THE CAR A SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND BMW SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR A CAR. I WAS DOING A RESEARCH AND I CAME ACROSS HYUNDAI RECALLED VERACRUZ 07-12 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. LOOKS LIKE BMW DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR…

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MY CAR IS LIKING OIL BY THE ENGINE COVER GASKET AND IS DOING IT ON TOP OF THE EXHAUST, THIS GIVE THE CAR A SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND BMW SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR A CAR. I WAS DOING A RESEARCH AND I CAME ACROSS HYUNDAI RECALLED VERACRUZ 07-12 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. LOOKS LIKE BMW DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS... I WANT THIS TO BE FIX , FREE OF CHARGE IN ONE OF THEIR DEALERS... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694222

100,000 miles · Mar 1, 2015
Engine

I HAVE 2 DIFFERENT ISSUES. THE 1ST ONE IS WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CARE STARTS TO SHAKE. TODAY WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED MY CAR HAD SHOOK AND THEN MY ENGINE SIGN POPPED UP AND IT GAVE ME A MESSAGE THAT SAID "ENGINE MALFUNCTION ENGINE HAS LOST POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691383

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2015
Exterior Lighting

SUDDENLY RIGHT SIDED HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, I OPENED THE HEADLIGHT COVER TO CHANGE THE BULB . FOUND ALL THE WIRING WAS CRUMBLED AND THE COATING WAS MELTED. HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENS A LOT. I CALLED BMWNA TO COMPLAINT ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO OPEN COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER BMW…

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SUDDENLY RIGHT SIDED HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, I OPENED THE HEADLIGHT COVER TO CHANGE THE BULB . FOUND ALL THE WIRING WAS CRUMBLED AND THE COATING WAS MELTED. HEADLIGHT CAME BACK ON. SINCE THEN IT HAPPENS A LOT. I CALLED BMWNA TO COMPLAINT ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO OPEN COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER BMW 528I 2008 OWNERS. THIS IS HAZARDOUS ISSUE AS OPEN WIRES CAN POTENTIALLY CATCH FIRE IN HEADLIGHT. SAME PROBLEM IN TAIL LIGHT INITIATED RECALL LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682841

68,000 miles · Dec 22, 2014
EngineEquipment Adaptive/mobility

OIL DRIPPING FROM VALVE COVER ON TO EXAUST MANIFOLD. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. VALVE COVER BOLTS BROKEN,OIL LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667728

60,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKING BARRIER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT FROM THE AIR BAG, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT ARM. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF A P…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKING BARRIER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT FROM THE AIR BAG, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT ARM. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF HIS DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10605619

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.