BMW 5-SERIES · model year

2008 BMW 5-SERIES

9 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008BMW5-SERIES carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 5-SERIES is fuel system, gasoline with 37 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (18) and engine and engine cooling:engine (17). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2008 5-SERIES. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

9
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

9 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE37
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING6
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
TIRES2
POWER TRAIN2
WHEELS2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2

Recent Complaints

20251105ENGINE

My vehicle had a faulty PCV valve that was under "Stop Drive," order. I received no correspondence from the NHTSA nor from BMW of North America in regards to this. My BMW X-5 had significant issues that are directly associated with this issue. After contacting BMW of North America directly because I could not reach anyone at my nearest BMW Service Department, it was escalated twice to attempt to arrange for my vehicle that I unknowingly continued to drive. My vehicle has sat undriven since May of 2024. It was finally picked up, towed to the dealership for repairs related to the PCV recall. The PCV valve was replaced and my vehicle was returned to me in undriveable condition. None of the rough idle, burning smell or engine issues were attended to. They simply replaced the valve without further investigation into the damage done by continued driving of a "Stop Drive," order. BMW of North America is placing blame solely on the NHTSA for not sending me correspondence relative to this r

20251105FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My vehicle had a faulty PCV valve that was under "Stop Drive," order. I received no correspondence from the NHTSA nor from BMW of North America in regards to this. My BMW X-5 had significant issues that are directly associated with this issue. After contacting BMW of North America directly because I could not reach anyone at my nearest BMW Service Department, it was escalated twice to attempt to arrange for my vehicle that I unknowingly continued to drive. My vehicle has sat undriven since May of 2024. It was finally picked up, towed to the dealership for repairs related to the PCV recall. The PCV valve was replaced and my vehicle was returned to me in undriveable condition. None of the rough idle, burning smell or engine issues were attended to. They simply replaced the valve without further investigation into the damage done by continued driving of a "Stop Drive," order. BMW of North America is placing blame solely on the NHTSA for not sending me correspondence relative to this r

20171106AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING AND BUMPED UP AGAINST A SIDEWALK CURVE AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MY CAR SHUT OFF. IT WILL NOT START ANOTHER MORE AND THE HOOD UNDERNEATH WAS ON FIRE. (SMOKE WAS PRESENT).

Mileage: 3

20171106ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS DRIVING AND BUMPED UP AGAINST A SIDEWALK CURVE AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MY CAR SHUT OFF. IT WILL NOT START ANOTHER MORE AND THE HOOD UNDERNEATH WAS ON FIRE. (SMOKE WAS PRESENT).

Mileage: 3

20171106ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING AND BUMPED UP AGAINST A SIDEWALK CURVE AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MY CAR SHUT OFF. IT WILL NOT START ANOTHER MORE AND THE HOOD UNDERNEATH WAS ON FIRE. (SMOKE WAS PRESENT).

Mileage: 3

20160802AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. BMW IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN MARCH & 5 MONTHS LATER BMW DEALERS STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE AIRBAGS. HOW IS IT THAT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE?

20160330SEATS

FRAUD ACTIVITY POSSIBLE CLONE REFINANCED IDENTITY THEFT REMOTE ACCESS WAS PUT ON UNAUTHORIZED THREAT SAFETY FOR OWNER. TWO LOAN START DATES ONE IN REPO

20160330UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FRAUD ACTIVITY POSSIBLE CLONE REFINANCED IDENTITY THEFT REMOTE ACCESS WAS PUT ON UNAUTHORIZED THREAT SAFETY FOR OWNER. TWO LOAN START DATES ONE IN REPO

20160330EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FRAUD ACTIVITY POSSIBLE CLONE REFINANCED IDENTITY THEFT REMOTE ACCESS WAS PUT ON UNAUTHORIZED THREAT SAFETY FOR OWNER. TWO LOAN START DATES ONE IN REPO

20160216ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JUST BOUGHT A USED 2008 528I (E60) W/94K MILES, IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION. WENT TO CHANGE THE ANGEL EYES FROM DRAB YELLOW TO LUX LED'S. NOTICED BARE WIRES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BULB CONNECTORS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. TRIED TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE, JUST MADE MORE BARE WIRE. THE MORE I TOUCHED THE WIRES, THE MORE INSULATION FLAKED OFF, ALMOST LIKE A POWDER. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. CAN'T POSSIBLY BE SAFE. DEFINITELY A FIRE HAZARD. NEIGHBOR BROUGHT OVER A BOTTLE OF LIQUID TAPE, AND I RE-COATED ALL THE BARE WIRE I COULD SEE, MAKING SURE EACH WIRE WAS SEPARATED SO A SHORT WOULD NOT OCCUR. THAT IS A GOOD TEMPORARY FIX. WILL HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS PROBLEM, SINCE MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE HEADLIGHT WIRING IS MADE WITH BAD, QUICKLY DEGRADING WIRE INSULATION. A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT IN OTHERWISE GOOD GERMAN QUALITY AND ENGINEERING. I GUESS THE SOURCE PROCURER AT THE FACTORY SAVED BMW SOME BIG BUCKS ON THAT WIRE!! THIS IS DEFINITELY A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. TOR

Mileage: 94,000

20160216EXTERIOR LIGHTING

JUST BOUGHT A USED 2008 528I (E60) W/94K MILES, IN OTHERWISE PERFECT CONDITION. WENT TO CHANGE THE ANGEL EYES FROM DRAB YELLOW TO LUX LED'S. NOTICED BARE WIRES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BULB CONNECTORS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. TRIED TO USE ELECTRICAL TAPE, JUST MADE MORE BARE WIRE. THE MORE I TOUCHED THE WIRES, THE MORE INSULATION FLAKED OFF, ALMOST LIKE A POWDER. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. CAN'T POSSIBLY BE SAFE. DEFINITELY A FIRE HAZARD. NEIGHBOR BROUGHT OVER A BOTTLE OF LIQUID TAPE, AND I RE-COATED ALL THE BARE WIRE I COULD SEE, MAKING SURE EACH WIRE WAS SEPARATED SO A SHORT WOULD NOT OCCUR. THAT IS A GOOD TEMPORARY FIX. WILL HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS PROBLEM, SINCE MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE HEADLIGHT WIRING IS MADE WITH BAD, QUICKLY DEGRADING WIRE INSULATION. A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT IN OTHERWISE GOOD GERMAN QUALITY AND ENGINEERING. I GUESS THE SOURCE PROCURER AT THE FACTORY SAVED BMW SOME BIG BUCKS ON THAT WIRE!! THIS IS DEFINITELY A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. TOR

Mileage: 94,000

20151031ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION/SHEATHING WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT/HOUSING IS SHOWING SIGNS OF AND OR OUTRIGHT DETERIORATION WHICH IN TURN EXPOSES BARE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. AT THIS POINT, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY EFFECTED LIGHTS BUT THE WIRES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALSO NOTICEABLY TROUBLED. THE ISSUE IS NOT SPEED, MOVEMENT OR AREA DEPENDENT. FOR FURTHER REFERENCE, I WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO AN OWNER'S FORUM DETAILING OTHER'S DILEMMAS DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=798640 I LOOK FORWARD TO A RESPONSE.

Mileage: 139,000

20151031VISIBILITY/WIPER

ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION/SHEATHING WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT/HOUSING IS SHOWING SIGNS OF AND OR OUTRIGHT DETERIORATION WHICH IN TURN EXPOSES BARE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. AT THIS POINT, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY EFFECTED LIGHTS BUT THE WIRES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALSO NOTICEABLY TROUBLED. THE ISSUE IS NOT SPEED, MOVEMENT OR AREA DEPENDENT. FOR FURTHER REFERENCE, I WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO AN OWNER'S FORUM DETAILING OTHER'S DILEMMAS DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=798640 I LOOK FORWARD TO A RESPONSE.

Mileage: 139,000

20151031EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ELECTRICAL WIRING INSULATION/SHEATHING WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT/HOUSING IS SHOWING SIGNS OF AND OR OUTRIGHT DETERIORATION WHICH IN TURN EXPOSES BARE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. AT THIS POINT, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY EFFECTED LIGHTS BUT THE WIRES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALSO NOTICEABLY TROUBLED. THE ISSUE IS NOT SPEED, MOVEMENT OR AREA DEPENDENT. FOR FURTHER REFERENCE, I WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO AN OWNER'S FORUM DETAILING OTHER'S DILEMMAS DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=798640 I LOOK FORWARD TO A RESPONSE.

Mileage: 139,000

20150429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

( I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER THIS VEHICLE) WHILE REPLACING A BURNT OUT HEADLIGHT, I NOTICED THAT THE INSULATION IN THE SEALED HEADLIGHT WAS MISSING. WHEN I CHECKED THE OPPOSITE SIDE, I FOUND THE SAME THING, THE INSULATION WAS BROKEN AND MISSING. BEING THAT THIS IS A SEALED HEADLIGHT HOUSING, I AM UNABLE TO REMOVE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. BMW PARTS STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT SOLD FOR THOSE LIGHTS. ONE HAS TO PURCHASE A COMPLETELY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT A AVERAGE COST OF $700.00+. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

20150122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OUR 2007 BMW 530XI DEVELOPED A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WARNING. A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK APPEARS ON THE DASH SCREEN WITH A WARNING ON THE COMPUTER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND UNLOCKS PERFECTLY EVERY TIME. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER SAYS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE MUST BE REPLACED FOR $600. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM ON BMWS AND THAT BMW CORPORATION IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

20150122STEERING

OUR 2007 BMW 530XI DEVELOPED A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WARNING. A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK APPEARS ON THE DASH SCREEN WITH A WARNING ON THE COMPUTER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND UNLOCKS PERFECTLY EVERY TIME. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER SAYS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE MUST BE REPLACED FOR $600. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM ON BMWS AND THAT BMW CORPORATION IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

20141222VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE - VERY LOUD - ON THE TOP OF MY CAR. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FELL OR LANDED ON THE SUNROOF. I SAFELY BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND THEN SAW THE HUGE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF! *TR

Mileage: 114,400

20141112FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GASOLINE IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR, WHICH IS ACCESSED BENEATH THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT, DUE TO A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HOUSING. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN BMW REPAIR, TELLS ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW AND MERCEDES VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20141015FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ALL 6 FUEL INJECTORS FAILED. CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

Compare 2008BMW5-SERIES to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 BMW 5-SERIES have?
The 2008 BMW 5-SERIES has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 BMW 5-SERIES?
The most-complained component for the 2008 BMW 5-SERIES is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 37 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 2008 BMW 5-SERIES safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.