2008 BMW 328XI Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 BMW 328XI, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical4633.1%
- Engine3827.3%
- Airbags1611.5%
- Fuel system96.5%
- Body & structure64.3%
- Powertrain (other)64.3%
- Exterior lighting42.9%
- Steering32.2%
- Interior & seats32.2%
- Visibility32.2%
- Suspension21.4%
- Tires & wheels10.7%
- Other / unspecified10.7%
- Brakes10.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Wiring inside headlamp is not up to Standards. For the cost the replace the headlight the wiring should not be falling apart causing shorts. One night I was driving and got a warning on my dash for my headlights and noticed it was a bit harder to see. Pulled over and noticed the headlight was out. Went to replace the bulb and noticed the wires have zero protection on them and are all touching.. this is not safe as wire shorts can cause a fire and not to mention the visibility issues. The driver side is not the bright at all and flickers while I’m driving. Both sides are having this issue and that’s unacceptable saying the headlights are over 800 dollars EACH and that’s used.. I do not feel safe driving this vehicle knowing that the wire short can cause a fire while I’m driving.
BMW Bi Xenon Headlights wires harness. Insulation on wires peels off and start touching each other. Malfunction high beam, low beam, turning light.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owned a 2008 BMW 328xi. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact's son was driving approximately 30 MPH when the son noticed that smoke had begun to issue from the dashboard vents. The son pulled over and stopped the vehicle and exited when the vehicle dashboard burst into flames. The fire department was called and extinguished the flames with water. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact's insurance provider declared the vehicle a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The positive battery fuse cable under the glovebox is placed into a plastic space causing melting. This leads to the vehicle going dead and not even emergency lights will work. This recall has been placed on very few BMWs however it is affecting way more then they are saying. You can see in UK where a man was killed for the vehicle going dead in the middle of the road and emergency lights cannot be used to warn other drivers. How has their not been taken car of already. I am extremely disappointed in our system, and in BMW. My mind is completely blown that this is not cared about.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag deployed unintendedly. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated prior to the air bag deployment. The air bag deployed, and there was no occupant inside the vehicle. The contact stated that after the air bag had deployed, the air bag warning light was illuminated after the air bag had deployed. The vehicle was recently taken to the dealer and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND ALL DOORS LOCKED FROM INSIDE. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS INSIDE THAT NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO GET OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS CATCHING FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Unknown
The car was over heating and not starting as well as fuel pump error on my dash. There is an open recall on my vehicle starting March of 2022 it is now June and BMW says they don’t know when they will have a remedy for this and it could be months but I need my car.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT AND SHUT OFF, CAR IGNITED IN FLAMES AND IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE FRONT END VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. *JS *BF *TR*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING 65MPH IN HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF. SAFELY PULLED OVER. RESTARTED. DROVE ANOTHER 5 MILES, ENGINE TURNS OFF AGAIN. RESTARTED. INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD RESET EXCEPT CLOCK AND ODOMETER. FOLLOWING DAY CAR STARTED AND RAN. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN LOCAL ROAD, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, STEERING LOCKED, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS TURNING RIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, IT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ISSUE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
Wiring inside headlamp is not up to Standards. For the cost the replace the headlight the wiring should not be falling apart causing shorts. One night I was driving and got a warning on my dash for my headlights and noticed it was a bit harder to see. Pulled over and noticed the headlight was out. Went to replace the bulb and noticed the wires have zero protection on them and are all touching.. this is not safe as wire shorts can cause a fire and not to mention the visibility issues. The driver side is not the bright at all and flickers while I’m driving. Both sides are having this issue and that’s unacceptable saying the headlights are over 800 dollars EACH and that’s used.. I do not feel safe driving this vehicle knowing that the wire short can cause a fire while I’m driving.
BMW Bi Xenon Headlights wires harness. Insulation on wires peels off and start touching each other. Malfunction high beam, low beam, turning light.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING MY CAR FOR SHORT DISTANCE MAKES ENGINE HOT AND SMELL ELECTRICAL WIRE BURNING. THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR WITH DIFFERENT VIN HAS RECALL OF PROBLEM DESCRIBED. ATTACHED PHOTO DESCRIBES SAME PROBLEM I HAVE. PLEASE PROVIDE A SOLUTION
DRIVING 65MPH IN HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF. SAFELY PULLED OVER. RESTARTED. DROVE ANOTHER 5 MILES, ENGINE TURNS OFF AGAIN. RESTARTED. INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD RESET EXCEPT CLOCK AND ODOMETER. FOLLOWING DAY CAR STARTED AND RAN. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN LOCAL ROAD, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, STEERING LOCKED, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS TURNING RIGHT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE FOB, CENTRAL BUTTON ON THE DASH, AND THE METAL KEY STORED INSIDE THE FOB AND NOTHING WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE CAR IS TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR AND REACH OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND PULL THE HANDLE. WITH A CHILD IN THE CAR IN A SAFETY SEAT, MY CONCERN IS THAT ALL OF THE DOORS WILL SUBSEQUENTLY FAIL AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO GET MYSELF AND MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR MODEL VEHICLE AND TWO YEARS OLDER - EITHER DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY, PASSENGERS DOORS ONLY, OR ALL OF THE DOORS - AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THEN IS THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD REPORTED IN THIS COMPLAINT TAKES PLACE WHEN THE PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE CAR BY OPENING THE DOORS, GETTING TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. IT WILL WORSEN TO A CRITICAL LEVEL WHEN THIS FAILURE HAPPENS WITH PASSENGERS WITH LIMITED MOBILITY INSIDE THE CAR OR IN CASE THERE IS A BABY SITTING IN A CHILD SEAT INSTALLED IN THE REAR SEAT. WHEN THE DESCRIBED FAILURE MODE HAPPENS, ALL PASSENGERS WILL NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUN ROOF (IF AVAILABLE) OR THROUGH THE WINDOWS. IN CASE OF FIRE THIS COULD BE A LETHAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL PASSENGERS. AND IN CASE OF VOLUMINOUS PERSONS SITTING IN SEATS OTHERS THAN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. HOW THE FAILURE HAPPENED: AFTER DRIVING FOR APROX. 10 MINUTES AND HAVING PARKED, THE DOORS OF THE CAR DID NOT UNLOCK. THEY DID NOT UNLOCK EITHER USING THE FOB, NEITHER THE DOOR HANDLE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR NOR THE UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE CENTRAL DASHBOARD. THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH THE SUN ROOF OR CLIMBING OUT THE WINDOW. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE DRIVER'S DOOR FINALLY UNLOCK AND COULD BE OPENED. ONCE OUTSIDE THE CAR, I COULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR (BUT NOT ANY OTHER DOOR) MANUALLY WITH THE METAL KEY INSIDE THE FOB. THE OTHER PASSENGER HAD TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. I HAVE BEEN TO A BMW DEALERSHIP AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR IT. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A BLOWN FUSE DUE TO OVER CURRENT IN ONE OF THE ACTUATORS OF ONE OF THE DOORS. THE EFFECT IS THAT THE PASSENGERS CANNOT COME OUT OF THE CAR AS THERE IS NOT ANY MANUAL MECHANISM TO UNLOCK. THERE IS OTHER COMPLAINTS IN NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE (FOR EXAMPLE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10459121). I RECOMMEND THAT NHTSA CONDUCTS A SAFETY INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK ON THIS OR ANY OTHER AFFECTED MODEL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Wiring inside headlamp is not up to Standards. For the cost the replace the headlight the wiring should not be falling apart causing shorts. One night I was driving and got a warning on my dash for my headlights and noticed it was a bit harder to see. Pulled over and noticed the headlight was out. Went to replace the bulb and noticed the wires have zero protection on them and are all touching.. this is not safe as wire shorts can cause a fire and not to mention the visibility issues. The driver side is not the bright at all and flickers while I’m driving. Both sides are having this issue and that’s unacceptable saying the headlights are over 800 dollars EACH and that’s used.. I do not feel safe driving this vehicle knowing that the wire short can cause a fire while I’m driving.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE SUN ROOF INTO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
Mileage Rollback
I HAVE BEEN TELLING THE BMW DEALER FOR A YEAR NOW THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS BAD WHEN THE CAR HITS THE LITTLEST BUMP THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT EXPLODED I HAVE A BAD LEFT FRONT STRUT AND I THINK ITS A DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE IT NOTED AND HAVE A RECALL PLACED ON THIS 328XI 2008. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
225/40R18 the stoplight right down route 7 by stop and shop there is a rectangular hole in the street. I could not avoid it when driving Friday morning 4/25/25 and the dip in the ground blew my driver side front and rear tires and scratched the rims. I had to spend my day Friday getting my tires replaced and now I have scratches on my rims which are fairly new
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR LOW PRESSURE ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. TIRES HAD BEEN MOUNTED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS PRIOR, WHEN MECHANIC TOOK RIM OFF TO TEST FOR LEAK DISCOVERED THREE CRACKS IN RIM ALONG OUTSIDE OF INNER RIM. HAS ORIGINAL RIMS THAT CAME WITH CAR, BMW 10 SPOKE 17" ALLOY STYLE 159. TIRES MOUNTED ARE RUN FLAT AS THEY ARE REPLACEMENTS FOR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MILES AN HOUR AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WAS HARD TO ENGAGE DUE TO THE RESISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DID NOT SAY WHAT THE PUMP WAS USED FOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/09/10
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .