RoadVitals

2008 BMW 528XI Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Mar 14, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
35%
of 31 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 BMW 528XI submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2023

On March 24, 2022 I bought a 2008 BMW 528XI vehicle from Mercedes WESTWOOD, MA. UNFORTUNATELY, this car is not drivable because it needs a new transmission. It hasn't even been a year yet. The check engine light came on after the second day of purchase . Now I needed a new engine. Mercedes of WESTWOOD MA sold me faulty car (LEMON).

NHTSA ID
11511818
Incident
Mar 14, 2023
Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 528XI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The engine temperature warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,197.

NHTSA ID
11503681
Incident
Jan 24, 2023
Mileage
166,197 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 31, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 528XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was smoke coming from under the hood and through the A/C vents. The contact stated that the failure had become a recurring issue. The contact stated he would pull over for approximately 30 minutes to allow the vehicle to cool down enough to drive. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had experienced a recent failure and the contact had to have the vehicle towed to his residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11491695
Incident
Nov 15, 2020
Mileage
148,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 528XI. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, there was a burning odor coming from the engine, and blue smoke from the exhaustion pipe. Additionally, there was oil blowing out from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11480751
Incident
Aug 21, 2022
Engine
Filed Oct 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, HE STARTED HEARING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE PVC HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER CRITZ BMW LOCATED AT 7009 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31406, (912) 354-7000, AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DECLINED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11362305
Incident
Sep 1, 2020
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 18, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT ANY RATE OF SPEED WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (BMW OF TOWSON, 700 KENILWORTH DR, TOWSON, MD 21204, (410) 317-2237) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED EXCESSIVE SMOKE ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND THICK, WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11162169
Incident
Nov 26, 2018
Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER (SCHOMP BMW, 1190 PLUM VALLEY LN, HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO 80129, (303) 730-1300) WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PROVIDE THE REMEDY AND THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INTERIM RECALL NOTICE, BUT WITH NO SPECIFICATION OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED AND WHEN THE SECOND LETTER WOULD BE SENT, INDICATING THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

NHTSA ID
11058305
Incident
Dec 18, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 19, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" MY EXPANSION TANK CRACKED, THEN IT BLEW UP. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY COOLING SYSTEM. MY FAN WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE EVERY TIME I STARTED THE VEHICLE. MY THERMOSTAT HOSE DETERIORATED AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS. IN ADDITION MY ELECTRICAL/BATTERY IS BAD AND MY CAR IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING SINCE 2 MONTHS AGO. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID
11055570
Incident
Oct 21, 2017
Mileage
136,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2017

TWO ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF. NOTICED DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF EIGHT BOLTS HOLDING THE ENGINE, FOUR ON EACH SIDE. BASED ON RESEARCH, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES AND MODEL AND APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT AND DESIGN FLAW. THERE IS A CHANCE THE OTHER 6 BOLTS COULD SHEAR IF NOT REPLACED WITH STRONGER BOLTS. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE TWO BOLTS AND ADVISED WE SHOULD REPLACE THE OTHER SIX.

NHTSA ID
10948337
Incident
Jan 28, 2017
Mileage
39,262 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Dec 2, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

CAR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 80MPH, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND CAR IMMEDIATELY WENT UP IN FLAMES IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT.

NHTSA ID
10808083
Incident
Nov 29, 2015
Mileage
102,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE CAM SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE CAM SENSORS. APPROXIMATELY THREE MOTHS AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10498249
Incident
Sep 1, 2012
Mileage
120,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .