RoadVitals

2008 BMW 528XI Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
8
Latest May 2, 2014
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.
26%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 8 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lighting
Filed May 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING BECAME ABNORMALLY FOGGY. THE BULB ALSO LOOKED AS IF IT WAS FOGGY AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBLE DEFAULT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. ..UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT'S BULB, IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL THE CABLE INSULATION INSIDE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE CRUMBLING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. UPDATED 06/12/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10586182
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
106,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 23, 2013

FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE GROUNDING WIRE CONNECTOR (INSIDE THE 8 PIN CONNECTOR WHICH ATTACHES TO 8 PIN RECEIVER ON THE LIGHT) MELTING WHICH RENDERED THE BRAKE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, REVERSE LIGHT, AND LIGHTNING INOPERATIVE. AS CONNECTION WAS FAILING, THE GROUND CONNECTION WAS LIKELY INTERMITTENT LEADING TO LIGHTING MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATIONS ON DASH AND INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF RIGHT REAR LIGHTS, DIMMED BRIGHTNESS OF RIGHT REAR LIGHTS. THE INTERMITTENT OPERATION/FAILURE REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER CARS/DRIVERS OF MY CAR'S INTENTIONS. COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE REAR END COLLISIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10553517
Incident
Nov 16, 2013
Mileage
40,800 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 16, 2013

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT TAILLIGHT HAS MALFUNCTIONED COMPLETELY (BRAKE LIGHTS AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL). THE ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN TO BMW DEALERSHIPS HOWEVER THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER CPO (CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED) WARRANTY AND MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR IS MELTED DUE TO FAULTY TAIL LIGHT GROUNDING. BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE (SOME MODELS) BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER GET NOTIFIED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10552539
Incident
Nov 15, 2013
Mileage
67,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2013

MY REAR RIGHT BULB HOUSING HAS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING MY CAR TO NOT HAVE A REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, REAR RIGHT BRAKE SIGNAL AND RIGHT SIDE BACK UP LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10551935
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
790,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 31, 2013

MY REAR LEFT BULB HOUSING HAS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING MY CAR TO NOT HAVE A REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL, REAR LEFT BREAK SIGNAL OR LEFT SIDE BACK UP LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10550430
Incident
Oct 29, 2013
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 6, 2013

FAILURE OF THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE GROUNDING WIRE CONNECTOR (INSIDE THE 8 PIN CONNECTOR WHICH ATTACHES TO 8 PIN RECEIVER ON THE LIGHT) MELTING WHICH RENDERED THE BRAKE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL, REVERSE LIGHT, AND LIGHTNING INOPERATIVE. ALSO RESULTED IN THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDING REPLACEMENT. AS CONNECTION WAS FAILING, THE GROUND CONNECTION WAS LIKELY INTERMITTENT LEADING TO LIGHTING MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATIONS ON DASH AND INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF RIGHT REAR LIGHTS, DIMMED BRIGHTNESS OF RIGHT REAR LIGHTS. THE INTERMITTENT OPERATION/FAILURE REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER CARS/DRIVERS OF MY CAR'S INTENTIONS. COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE REAR END COLLISIONS. MY FAILURE MODE SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA 11V438000 RECALL FOR CERTAIN BMW 3 SERIES MODELS. PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510748
Incident
Apr 19, 2013
Mileage
42,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 18, 2013

LEFT TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT & BACKUP LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE LEFT LIGHTING ASSEMBLY WAS DISCOLORED AND SLIGHTLY DISTORTED AT THE GROUND CONDUCTOR. AROUND HALF OF THE GROUND CONDUCTOR ON THE MATING PLUG OF THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY HAD DETERIORATED AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498530
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
67,900 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 11, 2011

MY 2008 BMW 528 XI REAR PASSENGER LIGHTS GROUND WIRE BURNED UP ON 11/11/11 BEING REPLACE TODAY FOR $350 AT VOB BMW IN MARYLAND. *TR

NHTSA ID
10435244
Incident
Nov 11, 2011

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

Electrical12Engine11

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .