RoadVitals

2008 BMW 650I Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
6
Latest May 4, 2022
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 BMW 650I, 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

  • Electrical333.3%
  • Engine222.2%
  • Fuel system111.1%
  • Interior & seats111.1%
  • Exterior lighting111.1%
  • Powertrain (other)111.1%

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ALL THE WIRING TO THE STANDARD XENON HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE DETERIORATED. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW, AS THEY WERE USING BIODEGRADABLE WIRING COATING. THE PROTECTIVE COATING OF THE WIRES DRIES UP, FALLS OFF AND CREATES SHORTS LEADING TO TOTAL HEADLIGHT FAILURE THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMERIOUS COMPLAINTS OF THESE WIRES CAUSING CAR AND ENGINE FIRES AS WELL AS DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEIR ONLY FIX IS TO HAVE THE CONSUMER BUY NEW HEADLIGHTS AT ROUGHLY $1800 PER LIGHT. IN MY CASE, BOTH HEADLAMPS HAVE DETERIORATED WIRE COATING AND EXPOSED WIRES. THE RIGHT HEADLAMP HAS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 11254889 · filed Sep 12, 2019

WE HAVE ALMOST DIED IN THIS CAR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IN 2017, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND STARTER IN FLAMES. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE CAR SPENT A WEEK IN THE SHOP GETTING "REPAIRED". THIS PAST WEEK, AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I SMELLED WHAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING METAL. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD HOWEVER NOTHING WAS THERE. FELT A SLIGHT BURN ON MYSELF AND DISCOVERED THAT MY HEATED SEAT HAD BURNED A A HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLE IF NOT BIGGER INTO THE SEAT AND BURNED THROUGH MY EXPENSIVE JACKET AND A SWEATER! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, WE LEARNED THAT THOUSANDS OF BMW'S CATCH ON FIRE EVERY YEAR. WE SPENT MONEY ON A LUXURY VEHICLE FOR MORE SAFETY AND COMFORT, NOT A DEATH TRAP. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HAVE NOT DONE SO SINCE THE LAST FIRE (BURNED SEAT).

NHTSA ID 11176430 · filed Feb 12, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 650I. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the roadway and had the vehicle towed an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the vehicle was leaking oil and the engine oil seals needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. Additionally, the vehicle had lost power while on the road causing the contact to have to pull off the road. The contact observed that the "engine malfunction" warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the engine failure had been ongoing. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,001.

NHTSA ID 11463361 · filed May 4, 2022

WE HAVE ALMOST DIED IN THIS CAR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IN 2017, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND STARTER IN FLAMES. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE CAR SPENT A WEEK IN THE SHOP GETTING "REPAIRED". THIS PAST WEEK, AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I SMELLED WHAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING METAL. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD HOWEVER NOTHING WAS THERE. FELT A SLIGHT BURN ON MYSELF AND DISCOVERED THAT MY HEATED SEAT HAD BURNED A A HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLE IF NOT BIGGER INTO THE SEAT AND BURNED THROUGH MY EXPENSIVE JACKET AND A SWEATER! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, WE LEARNED THAT THOUSANDS OF BMW'S CATCH ON FIRE EVERY YEAR. WE SPENT MONEY ON A LUXURY VEHICLE FOR MORE SAFETY AND COMFORT, NOT A DEATH TRAP. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HAVE NOT DONE SO SINCE THE LAST FIRE (BURNED SEAT).

NHTSA ID 11176430 · filed Feb 12, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY IN TANK FUEL PUMP THAT HASN'T BEEN REPLACE I. NOTIFYIED MY BMW DEALER SHIP IN HENDERSON NV. AND THEY AND THEY REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE MY RECALL ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP THEY REFUSE TO DO IT. AND YES I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAIL. AND MY VEHICLE FALLS IN THE CATEGORY OF FOR THE RECALL IS LISTED IN THE RECALL BY NASTA

NHTSA ID 11296889 · filed Jan 3, 2020

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WE HAVE ALMOST DIED IN THIS CAR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IN 2017, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, AND OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND STARTER IN FLAMES. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE CAR SPENT A WEEK IN THE SHOP GETTING "REPAIRED". THIS PAST WEEK, AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I SMELLED WHAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING METAL. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD HOWEVER NOTHING WAS THERE. FELT A SLIGHT BURN ON MYSELF AND DISCOVERED THAT MY HEATED SEAT HAD BURNED A A HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLE IF NOT BIGGER INTO THE SEAT AND BURNED THROUGH MY EXPENSIVE JACKET AND A SWEATER! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, WE LEARNED THAT THOUSANDS OF BMW'S CATCH ON FIRE EVERY YEAR. WE SPENT MONEY ON A LUXURY VEHICLE FOR MORE SAFETY AND COMFORT, NOT A DEATH TRAP. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HAVE NOT DONE SO SINCE THE LAST FIRE (BURNED SEAT).

NHTSA ID 11176430 · filed Feb 12, 2019

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ALL THE WIRING TO THE STANDARD XENON HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE DETERIORATED. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW, AS THEY WERE USING BIODEGRADABLE WIRING COATING. THE PROTECTIVE COATING OF THE WIRES DRIES UP, FALLS OFF AND CREATES SHORTS LEADING TO TOTAL HEADLIGHT FAILURE THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMERIOUS COMPLAINTS OF THESE WIRES CAUSING CAR AND ENGINE FIRES AS WELL AS DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEIR ONLY FIX IS TO HAVE THE CONSUMER BUY NEW HEADLIGHTS AT ROUGHLY $1800 PER LIGHT. IN MY CASE, BOTH HEADLAMPS HAVE DETERIORATED WIRE COATING AND EXPOSED WIRES. THE RIGHT HEADLAMP HAS FAILED.

NHTSA ID 11254889 · filed Sep 12, 2019

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ENTERED LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED WAS REDUCED. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,965.

NHTSA ID 11354270 · filed Sep 10, 2020

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

Data on this page last refreshed .