repaired · 2026 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2008 BMW 328iProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 239 owner complaints about the 2008 BMW 328i, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-513 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 3, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 BMW 328i has problems
239 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
85Electrical system18 crash/fire/injury
83Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
54Engine9 crash/fire/injury
33Engine and engine cooling4 crash/fire/injury
13Fuel/propulsion system
12Seats
11Seat belts
8Exterior lighting
7Steering
3710 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 85 | 18 |
| Air bags | 83 | 6 |
| Engine | 54 | 9 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 33 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 1 |
| Seats | 12 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 1 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 37 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2008 BMW 328i recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Emission control: crankcase (pcv)
Risk. An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
93kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 45 electrical system complaints. 53% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles24under 100k miles21100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other 328i year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 328i median. How we score
'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What 328i owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My vehicle engine cooling fan caught fire one evening while following behind someone to make sure they made it to a parking lot safely due to their own vehicle having problems requiring them to stay under around 20mph. Once we made it to a parking lot, i exited my vehicle to check on the other…
ON ALL E90 SERIES 3 (2008 BMW 328i), the PCV VALVE FAILS AND IS WELDED INTO THE VALVE COVER, THUS IF IT LEAKS OR GETS CRACKS IN THE ORANGE MEMBRANE, IT WILL CAUSE CAR TO STALL.. I ALMOST CRASHED 2x and this part should be recalled..IT AFFECTS THE FUEL AIR RATIO IN BMW E90, AND THE CAR WILL RUN LEAN…
The contact owned a 2008 BMW 328I. The contact stated while driving at an undetermined speed, there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the engine was misfiring. The vehicle was…
Own a 2008 328i?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.