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 328xiProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 99 owner complaints about the 2008 BMW 328xi, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 3 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 April 27, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 BMW 328xi has problems
99 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
46Electrical system16 crash/fire/injury
32Engine7 crash/fire/injury
16Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
7Engine and engine cooling
6Power train
6Fuel/propulsion system
6Structure
4Exterior lighting
3Latches/locks/linkages
148 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 46 | 16 |
| Engine | 32 | 7 |
| Air bags | 16 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 1 |
| Power train | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0 |
| 8 other systems | 14 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2008 BMW 328xi 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
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.
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?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 26 electrical system complaints. 69% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles18under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other 328xi 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 328xi median. How we score
'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What 328xi owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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.…
BMW Bi Xenon Headlights wires harness. Insulation on wires peels off and start touching each other. Malfunction high beam, low beam, turning light.
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…
Own a 2008 328xi?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.