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.
2008 BMW 528iProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 118 owner complaints about the 2008 BMW 528i, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-683 the manufacturer reports only 52% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 19, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 BMW 528i has problems
118 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
33Exterior lighting3 crash/fire/injury
30Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
20Engine7 crash/fire/injury
15Engine and engine cooling4 crash/fire/injury
15Power train1 crash/fire/injury
14Fuel/propulsion system
14Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
9Seat belts
5Seats
87 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 33 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 30 | 6 |
| Engine | 20 | 7 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 15 | 4 |
| Power train | 15 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 0 |
| Air bags | 14 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 9 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 1 |
| 7 other systems | 8 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2008 BMW 528i 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 · 2015 Q1
Exterior lighting: tail lights
Risk. Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, 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 exterior lighting problems start?
68kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 26 exterior lighting complaints. 73% were reported before 100,000 miles.
0under 30k miles19under 100k miles7100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other 528i 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 528i median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What 528i owners report
Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The daylight lamps fall apart causing poor lighting at night and continuous alarms while driving. Also, impacting the quality of light and lack of lighting at night. The alarms are continuous and block ALL other alerts from the vehicle, including cruise control, temperature, overheating, engine,…
After purchasing this vehicle from my aunt and uncle my one headlight when bad after purchasing the headlights I replaced both the right and left one while removing the old headlights the insulation from the wires just crumbles off casuing a short bc the wires are zip tied several times together…
My front left and right headlight assembly went out. Went to take a look to realize all the wiring inside the assembly was exposed and sparking. Come to find out this was a common issue in this year make and model. They are charging $2,500 per assembly for a factory issue that could start a fire.…
Own a 2008 528i?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.