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2008 BMW 535iProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 74 owner complaints about the 2008 BMW 535i, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 13V-407 the manufacturer reports only 75% of affected cars repaired.

46
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the 535i median · #2 of 9 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 75%Owner complaints745 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage81kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 1, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 BMW 535i has problems

74 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine272
Exterior lighting163
Electrical system152
Fuel/propulsion system130
Vehicle speed control90
Air bags70
Seat belts60
Power train60
Steering30
5 other systems91

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2008 BMW 535i 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.

75%repaired · 2015 Q1

Exterior lighting: tail lights

Recall 13V-407 · Sep 11, 2013 · 134,100 vehicles · 100,735 repaired

Risk. Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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 engine problems start?

81kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 27 engine complaints. 67% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
4under 30k miles18under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other 535i 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 535i median. How we score

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What 535i owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 535I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, WHEN WARNING MESSAGE OF "ENGINE HOT AND DRIVE MODERATELY" WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN SAW SMOKE EXITING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE…
Complaint 11373061 · Nov 4, 2020 · 138,000 miles
I WAS DRIVING HOME STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THEN TURNED GREEN WENT TO ACCELERATE CAR TOOK OFF AND LOST ALL POWER WOULD NOT MOVE PRESSING ACCELERATOR AND 2 SEMI TRUCKS COMING REAL FAST FROM CROSS TRAFFIC ALMOST KILLED ME LIGHT TURNED RED FOR ME AND GREEN FOR SEMI TRAILERS WITH NO TIME TO EXIT CAR.
Complaint 11318544 · Mar 18, 2020 · 145,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 5351. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A MISFIRE CYLINDER # 2. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN…
Complaint 11316566 · Mar 6, 2020 · 200,000 miles

Own a 2008 535i?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.