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2008 BMW M5Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 6 owner complaints about the 2008 BMW M5, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 13V-407 the manufacturer reports only 75% of affected cars repaired.

2008 BMW M5
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 75%Owner complaints63 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage73kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 26, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 BMW M5 has problems

6 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
Electrical system21
Engine21
Equipment adaptive/mobility11
Exterior lighting11
Power train10
Seats10
Service brakes10
Air bags11
Steering10
1 other systems10

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

2 recalls

2008 BMW M5 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.

Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other M5 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 M5 median. How we score

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'00'01'02'03'06'07'08'09'10'13'14'15'16'18'19'20'21'22'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What M5 owners report

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

ALL WIRES LEADING INTO THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE DETERIORATED AND ARE BARE. IT KEEPS SHORTING OUT THE LIGHTS AND SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. THIS IS A GARAGE KEPT CAR WITH 80K MILES. APPEARS MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP.
Complaint 11258658 · Sep 27, 2019 · 80,000 miles
THE SUNROOF DRAINS OF MY VEHICLE OVERFILL OR CLOG CAUSING WATER TO LEAK IN THE TRUNK AND WHEEL WELL. THE CARS WHEEL WELL HOLDS THE CARS BATTERY, RDC, AND PDC MODULES. SURROUNDED BY FOAM WHEN WATER REACHES THE MODULES THEY ARC AND SPARK CAUSING THEM TO HEAT UP AND MELT. ALSO LOCATED IN THE TRUNK IS…
Complaint 10732757 · Jul 8, 2015 · 65,000 miles

Own a 2008 M5?

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