Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
470–25K
3025–50K
950–75K
475–100K
1100–150K
0150K+
91 reports with mileage · 7 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
98 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS THE SECOND EPISODE. AFTER THE FIRST EPISODE I HAD TAKEN IT TO BMW DEALER,THEY HAD IT INSPECTED IT AND SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH AND FIXED IT. I HAPPENED TODAY AGAIN AND HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY IT IS FUEL PUMP PROBLEM AND GAVE A THURSDAY…
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ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS THE SECOND EPISODE. AFTER THE FIRST EPISODE I HAD TAKEN IT TO BMW DEALER,THEY HAD IT INSPECTED IT AND SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH AND FIXED IT. I HAPPENED TODAY AGAIN AND HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO BMW DEALER AND THEY SAY IT IS FUEL PUMP PROBLEM AND GAVE A THURSDAY APPOINTMENT TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. CURRENTLY I AM FACING ATLEAST A 40% POWER REDUCTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10342414
30,000 miles · Jun 18, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2008 BMW 535I "ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER!" MESSAGE ON 06/07/10. IT HAS AROUND 30K MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A WASTEGATE MALFUNCTION. I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER ON 06/08/10 AND DROVE IT TO FLORIDA ON 06/09/10. AFTER BEING IN FLORIDA FOR 4 DAYS, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE I-…
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2008 BMW 535I "ENGINE MALFUNCTION - REDUCED POWER!" MESSAGE ON 06/07/10. IT HAS AROUND 30K MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A WASTEGATE MALFUNCTION. I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER ON 06/08/10 AND DROVE IT TO FLORIDA ON 06/09/10. AFTER BEING IN FLORIDA FOR 4 DAYS, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE I-DRIVE SYSTEM FROZE AND EVENTUALLY POWERED OFF AND CAME RIGHT BACK ON. THE CAR SAT OVERNIGHT, AND I MADE IT BACK TO ATLANTA THE NEXT DAY WITHOUT ANY ISSUES (NO ERROR ON THE DISPLAY). TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY, 06/14 AND THIS TIME A LOW PRESSURE SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE PROBLEM. PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER YESTERDAY (06/16) AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. DROVE TO WORK TODAY (06/17), NO PROBLEM. ON THE WAY HOME TODAY, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE CAR WILL BE GOING BACK TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS. THESE CARS APPEAR TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336914
27,000 miles · Jun 8, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2008 BMW 535XI- ENGINE FAILURES AND REDUCED POWER AT HIGH SPEEDS- VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335192
1 miles · Jun 5, 2010
Seat Belts
THE SEAT BELT'S HEIGHT IS NOT ADJUSTABLE AND TOO LOW FOR A 6FT5IN DRIVER. THE SEAT BELT OFTEN RIDES ON LEFT SIDE OF SHOULDER INSTEAD OF ON TOP. IT IS NOT LIKELY TO FUNCTION OPTIMALLY IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10334693
7,000 miles · May 19, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE N54 ENGINE IN THE BMW IS A HAZARD-I ALMOST GOT KILLED WHEN MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD-BMW REPLACED THE HP FUEL PUMP 3X ALREADY AND THE CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. THESE ENGINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE TO FIX THE PROBLEM? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331304
41,000 miles · May 14, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
2008 BMW 535I TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO CAR RUNNING ROUGH. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND SENT ME ON MY MERRY WAY. TOOK MY CAR IN ON MONDAY, MAY 4 DUE TO CAR RUNNING ROUGH AND TICKING NOISE IN ENGINE...TOLD THEM WE WERE GOING ON A 1,000 MILE ROAD TRIP THE END OF THE WEEK. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BUT DID REPLACE…
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2008 BMW 535I TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO CAR RUNNING ROUGH. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND SENT ME ON MY MERRY WAY. TOOK MY CAR IN ON MONDAY, MAY 4 DUE TO CAR RUNNING ROUGH AND TICKING NOISE IN ENGINE...TOLD THEM WE WERE GOING ON A 1,000 MILE ROAD TRIP THE END OF THE WEEK. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BUT DID REPLACE SOME BRAKE ITEMS. DRIVING HOME AT THE END OF OUR TRIP, ON ACCELERATION MY CAR 'SKIPPED' THREE TIMES....A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER I TESTED IT AND ACCELERATED AGAIN (ON FL TURNPIKE) IT 'SKIPPED' HARD AGAIN THREE TIMES. GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT...AT THE LIGHT I GOT A 'ENGINE MALFUNCTION' LIGHT AND LIMPED INTO THE 7-11. PUT GAS IN CAR, CALLED BMW CONCIERGE. WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, GET A DRIVER TO HELP US TRANSFER ALL OUR LUGGAGE ETC, AND TAKE US HOME. NEXT DAY CALLED DEALERSHIP...THEY HAD CAR DAY AND A HALF AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP. I UNDERSTAND FROM TONS OF BMW OWNER BLOGS THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE...WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR IN FRONT OF A SEMI LIKE MANY OTHER FAMILY'S HAVE THE MISFORTUNE OF. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACE NOT ONE, TWO, OR THREE TIMES BUT CONTINUOUS...FOUR! THIS IS ABSURD. WHERE'S BMW'S INTEGRITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, ADDRESS THE SITUATION, AND NOT PUT THEIR CONSUMERS IN HARMS WAY. DO WE NEAR A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE OR OUR FAMILY'S FILING LAWSUITS ONCE WE'RE SIX FEET IN THE GRAVE FOR THEM TO STAND UP AND TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS ONCE AND FOR ALL???? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10330418
38,202 miles · Apr 26, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGHLY. A WARNING LIGHT AND WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. WE STOPPED THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGHLY BUT THERE WAS NO W…
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGHLY. A WARNING LIGHT AND WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. WE STOPPED THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGHLY BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGE. WE CONTINUED ON TO OUR DESTINATION (SHOPPING). WHEN WE FINISHED OUR SHOPPING, I STARTED THE CAR AND IT CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGHLY AND THE SAME WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE APPEARED. I WANTED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE BUT WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE THE CAR STALLED. I RESTARTED THE CAR, DROVE IT ABOUT 100 FEET INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP, A SERVICE REP INDICATED THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I HEARD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLACE THE PUMP WITHOUT GETTING AUTHORIZATION FROM BMW BECAUSE BMW HAD HAS SO MANY FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10327520
26,500 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
I AM REPORTING KNOWN FAILURES AND AN "UNOFFICIAL RECALL" (SEE WEB LINK TO BMS SERVICE REPORT) OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS FOR 2008/2009 BMW CARS WITH THE 3 LITER TWIN TURBO ENGINES. WHEN THESE FUEL PUMPS FAIL THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF POWER AND THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP MODE". BMW HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON TH…
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I AM REPORTING KNOWN FAILURES AND AN "UNOFFICIAL RECALL" (SEE WEB LINK TO BMS SERVICE REPORT) OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS FOR 2008/2009 BMW CARS WITH THE 3 LITER TWIN TURBO ENGINES. WHEN THESE FUEL PUMPS FAIL THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF POWER AND THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP MODE". BMW HAS RECENTLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL PUMPS TO OVER 100K MILES AND 10 YEARS, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FORMAL SAFETY INVESTIGATION BY THE US GOVERNMENT (THAT I KNOW OF) OR A FORMAL RECALL BY BMW SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF CARS SUDDENLY SLOW AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2008 BMW 535, IT IS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE MORNING AND I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN/IF MY FUEL PUMP WILL FAIL - TO THE POINT I WILL NO LONGER LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE CAR. WWW.BMWBLOG.COM/2009/03/.../MORE-BMW-FUEL-PUMP-NEWS/ HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=181600. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326290
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other
1. VEHICLE LOSES POWER 2. ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ONE. 11/2008, 2/2009 & 4/2010 3. GAS FUEL PUMP REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 18 MONTHS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324866
42,000 miles · Apr 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 2008 535 BMW FUEL PUMP WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE POWER. THANK GOD THE ON COMING TRAFFIC STOPED. BMW IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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