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2008 BMW 5-SERIES

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
20084
2009
Compare all 5-SERIES years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
3Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Steering
1
All reported categories
Structure
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 7 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
79,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

OUR 2007 BMW 530XI DEVELOPED A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WARNING. A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK APPEARS ON THE DASH SCREEN WITH A WARNING ON THE COMPUTER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND UNLOCKS PERFECTLY EVERY TIME. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER SAYS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE MUST BE REPLACED FOR $600. I FOUND TH…

Read full complaint

OUR 2007 BMW 530XI DEVELOPED A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WARNING. A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK APPEARS ON THE DASH SCREEN WITH A WARNING ON THE COMPUTER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND UNLOCKS PERFECTLY EVERY TIME. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE. THE DEALER SAYS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE MUST BE REPLACED FOR $600. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM ON BMWS AND THAT BMW CORPORATION IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678436

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.