NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
20 reportsClear category filter119,805 miles · Feb 8, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 5281. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE PCV VALVE HEATER VENTILATION OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOHAUS BMW (3015 SOUTH HANLEY ROAD, ST LOUIS, MO 63143, 314-727-8870) WHE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 5281. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE PCV VALVE HEATER VENTILATION OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOHAUS BMW (3015 SOUTH HANLEY ROAD, ST LOUIS, MO 63143, 314-727-8870) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,805. *TT *TR
NHTSA ODI #11071828
160,000 miles · Nov 7, 2017
Engine
OIL SENSOR LIGHT FAILED, INDICATING FULL OIL FILL AND ENGINE LOCKED UP ON HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING SERIOUS ACCIDENT. SHOP SAYS ENGINE HAD NO OIL, YET GAUGE SAYS FULL. THERE ARE NO DIPSTICKS ON THIS MODEL. THE GAUGE ACTUALLY SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF OIL AND IS THE ONLY WAY TO RELY ON ANYTHING.
NHTSA ODI #11044204
78,102 miles · Sep 22, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
CAR GAS HAVEN'T BEEN AS USUAL TOOK CAR FOR OIL CHANG ROTATION OF TIRES. DISCOVERED GAS LEAKAGE. LOOKING AT POSSIBLE FUEL LINE OR PUMP.
NHTSA ODI #10767400
142,000 miles · Jul 14, 2015
Engine
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, THROUGH CITY STREETS, THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT IT STALLED AGAIN IN LESS THAN 3 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10734096
82,000 miles · Apr 7, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
I LIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY 2008 BMW FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. MY COWORKER HAS THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, AND IS ALSO EXPERIENCING OR HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. WE BOTH HAVE HAD OUR CARS IN THE SHOP AT THE SAME TIME AND THE VEHICLES ARE NOW REPAIRED. THE ISSUE WITH THE …
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I LIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY 2008 BMW FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. MY COWORKER HAS THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL, AND IS ALSO EXPERIENCING OR HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. WE BOTH HAVE HAD OUR CARS IN THE SHOP AT THE SAME TIME AND THE VEHICLES ARE NOW REPAIRED. THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE IS IT BEGINS TO STALL AS DRIVING WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN OUR AREA FOR TRAFFIC. THE CAR WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED WHILE DRIVING AND YOU CAN NOT GO OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR ALSO JERKS. THE PROBLEMS WITH BOTH OUR VEHICLES WERE THE SAME ; OIL LEAK, A TRANSMISSION LEAK, AND A PROBLEM WITH THE CYLINDERS NOT WORKING AS CONNECTED TO THE SPARK PLUGS. AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. AND TIMES WHEN YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR STALLS WHICH ALMOST CAUSES THE CAR BEHIND YOU TO RUN INTO YOU.THE MAINTENANCE FOR MY CAR WAS 3200 DOLLARS AT THE DEALERSHIP. MY COWORKER TOOK HER CAR TO AN IMPORT REPAIR SHOP AND OVER THE COURSE OF 2 TIMES, SHE ENDED UP SPENDING ABOUT 1200 PLUS DOLLARS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE REPORTING IT TO THE RIGHT AUTHORITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10704330
65,600 miles · Mar 13, 2015
Engine
MY CAR IS LIKING OIL BY THE ENGINE COVER GASKET AND IS DOING IT ON TOP OF THE EXHAUST, THIS GIVE THE CAR A SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND BMW SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR A CAR. I WAS DOING A RESEARCH AND I CAME ACROSS HYUNDAI RECALLED VERACRUZ 07-12 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. LOOKS LIKE BMW DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR…
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MY CAR IS LIKING OIL BY THE ENGINE COVER GASKET AND IS DOING IT ON TOP OF THE EXHAUST, THIS GIVE THE CAR A SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND BMW SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR A CAR. I WAS DOING A RESEARCH AND I CAME ACROSS HYUNDAI RECALLED VERACRUZ 07-12 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. LOOKS LIKE BMW DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS... I WANT THIS TO BE FIX , FREE OF CHARGE IN ONE OF THEIR DEALERS... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10694222
100,000 miles · Mar 1, 2015
Engine
I HAVE 2 DIFFERENT ISSUES. THE 1ST ONE IS WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CARE STARTS TO SHAKE. TODAY WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED MY CAR HAD SHOOK AND THEN MY ENGINE SIGN POPPED UP AND IT GAVE ME A MESSAGE THAT SAID "ENGINE MALFUNCTION ENGINE HAS LOST POWER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10691383
68,000 miles · Dec 22, 2014
EngineEquipment Adaptive/mobility
OIL DRIPPING FROM VALVE COVER ON TO EXAUST MANIFOLD. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. VALVE COVER BOLTS BROKEN,OIL LEAKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667728
113,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA ODI #10592855
30,342 miles · Jan 3, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TANK VENT VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TANK VENT VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS 30,342. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10558390
Official recalls
2Oct 30, 2017
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Sep 11, 2013
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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