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2008 BMW 550I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 8 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

2 reports
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750 miles · Jun 24, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE A BMW 335I BOUGHT ON MARCH 28, 2008 AND IT HAS STALLED ON ME AND DIED OVER 4 TIMES. THE CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT ON LIMP MODE WAS AT 500 MILES AND THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WAS AT 750 MILES. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS FAULTY GAS, WHICH WAS MY PROBLEM, AND THAT I …

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I HAVE A BMW 335I BOUGHT ON MARCH 28, 2008 AND IT HAS STALLED ON ME AND DIED OVER 4 TIMES. THE CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT ON LIMP MODE WAS AT 500 MILES AND THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WAS AT 750 MILES. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS FAULTY GAS, WHICH WAS MY PROBLEM, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF A NEW GAS PUMP, NEW INJECTORS AND TO CLEAN OUT MY BRAND NEW GAS TANK, SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. I JUST GOT MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON, JUNE 23, 2008, AND WILL BE IN THE SERVICE FOR THE SAME THING, A FAULTY GAS PUMP, FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232112

2,150 miles · Jun 19, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

NOTE THIS IS FOR A 2008 BMW 335XI NOT A BMW 550I I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335XI WHICH HAS HAD TWO FUEL PUMP FAILURES WITHIN A WEEK. FIRST WAS ON JUNE 9TH WHERE MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. A WEEK LATER, AND LESS THAN 100 MILES, THE FUEL PUMP DIED AGAIN WITH AN ERROR MES…

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NOTE THIS IS FOR A 2008 BMW 335XI NOT A BMW 550I I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335XI WHICH HAS HAD TWO FUEL PUMP FAILURES WITHIN A WEEK. FIRST WAS ON JUNE 9TH WHERE MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. A WEEK LATER, AND LESS THAN 100 MILES, THE FUEL PUMP DIED AGAIN WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION; REDUCED POWER... AND THE CAR KEPT RUNNING ROUGH... FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE REFER TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE08032 . THIS IS A DIFFERENT CLAIM MADE THAN THE ONE IN THAT ACTION NUMBER, HOWEVER, IT IS A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231590

Official recalls

2

13V407000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

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.

07V479000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 12, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ATTACH TWO GROUND CABLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

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.