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2008 BMW 6 Series

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

Limited mileage data: 3 of 6 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 →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. 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

What owners actually said

6 reports
1 miles · Feb 17, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

CONVERTIBLE TOP LOCKS UP RANDOMLY, GET MESSAGE TO REDUCE SPEED DUE TO TOP NOT BEING LOCKED WHEN IT WAS FINE THE "RIDE" BEFORE, TRY TO "LOCK", THEN WINDOWS GO HALFWAY DOWN AND STAY STUCK THAT WAY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION, ON STREET OR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11073372

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

SHOWS THE BMW LOGO THEN SCREEN GOES BLANK AND KEEPS CYCLING THE SAME WAY. THE NAV, RADIO, BLUETOOTH, CD AND THE SOS LIGHT ERROR IN THE CLUSTER. SAFETY ALARKS ARE ALL DISABLED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO DETECT OR REPORT IF OBJECTS ARE NEAR THE BUMPER OR SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE UNIT STAYS RUNNING (MAYBE THE FAN) WHEN I TURN T…

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SHOWS THE BMW LOGO THEN SCREEN GOES BLANK AND KEEPS CYCLING THE SAME WAY. THE NAV, RADIO, BLUETOOTH, CD AND THE SOS LIGHT ERROR IN THE CLUSTER. SAFETY ALARKS ARE ALL DISABLED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO DETECT OR REPORT IF OBJECTS ARE NEAR THE BUMPER OR SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE UNIT STAYS RUNNING (MAYBE THE FAN) WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND DRAINS THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI #10940255

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2014
Power Train

VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED IN 3-4 GEAR, WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE. HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACE WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641104

50,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Electrical SystemStructure

2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN POURING RAIN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE A RAG TOP CONVERTIBLE BMW THAT WHEN IT IS POURING RAIN..WATER SOMEHOW PERMEATES THE BACK OF THE CAR AND "FRIES" THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS I AM DRIVING.. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT FRIED THE ONBOARD CCC AT 48,000 MILES, AND ALL THE COMPONENTS AND NOW IT HAS …

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2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN POURING RAIN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE A RAG TOP CONVERTIBLE BMW THAT WHEN IT IS POURING RAIN..WATER SOMEHOW PERMEATES THE BACK OF THE CAR AND "FRIES" THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS I AM DRIVING.. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT FRIED THE ONBOARD CCC AT 48,000 MILES, AND ALL THE COMPONENTS AND NOW IT HAS APPARENTLY COMPROMISED THE REPLACED PARTS IN THE TRUNK AREA.. I LOOKED IT UP AND IT THERE IS "SERVICE BULLETIN" NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10028770.. AND I AM SORRY BUT I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I AM DRIVING IN THE RAIN.. AND ALL OF SUDDEN ALL OF MY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS START TO FIZZLE OUT.. AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED..

NHTSA ODI #10621822

17,725 miles · Jan 28, 2011
Tires

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 245-40-R19 94W MAJOR SIDEWALL FAILURE, 3 INCH SECTION OF TIRE FROM BEAD OF TIRE AT RIM SURFACE LOOKS AS IF BEAD FAILED AND SIDE WALL TORN AWAY FROM BEAD TOWARDS TREAD, NO SIDEWALL OR RIM IMPACT DAMAGE AND TORN OUTWARD FROM RIM TOWARDS TREAD INDICATING SIDEWALL MATERIAL FAILURE ON 2008 BMW OE TIRE WITH LESS …

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BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 245-40-R19 94W MAJOR SIDEWALL FAILURE, 3 INCH SECTION OF TIRE FROM BEAD OF TIRE AT RIM SURFACE LOOKS AS IF BEAD FAILED AND SIDE WALL TORN AWAY FROM BEAD TOWARDS TREAD, NO SIDEWALL OR RIM IMPACT DAMAGE AND TORN OUTWARD FROM RIM TOWARDS TREAD INDICATING SIDEWALL MATERIAL FAILURE ON 2008 BMW OE TIRE WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ABOUT 50% TREAD REMAINING, NO SURFACE DAMAGE TO TIRE OR RIM, FAILURE APPEARS TO BE INTERNAL DEFECT AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS, COMPLETE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF AIR OCCURRED. TIRE STILL ON RIM WILL TAKE PICS, NO RIM OR TIRE DAMAGE. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO TIRE OR RIM, JUST TWO TEARS FROM BEAD TOWARDS TREAD AND 3 INCH SECTION HANGING OUTWARD LARGE OPEN HOLE CAUSED OPEN HOLE AND IMMEDIATE COMPLETE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. I HAVE OVER 30 YEARS IN AUTOMOTIVE NEW CAR DEALER, SHOP FOREMAN AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND NEVER HAVE SEEN A FAILURE OF THE SIDEWALL LIKE THIS WHERE THERE IS A CLEAN NON DAMAGED SURROUNDING SURFACE INCLUDING THE RIM. FAILURE ISOLATED TO 2 SIDEWALL TEARS FROM BEAD AWAY TOWARDS TREAD OUTWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379501

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2008
Air BagsSeats

WHILE PASSENGER IS IN THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS LIT, MEANING THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PERSON IN THE SEAT, THAT PERSON IN THE SEAT IN MY SON THAT WEIGHS ABOUT 225 LBS. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE PASSENGER SEAT AND SENSOR. ONCE I GOT MY CAR BACK I HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. …

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WHILE PASSENGER IS IN THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT STAYS LIT, MEANING THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PERSON IN THE SEAT, THAT PERSON IN THE SEAT IN MY SON THAT WEIGHS ABOUT 225 LBS. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHOLE PASSENGER SEAT AND SENSOR. ONCE I GOT MY CAR BACK I HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS ALSO WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS FOR THIS ISSUE. ALSO IN THE VEHICLE OPTIONS FOR THIS FORM MY CAR WASN'T ON THERE SO MY CAR MODEL IS: 2008 BMW M6. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238437

Official recalls

2

12V126000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Mar 26, 2012

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.

10V446000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Oct 1, 2010

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.