2008 Bmw 328xi problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (20) · Electrical System (14) · Air Bags (13)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 328xi model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
59 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2024-07-03 · campaign 24V513000 · 394,029 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-01-15 · campaign 20V017000 · 59,965 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical System:wiring 2017-10-25 · campaign 17V676000 · 702,965 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.
Risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Service bulletins (126)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2024-01-16 · B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Electrical System 2024-01-11 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the electrical system of bmw vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. this has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. this document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle ã¢ââdischarged batteryã¢ââ complaints.
Electrical System 2022-03-01 · B610322 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the footwell module (frm) cannot be encoded after replacement.
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar 2021-04-01 · B340414 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
diagnosis of compound brake system complaints in m vehicles: 1. visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees f) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2020-10-01 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
discharged battery energy diagnosis must be performed: the electrical system of bmw vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. this has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. this document covers important information for the dealer on how to
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-09-01 · B110208 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
power reduction, fc2a82 intake vanos and/or fc2a87 exhaust vanos camshaft fault: the ?service engine soon? (mil) lamp is illuminated and engine power reduction is perceived. this situation can occur after driving for some time with the engine at full operating temperature. if theignition is cycled,
Showing the 6 most recent of 126 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-04-27 · Tires“225/40r18 the stoplight right down route 7 by stop and shop there is a rectangular hole in the street. i could not avoid it when driving friday morning 4/25/25 and the dip in the ground blew my driver side front and rear tires and scratched the rims. i had to spend my day friday getting my tires replaced and now i have scratches on my rims which ar…”
2025-04-17 · Air Bags · 162,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 bmw 328xi. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag deployed unintendedly. the contact stated there was no warning light illuminated prior to the air bag deployment. the air bag deployed, and there was no occupant inside the vehicle. the contact stated that after the air bag had deployed, the air bag…”
2024-07-19 · Visibility/Wiper“wiring inside headlamp is not up to standards. for the cost the replace the headlight the wiring should not be falling apart causing shorts. one night i was driving and got a warning on my dash for my headlights and noticed it was a bit harder to see. pulled over and noticed the headlight was out. went to replace the bulb and noticed the wires have…”
2023-01-27 · Exterior Lighting“bmw bi xenon headlights wires harness. insulation on wires peels off and start touching each other. malfunction high beam, low beam, turning light.…”
2022-11-04 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 70,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owned a 2008 bmw 328xi. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v119000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact's son was driving approximately 30 mph when the son noticed that smoke had begun to issue from the dashboard vents. the son pulled over and stopped the …”
2022-10-03 · Exterior Lighting“the positive battery fuse cable under the glovebox is placed into a plastic space causing melting. this leads to the vehicle going dead and not even emergency lights will work. this recall has been placed on very few bmws however it is affecting way more then they are saying. you can see in uk where a man was killed for the vehicle going dead in th…”
2022-07-01 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2008 bmw 328xi. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v119000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”
2022-06-21 · Unknown Or Other“the car was over heating and not starting as well as fuel pump error on my dash. there is an open recall on my vehicle starting march of 2022 it is now june and bmw says they don’t know when they will have a remedy for this and it could be months but i need my car.…”
2022-03-23 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2008 bmw 328xi. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v119000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer and bmw of springfield parts & accessories (391 us-22, springfield, nj 07081: (908) 232-1466) were contacted and made aware of the issu…”
2022-03-15 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2008 bmw 328xi. the contact received a notification for nhtsa campaign number: 22v119000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the dealer was notified about the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. the contact was also informed that the vehicle was still safe to d…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.