2008 BMW 3 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2008 BMW 3 Series, and owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2008 BMW 3 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i…
Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of…
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Seat belts: front and air bags: frontal
BMW is recalling 2,350 my 2008 1-series and 3- series passenger cars. Incorrect crimp connectors may have been used on the side air bag and belt tensioner wiring. As a result sufficient contact between the crimp connectors and the corresponding plug may not occur which could lead to an increase in the electrical resistance of that…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2009. Owners may contact BMW customer relations and services toll-free at 1-800-525-7417.
68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 BMW 3 Series have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 62,120 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 13 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Was driving on highway going 80 and the car just shut down, was unable to steer, left me and my 9 year old stranded for about 30 minutes untill it started back up, everyday everytime i drive it no mat”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 14, 2019 · Engine
“My 2008 BMW 335xi with 42000 miles was stored in my heated shop. The car started on fire and destroyed the contents of my shop and the car. BMW sent an inspector to check the damage and took hundreds”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 3, 2019 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 BMW 3 Series (328ci, 328ci Convertible, 328cxi, 328i, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–19 / 25–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 3 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 3 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 6 |
| 2000 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 88 |
| 2001 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 36 |
| 2002 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 26 |
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 73 |
| 2004 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 77 |
| 2005 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 25 |
| 2006 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 202 |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 115 |
| 2008 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 68 |
| 2009 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 53 |
| 2010 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 30 |
| 2011 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 7 |
| 2013 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 21 |
| 2023 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2008 BMW 3 Series
How do I know if my 2008 BMW 3 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2008 BMW 3 Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 09V257000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.