RecallMyCar

2008 BMW 528I Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2008 BMW 528I, and owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
118
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 16
complaints citing a crash / fire

2 safety recalls for the 2008 BMW 528I

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 17V683000 Reported 740,561 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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.

    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…

  2. Tail lights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 13V407000 Reported 134,100 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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…

    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.

118 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2008 BMW 528I have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 97,069 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 18 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The daylight lamps fall apart causing poor lighting at night and continuous alarms while driving. Also, impacting the quality of light and lack of lighting at night. The alarms are continuous and bloc”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 19, 2025 · Exterior lighting

“After purchasing this vehicle from my aunt and uncle my one headlight when bad after purchasing the headlights I replaced both the right and left one while removing the old headlights the insulation f”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 31, 2025 · Electrical system

Compare BMW 528I model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 528I model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1979 BMW 528I01
1980 BMW 528I02
1997 BMW 528I041
1998 BMW 528I033
1999 BMW 528I046
2000 BMW 528I142
2001 BMW 528I02
2007 BMW 528I11
2008 BMW 528I2118
2009 BMW 528I223
2010 BMW 528I265
2011 BMW 528I4117
2012 BMW 528I490
2013 BMW 528I473
2014 BMW 528I357
2015 BMW 528I165
2016 BMW 528I459

Checking a specific 2008 BMW 528I

How do I know if my 2008 BMW 528I 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 528I; 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 13V407000).

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

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.