2008 BMW 528I Electrical System Problems
30 NHTSA complaints on file
Electrical System Issues in the 2008 BMW 528I
30 electrical system complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 BMW 528I. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
30
Complaints
0
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Electrical System Complaints
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 from the wires just crumbles off casuing a short bc the wires are zip tied several times together and causes my lights to flicker or not work at all while the the car keeps notifying me that there is an issue never couple seconds
I bought a 2008 528i July 2024. Got Emissions & Tag at the end of August. Oct 5 2024. My car was on Fire. Drove the car 11 mins got out for a few mins got bk in crunk the car and a flame shot out of what I'm assuming is a fuse box on the driver side. The car had flames coming from under the steering wheel area in the dash. When we crunk the car we could smell wire burning at first. Then flames..The vehicle has an active recall that clearly says A Pcv heater valve will cause the vehicle to over heat and short circuit causing a fire. Wiring harness needs to be replaced by adding a fuse to keep this from happening. The car was having issues passing the emissions. It was throwing a code something to do with the crankcase positioner something to do with...
Been smelling burning plastic/or oil thru air vents. as if the pvc valve was melting per recall description on probles, it fits the description, the only thing that happened to the car recently is one of the windows regulator anti trap functions it says antitrap function window disabled, then slowly started noticing burning smell for the first 10 minutes of everyday drive, my safety and many others could be very compromised , as I live on a mobile home community, and these properties have a high risk of fire hazard, and the fumes I am smelling, also I dont wanna get caught in a vehicle fire anywhere, much less on traffic, freeway or cause an accidents because of disabled vehicle, - the list goes on . thanks For allowing me to make a complaint and bring awareness for many other owners
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 528i. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lunged forward and jerked significantly. The contact released the accelerator pedal and the failure stopped temporarily. The check engine warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The contact stated that whenever the failure occurred, she would veer to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle would restart on some occasions and would fail to restart on other occasions. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where the battery was replaced. However, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic on two occasions. The independent mechanic replaced the battery and fuses. However, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she...
FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ON AND IT PULLS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL IS GOING TO COME OFF AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS LOCKED WHERE IT WON'T EXTENDED OUT TO BUCKLE AND THE CAR DOG WALKS BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, SO I AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED THAT THE BULL WAS BLOWN. WENT AND BOUGHT $100 BULL THAT CONTROLS THE HIGH BEAM AND THE LOW BEAMS, REPLACE THE BULB, AND THE HEADLIGHT STILL DOESN'T WORK. TOOK THE BALL BACK AND GOT ANOTHER BULB, AND THE HEADLIGHT STILL DOESN'T WORK. AS I WAS REPLACING THE BULB I NOTICED BARE WIRES SHOWING, ON MULTIPLE WIRES, AS FAR AS I COULD SEE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE , AS IT COULD CAUSE MY CAR TO CATCH FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS FLASHED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
ALL OF THE INTERNAL HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS IS CRUMBLING OFF WHICH IS EXPOSING THE COPPER WIRE, CAUSING SPARKS AND SHORTING OUT. I HAVE PERFORMED MUCH ONLINE RESEARCH AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW. CURRENTLY IT'S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S UNPREDICTABLE WHEN HEADLIGHTS WILL SHORT OUT WHILE DRIVING, LOSING SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY INCREASING RISK OF ACCIDENT.
HEADLIGHT WIRING INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS DETERIORATING BADLY. THE PROTECTIVE COATING IS CRACKING AND FLAKING OFF LEAVING THE EXPOSED COPPER CORE WHICH IN TURN SHORTS OUT THE LIGHTS. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD AS WELL.
CAR POWER SUDDENLY STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M EITHER DRIVING OR WHEN I AM IDLE; WHEN DRIVING IT JUST STOPS, AND WHEN I AM IN IDLE, IT VIBRATES VIGOROUSLY AND THEN STOPS.
ERROR CODE 93C8 - DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION
WIRING INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FLAKING OFF LEAVING BARE WIRES.
2008 BMW 528I AUTOMATIC SEDAN WITH 104K MILES... HEAD LIGHT WIRING HARNESS (DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE) INSULATION IS DEGRADING RESULTING IN BULBS MALFUNCTIONING/BURNING OUT REGULARLY/SHORTING OUT/BLOWN FUSES, AND POSSIBLY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. AN EMPLOYEES AT ONE BMW DEALERSHIP, SAID BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE' UNTIL THEY ARE FORCED TO BY THE GOVERNMENT OR A LAWSUIT.
THE VEHICLE IS MADE WITH INFERIOR WIRE COATING THAT CAN AND I'M SURE HAS RESULTED IN FIRES. NOT TO MENTION THE FEATURES OF THE LIGHTS CAN AND WILL STOP WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS ALSO CAUSES SHORTS IN THE WIRING OF THE SWITCH IN THE DASH I BELIEVE AND POSSIBLE BATTERY DRAIN LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED OR EVEN HAVING CAR DIE WHILE IN MOTION. BMW HAD MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL THEIR OTHER FAULTY ISSUES - THEY FINALLY HAD THEIR HEAD FOREMAN TAKE THE CAR HOME WITH HIM AND GO OVER IT WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB. HE FIXED MOST OF THE ISSUES. THEY HAD SENT ME HOME WITH MY CAR 3 OR 4 TIMES TELLING ME MY ISSUES WERE RESOLVED ONLY FOR THE CAR TO STALL, SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER OR JUST NOT START. THEY WERE ALSO AWARE OF THE FAULTY WIRING BUT DID NOT LIST IT...
INSULATION COVERING HEADLIGHT WIRING CRACKS OFF LEAVING LARGE AMOUNTS OF BARE AREAS. THIS RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL SHORTS, DRAINING BATTERY, ERRATIC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEHAVIOR, BLOWN HEADLIGHT BULBS, AND AN INTERMITTENT BURNING SMELL IN MY CAR.
WIRING OF FRONT HEADLIGHTS FLAKING OFF AND EXPOSING BARE WIRE. THE SHORT OF THE WIRES CAUSED THE PLASTIC OF HOLDING HEADLAMP TO BUBBLE AND MELT AS A CONSEQUENCE.
PERMANENT LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY OF REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS TAIL, BRAKE, TURN-SIGNAL, REVERSE.
INSULATION OF THE WIRES IN THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY FLAKING OFF. ALMOST ALL OF IT IS NOW MISSING. WORRIED IT WILL CAUSE A FIRE. SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING. *TR
HEADLIGHTS: WIRE INSULATION ON HEAD LIGHT CANNON PLUGS IS RETRACTING FROM WIRES. THIS COULD CAUSE AN SYSTEM ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR FIRE. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT (BACK UP AND TURN SIGNAL) WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR MELTED. PER NTBSB AND WEB SEARCH, NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXACT SAME PROBLEM. DASH INDICATED THAT FIRST TAIL LIGHT FAILED, THEN BACK UP LIGHT FAILED. INSPECTION SHOWED MELTED WIRE CONNECTOR. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WAS NEARLY COLLIDED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN.
REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS(BRAKE, TAIL, & TURN SIGNAL) - MELTED WIRE ASSEMBLY IS CAUSING MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A "BURNING" SMELL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ALL AT ONCE MY DASH INDICATED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND TURN SIGNAL HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT ATTACHES TO THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS MELTED. BMW DID A RECALL OF OVER 2,500 3-SERIES VEHICLES FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE 5-SERIES (????) THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 BMW 528I WITH 56,000 MILES WITH A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY (THE FULL FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO). THE VEHICLE COMPUTER IDENTIFIED 3 FAULTS AND THE ENTIRE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT CLUSTER IS NON-OPERATIONAL. I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR; I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (CPO) AND WILL COST $400+ TO REPAIR. THE REAR LIGHTS ARE A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT FOR ANY AUTOMOBILE AND MUST BE OPERATIONAL AT ALL TIMES. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE CPO WARRANTY. I CHOSE TO CONTACT BMW AND CHALLENGE THE WARRANTY COVERAGE BASED ON THE COMPONENT CRITICALITY. BMW DID NOT AGREE WITH MY POSITION AND STATED THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED BY...
ON OR ABOUT 25 MAY 2013, I STARTED HEARING A INTERMITTENT BEEPING SOUND INSIDE THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE DASH BOARD SCREEN THEREFORE IT WAS HARD TO TRACE THE PROBLEM. THE INTERMITTENT BEEPING WOULD START AND STOP, WHILE DRIVING MAKING ME VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE BEEPING SOUND CHANGED TO SOUND OF SOMETHING TRYING TO RESET ITSELF LIKE A RESET PATTERN. NEXT ON 6 APR 2013, WHILE INSIDE A PARKING I THOUGHT I SEEN MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT BLINK ON & OFF. THEN ON 8 APR 2013, I NOTICE MY RIGHT TAIL WAS OUT, SO I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW TAIL BULB BUT IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND IT WAS LED PROBLEM AND COULD ONLY BE FIXED BY A BMW SHOP. THE BMW MANUAL SUGGESTED TAKING THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP, ON 16...
THE WARNING CAME ON THAT THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE WARNING WENT AWAY BUT THEN CAME BACK INTERMITTENTLY AND ALSO STATED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THESE WARNINGS GO ON AND OFF SO MY HUSBAND PULLED THE HOUSING FOR THE LIGHT OUT AND DISCOVERED THE CONNECTOR PLUG AND HOUSING HAD MELTED BECAUSE THE BROWN WIRE WAS BURNT AND MELTED. SO HE WENT TO THE DEALER SHIP TO GET ANOTHER HOUSING UNIT AND NEW CONNECTOR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER SIDE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND HE REPLACED IT AS WELL... NOW BOTH ARE BURNT AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY WANT $140 TO LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. THIS IS A SAFETY...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED IN THE TRUNK AREA WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BATTERY CABLES, WHICH WERE NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY: CABLES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,300.
I TURNED MY CAR ON AND IT INSTANTLY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY TAILLIGHT WAS OUT. THEN I STEPPED OUT AND TAPPED THE TAILLIGHT AND IT WENT BACK ON THEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE CONNECTORS ARE BURNT AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY 200$ TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD OF CORRECTED AND PERFECTED THIS IS RIDICULOUS HOPE SOMEONE HELPS ME. *TR
WARNING CAME ON THAT THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE WARNING WENT AWAY BUT THEN CAME BACK INTERMITTENTLY AND ALSO STATED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THESE WARNINGS WERE INTERMITTENT. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE SIGNALS CAME ON EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN. I LOOKED AT THE LIGHTING HOUSING AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE PLUG AND HOUSING HAD MELTED DUE TO A BROWN WIRE. I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR TO THE SHOP TOMORROW TO GET FIXED BUT IT SEEMS MORE DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE UNLESS I DISCOVERED THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
THE 8 PIN CONNECTOR TO THE RIGHT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED. TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING ONE WIRE SEEMS CORRODED. *TR
THE 8 PIN CONNECTOR TO THE REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED. TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR WERE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Other 2008 BMW 528I Problem Areas
Exterior Lighting
30 complaints
Engine
20 complaints
Power Train
15 complaints
Air Bags
14 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
14 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
13 complaints
Seat Belts
8 complaints
Unknown Or Other
7 complaints
Air Bagssensoroccupant Classification
4 complaints
Air Bagssensoroccupant Classificationfront Passenger
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcrankcase Pcv
4 complaints
Seats
4 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
2 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
1 complaint
Equipment Adaptivemobility
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingbrake Lights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingturn Signal
1 complaint
Seat Belts Rearotherbuckle Assembly
1 complaint
Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler
1 complaint
Service Brakes
1 complaint
Steering
1 complaint
Structurebody
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control
1 complaint