YearToAvoid

2008 BMW 335xi Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2008 BMW 335xi, 24% of the 62 total complaints for the year. Owners reported stalling, water pump failures, and two engine-compartment fires, with a median failure mileage of 72,000. No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data.

Engine complaints
15
24% of 62 complaints
All complaints this year
62
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
72,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles stalled or hesitated at highway speeds around 35 to 50 mph, sometimes linked to fuel pump or fuel injector failures.
  • Water pumps failed and leaked coolant, in some cases causing the engine to overheat and shut off at highway speed.
  • High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures caused rough idle, shaking, and reduced power along with check engine and SES lights.
  • The engine lost power and entered limp mode while driving, including one incident during a highway merge that nearly caused a collision.
  • Two vehicles caught fire in the engine compartment while parked and unoccupied, with no injuries reported.
  • A catalytic converter failure produced an abnormal odor and triggered the check engine light.

When 2008 BMW 335xi engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 4, 2010, latest Dec 3, 2022.

2008 BMW 335xi engine complaints: complaints filed per month1Mar 2010Feb 2013Jul 2013Oct 2015May 2016Mar 2018Mar 2020Dec 2022
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2010 to Dec 2022; peak Mar 2010 (1).

Engine recalls for the 2008 BMW 335xi

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by 335xi model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20060 (0%)
  2. 20074 (20%)
  3. 200815 (24%)
  4. 20095 (28%)
  5. 20102 (18%)
  6. 20114 (17%)
  7. 20120 (0%)
  8. 20133 (33%)
  9. 20145 (71%)
  10. 20151 (50%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2008 BMW 335xi?
NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2008 335xi, which is 24% of the 62 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for engine fires on the 2008 BMW 335xi?
NHTSA's data provided here lists no related recalls for this engine complaint area, though two owners reported engine-compartment fires.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2008 335xi is 72,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
What kind of engine failures do owners report most?
Owners most often described stalling or hesitation at highway speed, water pump failures, and high-pressure fuel pump issues causing rough idle and reduced power.
Did any 2008 335xi engine complaints involve fires or injuries?
NHTSA data shows two fire incidents and zero crashes or injuries among the 15 engine complaints for this model year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.