YearToAvoid

2008 BMW 528i Engine Problems

NHTSA has 35 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 BMW 528i, 30% of all 118 complaints for this model year. That is #6 highest engine complaint count among 10 528i model years. These complaints report 11 fires and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 112,000 miles.

Engine complaints
35
30% of 118
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
11
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
112,000 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2008 BMW 528i engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 3, 2014, latest Nov 17, 2024.

2008 BMW 528i engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2014Apr 2015Feb 2018Jul 2018Nov 2019Sep 2022Mar 2023
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2014 to Nov 2024; peak Apr 2022 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2008 BMW 528i

  1. NHTSA 17V683000Oct 30, 2017Engine740,561 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)

    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.

    Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

    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 contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Engine complaints by 528i model year

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

  1. 20071 (100%)
  2. 200835 (30%)
  3. 200912 (55%)
  4. 201034 (52%)
  5. 201167 (57%)
  6. 201249 (54%)
  7. 201348 (66%)
  8. 201434 (60%)
  9. 201547 (72%)
  10. 201644 (75%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 BMW 528i have engine problems?
NHTSA has 35 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 BMW 528i, 30% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 112,000 miles.
Which BMW 528i year has the most engine complaints?
The 2011 BMW 528i has the most engine complaints (67), compared with 35 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 BMW 528i?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 BMW 528i concerns the engine: 17V683000.

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.