YearToAvoid

2008 BMW 528i Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 15 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2008 BMW 528i, 13% of all 118 complaints for this model year. That is #3 highest transmission complaint count among 10 528i model years. These complaints report 1 fire. Median mileage at failure: 76,500 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
15
13% of 118
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
76,500 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 BMW 528i transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 13, 2012, latest Dec 19, 2022.

2008 BMW 528i transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2012Sep 2013Apr 2014Mar 2016Nov 2018May 2022Dec 2022
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2012 to Dec 2022; peak Jan 2014 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2008 BMW 528i

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by 528i model year

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

  1. 20070 (0%)
  2. 200815 (13%)
  3. 20090 (0%)
  4. 20109 (14%)
  5. 201125 (21%)
  6. 201220 (22%)
  7. 201313 (18%)
  8. 20145 (9%)
  9. 20153 (5%)
  10. 20163 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 BMW 528i have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 15 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2008 BMW 528i, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 76,500 miles.
Which BMW 528i year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2011 BMW 528i has the most transmission complaints (25), compared with 15 for the 2008.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2008 BMW 528i?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 BMW 528i is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.