YearToAvoid

2008 BMW 535i Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has 25 owner complaints about electrical problems in the 2008 BMW 535i, 34% of all 74 complaints for this model year. That is the highest electrical complaint count among 10 535i model years. These complaints report 3 fires and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 70,000 miles.

Electrical System complaints
25
34% of 74
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
70,000 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2008 BMW 535i electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 5, 2012, latest Aug 5, 2018.

2008 BMW 535i electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2012Jun 2013Mar 2014Sep 2014Mar 2016Aug 2016Apr 2017Aug 2018
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Aug 2018; peak Nov 2013 (3).

Electrical System recalls for the 2008 BMW 535i

  1. NHTSA 13V407000Sep 11, 2013Electrical System134,100 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:tail lights

    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 permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

    Risk: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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 [email protected].

Electrical System complaints by 535i model year

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

  1. 200825 (34%)
  2. 20093 (4%)
  3. 20109 (16%)
  4. 201119 (17%)
  5. 201213 (24%)
  6. 201318 (47%)
  7. 201410 (33%)
  8. 20159 (39%)
  9. 20160 (0%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 BMW 535i have electrical problems?
NHTSA has 25 owner complaints about the electrical in the 2008 BMW 535i, 34% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 70,000 miles.
Which BMW 535i year has the most electrical complaints?
The 2008 BMW 535i has the most electrical complaints (25), compared with 25 for the 2008.
Is there a electrical recall for the 2008 BMW 535i?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 BMW 535i concerns the electrical: 13V407000.

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.