YearToAvoid

2008 BMW 535i Engine Problems

NHTSA has 32 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 BMW 535i, 43% of all 74 complaints for this model year. That is #2 highest engine complaint count among 10 535i model years. These complaints report 2 fires. Median mileage at failure: 81,068 miles.

Engine complaints
32
43% of 74
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
81,068 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 BMW 535i engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 5, 2012, latest Feb 24, 2021.

2008 BMW 535i engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Jul 2012Sep 2013Jun 2014Jan 2015Dec 2016Mar 2018Oct 2018Nov 2020
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Feb 2021; peak May 2014 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2008 BMW 535i

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by 535i model year

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

  1. 200832 (43%)
  2. 200928 (39%)
  3. 201017 (29%)
  4. 201146 (41%)
  5. 201215 (28%)
  6. 201311 (29%)
  7. 201411 (37%)
  8. 20156 (26%)
  9. 20161 (8%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 BMW 535i have engine problems?
NHTSA has 32 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 BMW 535i, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 81,068 miles.
Which BMW 535i year has the most engine complaints?
The 2011 BMW 535i has the most engine complaints (46), compared with 32 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 BMW 535i?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 BMW 535i is classified under engine. 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.