2008 BMW X5 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
319 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 BMW X5, alongside 10 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 76/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2008 BMW X5 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2000.
Avoid
Where 2008 sits among all X5 years
What owners report
“While driving my vehicle in motion, a warning sensor came on stating that my vehicle engine was overheating. Then, my vehicle came to a complete stop, making it unable to drive.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 X5
“Takata recall - it has been about 9 months and there is still no repair parts for the driver side airbag. No parts also for the passenger airbag and now fuel pump.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 X5
“Car engine stalled. Needed to be jumped. The battery was brand new, was changed a few days ago.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 X5
“We are smell gasoline inside the cabin while we were driving and also when we stop we could still smell gasoline. We took in to the bmw shop on july 5, 2017, but they said they didn't the recall in-tank fuel pump part yet”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 X5
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 177 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 76,660 miles. Half of those reports fall between 52,000 and 105,281 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (10)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i…
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2012 X5 xDrive35d, 2008-2012 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2007-2012 X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, 2009-2010 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2009-2013 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama,…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is…
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…
Fix: 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…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2012 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge.…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran…
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5M vehicles, 2009-2011 X5 xDrive35d vehicles, 2008-2011 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, and 2010-2011 X6…
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or air bag module, free of…
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 X5 SAVs VEHICLES WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2007 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2008. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROCESS FAULT, THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT PRODUCED TO SPECIFICATIONS. UNDER SPECIFIC VEHICLE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
BMW IS RECALLING 55 MY 2008 X5 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR AXLE STABILIZER (ANTI-SWAY BAR). THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH A SPORTS-SUSPENSION STABILIZER RATHER THAN A STANDARD SUSPENSION STABILIZER ON THE REAR AXLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR AXLE STABILIZER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 14, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117 OR VIA E-MAIL TO CUSTOMERRELATIONS@BMWUSA.COM.
Technical service bulletins
244 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2008 BMW X5. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 BMW X5 reliable?
The 2008 BMW X5 drew 319 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 76/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2008 BMW X5 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 BMW X5 are engine (83 complaints), airbags (67), and electrical (46).
At what mileage do 2008 BMW X5 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 BMW X5 problems around 76,660 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 52,000 and 105,281 miles.
Does the 2008 BMW X5 have recalls?
10 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 BMW X5. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.