2008 Bmw 335I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
201 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
42,843 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 163 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 201 complaints (23.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 59 | 29.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 12.4% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 11.9% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 47 |
| Air Bags | 41 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Engine | 26 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Power Train | 8 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 47; Air Bags: 41; Electrical System: 34; Engine: 26; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20; Exterior Lighting: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Power Train: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 49 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 49; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (49). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 42 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 5; 2009: 22; 2010: 42; 2011: 3; 2012: 13; 2013: 15; 2014: 18; 2015: 14; 2016: 17; 2017: 20; 2018: 17; 2019: 4; 2020: 7; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 59 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 24 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10243352 · 2008-09-24 (September 24, 2008)
I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335I CONVERTIBLE. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE FUEL PUMP HAS MALFUNCTIONED COMING OFF OF THE FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LACK OF POWER. THIS HAS PUT ME AND MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN DANGER. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS OCCURRING. PLEASE MAKE BMW ISSUE A RECALL, ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244656 · 2008-10-07 (October 7, 2008)
1. USED REGULAR UNLEADED AS ATLANTA WAS OUT OF PREMIUM 2. DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 20 MILES 3. ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, ENGINE WOULD VIOLENT SHAKE THEN DIE, ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WOULD APPEAR 4. DEALER REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10543454 · 2013-09-13 (September 13, 2013)
9/11/2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:25 AM EST MY 2008 BMW 335I SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE FROM WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE DASH BOARD AREA. I WAS MAKING MY DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK WHEN THE AC UNIT SHUT OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON WITH THICK BLACK SMOKE POURING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. NATURALLY I ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN TO ALLOW THE SMOKE TO CLEAR SO THAT I COULD PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC. THIS MADE MATTERS WORSE, THE SMOKE THICKENED, THE HORN STARTED HONKING AS IF SOMEONE WAS HOLDING THE HORN DOWN, AS I WAS PULLING THE CAR OVER TO THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610079 · 2014-07-12 (July 12, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ON STATING " ENGINE TEMPERATURE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE IS HIGH. DRIVE MODERATELY TO COOL THE ENGINE. IF TEMPERATURE INCREASES AGAIN. HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY YOUR BMW DEALER SHIP." I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 6/9/2014 ON THE 30TH DAY THE CAR HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ME. THE CAR TURNED OFF 4 TIMES WITH ME AS I TRIED TO DRIVE BACK HOME. MY 2008 BMW 335I SERIES WAS PURCHASED WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS RECALL SO I CAN TAKE IT IN ..BEEN DOING SOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10610079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259776 · 2009-02-24 (February 24, 2009)
WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE FOR ~100 MILES AND THEN EXITED. AT THE FIRST RED LIGHT THE CAR STALLED AND REFUSED TO RUN NORMALLY. IT SPUTTERED AND STALLED REPEATEDLY. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT A DEALER WAS WITHIN 1 MILE AND WAS ABLE TO EFFECT REPAIR. THE PROBLEM WAS FAILURE OF A PRESSURE PUMP WHICH WE WERE TOLD IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CAR. BMW HAS NOT DESPITE THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM. HAD THE PUMP FAILED A FEW MINUTES EARLIER WE WOULD HAVE STALLED ON THE FL. TURNPIKE WHILE TRAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,629 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265659 · 2009-04-16 (April 16, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON AN INCLINE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN RESTARTED TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CONTACT REACHED HER DESTINATION. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER THE FINAL OCCURRENCE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239718 · 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)
1) TRANSMISSION JERKS FORWARD WHEN LETTING FOOT OFF BRAKE INTERMITTENTLY 2) CAR HAS LONG STARTS; I BELIEVE IT TO BE A FUEL MANAGEMENT PROBLEM 3) CAR HAS REDUCED POWER INTERMITTENTLY PROBLEMS OCCURS ABOUT EVERY TWO DAYS; THE TRANSMISSION JERKING FORWARD AND REDUCE POWER IS UNSAFE. IT CAN'T BE FORECASTED DURING EVERYDAY DRIVING. I HAVE IN CONTACT WITH BMW NA AND MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIRS. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES; BMW CLAIMS NO ISSUES WITH THE SYSTEM. FUEL/TRANSMISSION ISSUE MAKES THE CAR HARD TO PREDICT. BMW DEALER REC…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276301 · 2009-07-10 (July 10, 2009)
WHEN STARTING MY CAR THE ENGINE JERKED AND ALMOST STALLED ON START-UP. ALSO UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS CAR ACCELERATION IS SLUGGISH AND IS "JERKY" DURING BRAKING. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY IN OCTOBER 2007. FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. CAR IS IN THE SHOP ON AVERAGE OF ONCE EVERY 3 WEEKS! DEALER CONTINUES TO REPLACE PARTS BUT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. PARTS SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10304620 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, LOST POWER STEERING ON FREEWAY WHILE GOING 65MPH. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY ROLL TO THE NEXT EXIT. DEALERSHIP FOUND DEFECTIVE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,105 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347964 · 2010-08-07 (August 7, 2010)
CAR SHOWED SIGNS OF LONG CRANK, WHEN STARTING AND HESITATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ALL SPEEDS. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. CAR EVENTUALLY STALLED OUT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ALL POWER WAS LOST IN THE VEHICLE INCLUDING STEERING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP, AND TWO MONTH LATER WHEN IT FAILED AGAIN REPROGRAMMED THE CAR. TWO ADDITIONAL VISITS TO THE SHOP FOR THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES-CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY LOSING ALL POWER AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10348918 · 2010-08-12 (August 12, 2010)
MULTIPLE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES ON VEHICLE STARTING AT 27,055 MILES, SECOND AT 28,711 MILES, THIRD AT 40,872 MILES. ALSO EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION LEAK AT 35,784 MILES.(REPAIRED) SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF REPROGRAMMING SOFTWARE FAILED TO FIX THE FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. STILL ONGOING FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE SYMPTOMS OCCURRING AFTER RECENT DEALER SERVICE/INSPECTION. THE THIRD BREAKDOWN WAS CATASTROPHIC AND HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED OFF ROADWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,055 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348918 at NHTSA ↗