2008 Bmw 550I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
77,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 32 complaints (28.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 31.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
Electrical System: 9; Exterior Lighting: 7; Air Bags: 6; Engine: 5; Seat Belts: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train: 2; Tires: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 8 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 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10233540 · 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEALED BOTTLE OF WATER STORED IN THE TRUNK LEAKED. THE LEAK CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, WHICH BURNED THE WIRES AND MODULATORS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716033 · 2015-05-12 (May 12, 2015)
I RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING FUSES BLOWING ON MY RIGHT FRONT HEAD LIGHT UNITS. ERRORS WOULD INDICATE IT WAS THE 'RIGHT DAYLIGHT PARKING UNIT' AND THEN WOULD CLEAR OR STAY CONSTANT. WHEN IT WAS CONSTANT, IT WAS DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE. IT TURNS OUT WHEN I HAD A BMW CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE ISSUE HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE WIRING INSIDE THE FRONT HEAD LIGHT. THE WIRING HAD INSULATION THAT WAS STARTING TO FLAKE OFF ALLOWING CONTACT OF THE TWO WIRES GOING TO THE BULB AND WAS EVEN APPARENT ON OTHER WIRES WITHIN THE HEAD L…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440796 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)
2008 BMW 550I. CONSUMER STATES WHEN NORMALLY DOWN SHIFTING TO REDUCE SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED IN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS RELEASED IN A LOWER GEAR, IT MAINTAINED THE HIGHER SPEED AND MERELY REVVED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER LEARNED HE COULD NOT DOWN SHIFT, BUT HAD TO BREAK INSTEAD. THE CONSUMER AND THE BMW TECHNICIAN WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUCTH HAD TO BE HELD FOR ABOUT SIX SECONDS IN ORDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. THE DEALER IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443258 · 2012-01-10 (January 10, 2012)
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND FAILS TO RESTART, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY FAIL TO START. THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY, OR SHORTLY AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. NO WARNINGS OR ERRORS ARE GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED OR LOGGED HOWEVER IN RARE INSTANCES DRIVETRAIN WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE DISPLAYS NO STRANGE BEHAVIOR PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING AND SHUTS OFF AS IF IT WERE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE REGULARLY FAILS TO START. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER A…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447828 · 2012-02-13 (February 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO STOP. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACCUM PUMP WAS LEAKING OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11554420 · 2023-11-09 (November 9, 2023)
The contact owns a 2008 BMW.The contact stated that he was getting ready to drive the vehicle, however when he started the vehicle, the ABS and check engine lights illuminated.The contact stated that he noticed the vehicle was overheating and turned the vehicle off.The contact heard an unusual sound which came from under the hood.The contact inspected and noticed that the coolant reservoir lid had detached and dented the hood due to the vehicle overheating.The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer.The manufa…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11554420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231590 · 2008-06-19 (June 19, 2008)
NOTE THIS IS FOR A 2008 BMW 335XI NOT A BMW 550I I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335XI WHICH HAS HAD TWO FUEL PUMP FAILURES WITHIN A WEEK. FIRST WAS ON JUNE 9TH WHERE MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. A WEEK LATER, AND LESS THAN 100 MILES, THE FUEL PUMP DIED AGAIN WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION; REDUCED POWER... AND THE CAR KEPT RUNNING ROUGH... FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE REFER TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE08032 . THIS IS A DIFFERENT CLAIM MADE THAN THE ONE IN THAT ACTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232112 · 2008-06-24 (June 24, 2008)
I HAVE A BMW 335I BOUGHT ON MARCH 28, 2008 AND IT HAS STALLED ON ME AND DIED OVER 4 TIMES. THE CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT ON LIMP MODE WAS AT 500 MILES AND THE FIRST TIME IT STALLED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WAS AT 750 MILES. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS FAULTY GAS, WHICH WAS MY PROBLEM, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF A NEW GAS PUMP, NEW INJECTORS AND TO CLEAN OUT MY BRAND NEW GAS TANK, SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. I JUST GOT MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON, JUNE 23, 2008, A…
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232112 at NHTSA ↗