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2008 Bmw X5

The Verdict

40 Proceed with Caution

The 2008 Bmw X5 has 333 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (195 complaints) and electrical (87 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 40/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Bmw X5, consider the 2000 model year which has 91% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2000 has 91% fewer complaints

View the 2000 Bmw X5 dashboard →

40

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 2

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

10V518000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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 WA...

Risk

THIS WEAR COULD LEAD TO FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION AND ENGINE STALLING. ENGINE STALLING COULD CREATE A POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

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.

Reported Apr 10, 2026

08V170000 SUSPENSION:REAR

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 STA...

Risk

IN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, SUCH AS FAST LANE CHANGES AT HIGH SPEED, THE VEHICLE COULD EXPERIENCE AN 'OVER-STEER' BEHAVIOR AFFECTING VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK O...

Remedy

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 [email protected].

Reported Nov 4, 2008

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000143417
20016810394415
200232634358
2003242324114
2004395541415
2005191638219
200638381662413
2007162547487
200816178719518
2009141445835
201015140874
20112647216144
201625210276
20172078326
20181939305
201940859619
2020183264011
2021254213015
202221561410
2023132536
2024178013168
20251526555

By Category

Engine
195
Electrical
87
Transmission
18
Brakes
17
Body
16

By Severity

1
164
2
149
3
1
4
19

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2008 Bmw X5 stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Engine 1

My vehicle had a faulty PCV valve that was under "Stop Drive," order. I received no correspondence from the NHTSA nor from BMW of North America in regards to this. My BMW X-5 had significant issues that are directly associated with this issue. After contacting BMW of North America directly because I could not reach anyone at my nearest BMW Service Department, it was escalated twice to attempt to arrange for my vehicle that I unknowingly continued to drive. My vehicle has sat undriven since May of 2024. It was finally picked up, towed to the dealership for repairs related to the PCV recall. The PCV valve was replaced and my vehicle was returned to me in undriveable condition. None of the rough idle, burning smell or engine issues were attended to. They simply replaced the valve without further investigation into the damage done by continued driving of a "Stop Drive," order. BMW of North America is placing blame solely on the NHTSA for not sending me correspondence relative to this recall. My vehicle was identified as having the faulty Takata airbags and I received all of the documents sent by both the NHTSA and BMW USA. I now have a undriveable, unsafe vehicle due to the servicer simply replacing a recalled object but not the damage caused by continuing to drive a vehicle that should have had immediate service. Please advise what steps should be taken. Tara Catalano-Smith

8mo ago
Electrical 4

Last night my 2008 BMW X5 caught fire while parked in a parking lot - the fire was in the engine compartment and appeared to be an electrical fire - police and fire were at the scene and a report was made.

11mo ago
Engine 1

Airbag light is on for passenger and fuel injectors messed up. This is a 2008 and other ones had recalls. I don’t understand why mine did not lights are flickering a little bit and before it was smoking really bad and I had to get that fixed.

13mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that two minutes later the instrument panel went blank. The contact stated that the infotainment system failed to display an image and a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 147,644.

13mo ago
Body 2

Component Malfunctioned, All dashboard light are on. service check needed immediately. PCV heater not working ,cruise control not working, loose suspensions, knocking noise from the front and rear of the car. Air bags driver and passenger. All other UNKnown problems. I was told my Casey BMW of Newport News Va. That my car had no recalls? I am spending so much money just to try to keep my car updated. I can no longer do it. I am on a fixed income. If you can be of any assistance, please help! Thanks

17mo ago
Transmission 1

Seat Calibration; Airbag/Seat Belt Tensioner, level control system malfunction etc

19mo ago
Body 1

Drivers side rear tire 255/50R19 tire sidewall split out going 60 MPH leading to rapid loss of tire pressure.

30mo ago
Engine 1

My 2008 bmw x5 4.8i almost caught fire. The fuel pump connector is burnt into the fuel pump harness. My local mechanic said this was like a ticking time bomb. The issue is these trucks are known for this problem and there was a recall for this but my vin coming up with no recalls when this truck is clearly apart of the bad batch , I have pictures for proof.

32mo ago
Engine 4

X5 was off, parked and the engine compartment burst into flames. Car was totaled There was apparently a recall issues in 2022 in which I was unaware and had no direct contact from the BMW dealer I purchased it from. The recall states that in some vehicles, this part could cause a fire. Well, I had a fire and there was zero indication of anything wrong with the car.

32mo ago
Engine 1

My 2008 BMW X5 was taken to a shop to be diagnosed due to Diagnosis as followed:( low coolant light coming on) “coolant crossover pipe from timing belt cover leaking” it is available for inspection, although it is not safe to drive. The low coolant light went off after I put more in it and did not come back on. Me and my then 10 month old were picking my 14 year old up from school and I noticed smoke pouring out of the hood. There was no warning lights or anything. Then the air conditioner started to blow smoke out as well. I cut the car off and it continued to smoke for approximately an hour. The car was about to catch on fire with no warning lights and the hazardous smoke out of the vents. The problem was diagnosed by Dan’s Auto Center. I can not move my car because it will smoke at the engine and cause a fire risk. The low coolant sensor came on a few days after purchased. I took it to get it diagnosed and the cost from that place quoted approximately 3,000 dollars. I put coolant in it and did not drive it for awhile. The sensor went off and the coolant was still full. There were no signs, no sensor, no overheating, just all the sudden huge clouds of smoke coming from my hood of the car. BMW has a lot of recalls for this same situation, but my car (year) is not listed.I do not understand this. Please add my car to the list, this is a 2000 to 3000 job and I have to get my car towed to a place if I ever can. Can I take this to a BMW Place and ask them to fix due to other recalls? This was very scary for me and my children. “The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles, a melting intake manifold, and potentially fire,”according to BMW.

36mo ago
Engine 1

I've been experiencing drive train problems with my vehicle and upon research I've concluded that not just only me but many people with the same vehicle as mine have been having transfer case/driveshaft/differential problems and the scary part is that no codes pop up for this issue!! I've already took it to many shops I've even took it to an official BMW dealership and they don't seem to help but the real reason I'm reaching out is because I nearly had a near death experience related to this issue on the freeway.. the vehicle seemed to shake violently and felt like it wanted to seize up while driving and had to do an emergency pull over but once again it doesn't throw no codes and not only that I've already spent thousand of dollars into this car for it to react like that while driving! Please hear me out and help me resolve this as soon as possible.. thank you [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

37mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, she noticed an abnormally strong burning plastic odor inside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact stated that she had stopped driving the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 167,964. Parts distribution disconnect.

40mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that she started to notice a burning odor throughout the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

43mo ago
Engine 1

Open recall since March of 2022, no remedy yet still available

43mo ago
Engine 4

On 12/10/2022 I was driving to work and my BMW started smelling of like electrical fire. I pulled over on a exit in Sweetwater, TN and upon exiting the vehicle I noticed flames under the hood of the car. The car was on fire somewhere in the engine. A passerbuyer stopped and called 911 for me Christianburg, TN fire Dept. done the report. But BMW has a recall on this vehicle for over 1yr with no remedy to fix knowing the car can catch on fire. Luckily I was not injured but I suffered a total loss from my vehicle. Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 22V119000 Report Date: Mar 02, 2022 Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked. What You Should Do: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X

43mo ago
Engine 1

when cold car will hesitate to start.

44mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, there was a plastic smell while the heater was in use. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

45mo ago
Engine 2

This car is not safe to drive, when you accelerate lots of black smoke come from tail pipe and loose power at the same time, Its burning through spark plugs Im having to change them at least every 2 wks plugs cost 15$ a piece, Its burning through oil oil leaks popping up random all over every 2 weeks its burning through 5 quarts of oil ,oil is 18$ a quart, Do to the lose of power i have to take the access roads to and from work. Its causing me to miss a lot of work Im afraid for my wife and kids to be in the car with me its just not safe we got the letter from BMW 2 months ago about the recall what is considered a timely manner because 2 months is a ling time we need this resolved asap bmw just giving us the run arounds verses solving this issue. This car has been riding this unsafe way for at least 6 months and its getting worst by the day, its costing us to much money plus lose of work

47mo ago
Engine 1

PCV MY safety of my self and my 5 yr 17 yr I use my BMW X5 to take my kids or doctors and school and I work too and something need to be happen about this bc My family are AT RISK OF GETTING CAUGHT ON FIRE when iam starting up the car black smoke or white smoke comes out and when iam driving and people who are behind in they car get smoke out my lots of smoke that comes from my car in back and yes ita a RECALL on my car Manufactuer NO warning just smoke and driving very and had it look at then i was told

47mo ago
Engine 2

The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space, he saw smoke coming through the vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact then parked and opened the hood but could not find any issues. The contact was able to continue driving however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated while driving the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced and the failure was associated to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

49mo ago

333 total

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