2008 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 691 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 15 involved a crash and 63 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, exhaust system, emission control, crankcase (pcv)Mar 2, 2022
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 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
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.
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.
Campaign 22V119000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, cooling system, fanAug 10, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Campaign 12E029000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalJul 8, 2009
BMW IS RECALLING 2,350 MY 2008 1-SERIES AND 3- SERIES PASSENGER CARS. INCORRECT CRIMP CONNECTORS MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SIDE AIR BAG AND BELT TENSIONER WIRING. AS A RESULT SUFFICIENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE CRIMP CONNECTORS AND THE CORRESPONDING PLUG MAY NOT OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THAT CONNECTION.
IF THAT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SIDE AIR BAG AND/OR THE SAFETY BELT TENSIONER NOT TO DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 09V257000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
164 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Seat belts, Dec 30, 2013
DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TENSIONER SYSTEM FAIL LIGHTS CAME ON. WE DROVE HOME AND THE LIGHTS STAYED ON EVER SINCE. TRIED RESETTING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM BUT LIGHTS REMAIN ON. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Oct 17, 2013
FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR IS BEING CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYED. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS RECALLED FOR PRIOR MODEL YEARS BUT NOT FOR 2008. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 2008 MODEL YEAR. MY VIN WAS NOT ON RECALL LIST. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 16, 2013
VEHICLE IS NOT ALLOWED RECALL SINCE VIN# DOES NOT APPLY HOWEVER ALL THINGS WRONG WITH VEHICLE ARE EXACTLY WHAT CAN BE FOUND UNDER RECALLS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 12E029000,09V257000, 09V257000. BMW FAIRFAX AND BMW NORTH AMERICA STATE RECALL CANNOT BE PROCESSED BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT APPLY. IT IS BOTHERSOME TO KNOW THAT I AM EXPERIENCING ONLY THESE 3 PROBLEMS THAT SO HAPPEN TO BE THE ONLY ERRORS AND ALL 3 ARE ON THE RECALL LIST FOR MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. PERHAPS IF MORE VEHICLES WITH MY PART NUMBERS COME FORWARD THEN MAYBE BMW CAN OWN UP AND ACTUALLY HELP CURRENT BMW OWNERS WITH THESE MALFUNCTIONS INSTEAD OF FORCING CUSTOMERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ON KNOWN BMW RECALLS AND MALFUNCTIONS. THE ERRORS ARE ENGING AND ENGING COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN, SEAT BELTS: FRONT, AND AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. IF YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH BMW AND THEM NOT BUDGING ON YOUR MALFUNCTIONS THAT HIT THE RECALLS PLEASE STEP FORWARD BECAUSE BMW NEEDS TO CORRECT THEIR MALFUNCTIONS AND NOT LET US PAY OUT OF POCKET ON SOMETHING PUT TOGETHER IMPROPERLY. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 23, 2012
SINCE PURCHASING THIS BMW IN FEB 2012, I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AT THE DEALER 4 TIMES ( AND ITS ONLY AUG. 2012) DUE TO AIR BAG & SEATBELT LIGHTS ON, BOTH FRONT SEATS HAVE HAD SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS REPLACED, & VARIOUS OTHER AIRBAG WORK, FRAYED WIRES UNDER SEAT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE UNSTOPPABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROX 104K MILES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY ON ITS WAY TO THE DEALER TODAY 08/23/2012 FOR ITS 4TH TRIP -FOR THE UN-STOPPABLE AIRBAG & SEAT BELT LIGHT THAT IT SEEMS TO BE DOOMED WITH. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 22, 2012
FOURTH INCIDENT - ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE "MALFUNCTION PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" IN ELEVEN MONTHS FOR SAME PROBLEM. SERVICE YET TO BE SCHEDULED WITH DEALER. I KNOW THERE WAS RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM IN 2006 FOR BMW 3-SERIES. I THINK BMW IS INSTALLING FAULTY SEAT MATS. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 22, 2012
THIRD INCIDENT - ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE "MALFUNCTION PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" DEALER CLAIMED THEY FIXED PROBLEM. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 22, 2012
SECOND INCIDENT OF ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE "MALFUNCTION PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" DEALER CLAIMED THEY FIXED PROBLEM. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 22, 2012
ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE "MALFUNCTION PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" DEALER CLAIMED THEY FIXED PROBLEM. *TR
Air bags, May 1, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 335I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE AIR BAGS FILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE EXTENSIVE IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,284. UPDATED 05/31/12*LJ
Air bags, Apr 9, 2012
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY MALFUNCTION.FAULTY SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR MAT. WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN SEAT. LIGHT SAYS "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF". THAT MEANS IT IS SET FOR A CHILD. *TR
Air bags, Jan 29, 2012, crash
I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OVER BAD CONDITIONS ON THE ROADS AND THE CAR FLIPPED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES AND YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. *TT
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Sep 3, 2011
THROUGH OUT THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED THREE TIMES WITH FIVE OCCURRENCES OF THE CAR NOT CRANKING AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN LEAVING ME STRANDED. OVER THE PAST YEAR THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR LESS THAN 5-10 MINUTES AT THE TIME. THE FIRST INSTANCE IT WAS TOWED BMW OF MOBILE REPLACED THE BATTERY AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING EVEN THOUGH I HAD OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT CHECK THE BATTERY TO BE SURE THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THEY CHARGED ME OVER FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THIS BATTERY. TWO DAYS AFTER THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED I HAD IT TOWED AGAIN TO BMW OF MOBILE BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN AND THE LIGHTS ETC. WOULD COME ON. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR OVER 5 DAYS RUNNING TEST THEN STATED THAT "NOTHING WAS WRONG." I TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD IT TOWED IF NOTHING WAS WRONG. TWO DAYS LATER IT WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN WHEN MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE AT A LATE LOCAL HIGHSCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME. THIS TIME THEY SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL WIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE PROBLEM CAUSING SOMETHING TO MELT NEAR THE FUSE PANEL($1,200) TO REPLACE). *TR
Air bags, Jan 27, 2011, crash
CAR: 2008 BMW 335I ISSUE: DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND PASSENGER SIDE HEAD/CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN A VERY LOWSPEED CRASH (LESS THAN 5 MPH) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 BMW 335I ON A STREET (HWY 6, HOUSTON, TX) IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN. MY WIFE REACTED A BIT LATE AND GENTLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS A SMALL SCRATCH ON THE REAR BUMPER OF THE OTHER CAR (VW BEETLE) AND A SMALL DENT ON THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE BMW. AT THIS TIME THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE BMW. THE CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. LOOKING AT THE SPEED AND THE DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH ITSELF IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BMW HAD FAULTY AIRBAG SENSORS. I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR NOTICE SO THAT IT CAN BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Air bags, Nov 5, 2009, crash
ON 22ND OF SEPT 09 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY BMW 335I AND IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION AND ALL THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG AND THAT IS WHERE I SLAMMED MY HEAD AGAINST AND RECEIVED A CONCUSSION, AND THIS WAS AFTER THIS RECALL AND I NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS THE TYPE OF CAR AS ME WERE EVER NOTIFIED. *TR