There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 BMW X5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
Open recall since March of 2022, no remedy yet still available
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.
when cold car will hesitate to start.
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.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, she smelled a strong burning plastic odor coming through the A/C vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the engine emitted abnormal loud knocking sounds and the vehicle started shuddering. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove to her residence and turned the vehicle off. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that oil was leaking from the vehicle onto the ground. 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 vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Consumer did reach out to BMW USA and they took the information and have asked the consumer to wait a week while they do their investigation. Consumer has reached out several times now since then and they have stated that there is nothing they can do at the moment. They say that it should be okay to drive the car until they are able to fix it. The car is not safe to drive and when turned on is very shaky, the engine is loud and gives off strong gas fumes.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE COOLANT LEVEL LOW, PULL OVER WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AND ADDED COOLANT INTO COOLANT RESERVOIR HOWEVER, THE COOLANT LEAKED OUT. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAN COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AND THAT LIGHT GRAY SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COME TO HER HOME WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED HER OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12E029000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO NOTIFIED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT WITH THE ENGINE FANS RUNNING HIGH. A WARNING MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO READ, "IF YOU KEEP DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH FIRE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUTOFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HIS FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12E029000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,150.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, between 5-70 MPH, she smelled a plastic burning odor. The contact saw smoke coming out from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road for thirty minutes. The contact then continued to drive. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that oil may have dropped in the engine compartment during an oil replacement, which led to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who informed the contact that they could not replicate the failure. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 failure mileage was approximately 175,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
oil leaked from the engine dripping over auxaust and casing fume to inter the capen. mechanick indicate the engine cover is made out of plastic and it warped and cause the oil to leak.
THE ENGINE IDLER PULLEY BOLT BROKEN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE OVERHEAT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN FT WASHINGTON, PA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A SNAP NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MOVE, I MANAGED TO PARK THE CAR SAFELY AND TURNS OUT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE TENSIONER PULLEY BROKE OFF. THE REPAIR IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AND BECAUSE I WAS ONLY DOING 20 MPH I MANAGED TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND OTHERS SAFETY. IMAGINE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH. I WOULD LIKE BMW TO PAY FOR MY REPAIR AND MAKE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE.
STARTED MY 2008 BMW X5 4.8I WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES A BIG PUDDLE FORMED UNDER THE CAR. TOWED THE CAR TO INDEPENDENT SHOP THEY SAID THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET GASKET WENT BAD PREMATURELY NOTED BY THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT'S A COMMON FACTORY DEFECT AN THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL OUT FOR THIS.
ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH FAILING PARTS ON A SAV WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES. ISSUES INCLUDE LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET, LEAKING BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, DRIVE BELTS WORN (A/C AND MAIN), WATER PUMP FAILURE. EXPENSIVE REPAIRS (SOME COMPLETED, SOME YET TO BE COMPLETED). ALSO, IDRIVE DOESN'T WORK. MANY BMW X5 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES, EVEN WITH MILEAGES AS LOW AS 40,000. BMW SAYS "TOUGH LUCK." BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE RECALLS ON SEVERAL OF THESE COMPONENTS FOR FREE REPLACEMENT BUT HAVE NOT DONE SO. HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X5. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, FLAMES SURROUNDED THE ENGINE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. CREVIER BMW IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PCV VALVE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE FUMES APPEARED FROM THE PCV VALVE HEATER, WHICH CAUSED SOME COMPONENTS TO MELT AND THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF PEABODY (221 ANDOVER ST, PEABODY, MA 01960, (877) 530-0807), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026