2008 BMW X5 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2008 BMW X5, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “water pump” (35% of reports).
- 66engine complaints
- 65,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Water pump: mentioned in 23 of 66 complaints (35%)
- Engine overheated: mentioned in 5 of 66 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 49 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 66 complaints, 5 a fire.
BMW X5 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 X5 | 3 | 11% | — |
| 2025 X5 | 3 | 5% | — |
| 2024 X5 | 13 | 9% | 4,023 |
| 2023 X5 | 5 | 15% | — |
| 2022 X5 | 12 | 17% | — |
| 2021 X5 | 25 | 23% | 8,610 |
| 2020 X5 | 33 | 29% | 62,836 |
| 2019 X5 | 52 | 27% | 19,500 |
| 2018 X5 | 11 | 15% | — |
| 2017 X5 | 12 | 16% | 30,000 |
| 2016 X5 | 14 | 19% | 69,000 |
| 2015 X5 | 42 | 28% | 79,000 |
| 2014 X5 | 16 | 16% | 78,500 |
| 2013 X5 | 45 | 30% | 56,000 |
| 2012 X5 | 92 | 34% | 70,200 |
| 2011 X5 | 110 | 42% | 73,000 |
| 2010 X5 | 40 | 32% | 72,000 |
| 2009 X5 | 30 | 22% | 85,500 |
| 2008 X5 | 66 | 31% | 65,000 |
| 2007 X5 | 9 | 13% | 99,250 |
| 2006 X5 | 7 | 4% | 77,500 |
| 2005 X5 | 12 | 15% | 86,750 |
| 2004 X5 | 9 | 14% | 110,000 |
| 2003 X5 | 11 | 11% | 122,611 |
| 2002 X5 | 7 | 7% | 93,000 |
| 2001 X5 | 7 | 4% | 188,530 |
| 2000 X5 | 1 | 3% | 122,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
My 2008 BMW X5 was taken to a shop to be diagnosed due to Diagnosis as followed:( low coolant light coming on) âcoolant crossover pipe from timing belt cover leakingâ 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…
Open recall since March of 2022, no remedy yet still available
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 BMW X5s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 66 owner complaints about engine for the 2008 BMW X5 (31% of the 215 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 BMW X5 engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2008 BMW X5?
The most frequent phrase is “water pump”, in 23 of 66 complaints, followed by “engine overheated” (5).
Other 2008 BMW X5 problems
- Air Bags problems (65)
See all 2008 BMW X5 problems or engine problems across all X5 years.