Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 BMW X5 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the driver's air bag replacement and the fuel pump replacement recall; however, after the recall repairs, the vehicle stalled inadvertently while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the fuel pump twice. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at the stop light in the middle lane of a road. The contact was able to move the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of the police patrol. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle the next day; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who installed a fuel pump relay switch; however, the failure persisted. …
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 [redacted]
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
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.
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.
In October of 2015 while making a right turn very slowly into a one lane drive thru, my BMW X5 accelerated climbed up a 2 foot wall that was on the drivers side rode the front drivers side wheel upon the wall. I tried to break and pull the hand brake the car would not stop. I turned the steering wheel to the right the car hopped off the wall on to the ground and I turned off the car. The car just accelerated so fast and hard my sister and I could not believe how it climbed the tile wall with one wheel and came down to the ground. Now I had just got the car back from the dealership 5 days earlier when they replaced the water pump and replaced the 2 front tires and did a wheel alignment a $2500.00 job. It was very scary luckily there was no people or another car close by. I immediately called the dealership and took it in the next morning. …
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. …
On September 2, around midnight, after about 30 minutes of stop and go traffic at the border, my 2008 BMW sav X5 AWD 4dr 3.0i coughed, choked, stopped and refused to be revived. We were at the front of a long line of folks heading through customs into Canada. Yes, at the head of the line. It was so embarrassing! After fussing for another 30 minutes trying to get it into neutral, several able bodied canadian customs officers pushed it into their country. The tow truck driver came another 40 minutes later and took us to a BMW service shop in montreal. Sirs, what's so hard to swallow about this breakdown is that we completed the routine maintenance service on the car just 7 days before at new country BMW in hartford, ct. With the exception of a negligible oil leak that they said was no problem, I was assured that my car was fine. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. The contact stated there was a fuel odor in the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V071000 (air bags) and 16V746000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the part for the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 BMW X5. While driving 50-70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was applied, but the brakes failed to respond and the vehicle stalled. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 122,000.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 was not produced to specifications.
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.
Fuel System complaints in other X5 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2008 BMW X5?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2008 BMW X5, 19% of the model year's 235 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 BMW X5 fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-746 (fuel pump, Oct 17, 2016); NHTSA recall 10V-518 (fuel pump, Oct 26, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 BMW X5 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.