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ProblemsByVin Index / 2008-BMW-M5 / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2008 BMW M5 owner complaints

6 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 3 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

electrical 2 complaints shown

09/27/2019 80,000 mi Fire ODI #11258658.0

All wires leading into the headlights have deteriorated and are bare. It keeps shorting out the lights and seems to be a major fire hazard. This is a garage kept car with 80k miles. Appears many many others have the same problem. Please help.

07/08/2015 65,000 mi ODI #10732757.0

The sunroof drains of my vehicle overfill or clog causing water to leak in the trunk and wheel well. The cars wheel well holds the cars battery, rdc, and pdc modules. Surrounded by foam when water reaches the modules they arc and spark causing them to heat up and melt. Also located in the trunk is several other electrical components xm radio amp, etc. If not caught in time could cause fire and maybe even death. You can't tell when they are overfilled/clogged until it's to late. I have replaced them 2 times both times almost causing fire to the car. Here is a ling showing that BMW acknowledges the issue and is not fixing it. From someone else too. Http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=265090&d=1296781065 http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259095&pag

airbags 1 complaint shown

10/06/2014 70,000 mi Crash ODI #10641706.0

On sept 25, 2014, I was driving my 2008 BMW m5 and turning into a parking lot when I was hit from the rear, shoved on top and over a median and into another vehicle. My vehicle was struck from the rear and then struck again from the front. I do not know how fast the driver that hit me was going, however, none of my airbags in my vehicle were deployed. I am unable to determine the exact characteristics in which each airbag would be deployed and I requesting the NHTSA to perform that review. *tr

steering 1 complaint shown

06/08/2020 40,480 mi ODI #11327721.0

While driving my BMW m5, the vehicle became momentarily unstable while driving on state route 52 between walker valley and ellenville around a turn @ ~50mph. Shortly after the ABS and dsc lights became illuminated. I have several vehicles so I did not drive this car and could not get repaired immediately due to covid-19. I am not sure the exact date in which this occurred but dropped off to orange county BMW on 5/19/2020. After inspection it was diagnosed that the complete dsc unit (hydro / electric) completely failed. Meaning there was altered stability control, ABS braking and come to find out steering. The steering sensors were diagnosed after the new dsc unit was installed and could not be programmed due to faulty steering sensors. Not only was this something extremely da

engine 1 complaint shown

04/26/2021 45,000 mi Fire ODI #11413930.0

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 BMW m5. The contact stated while attempting to parallel park, the vehicle was shifted to reverse and a loud pop noise was heard as flames was seen coming from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated people outside of the vehicle began to scream to him that there was fire coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact parked, opened the hood and saw fire in the engine compartment. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. No one was injured and no medical treatment was needed. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. The contact stated that an independent mechanic was notified and he was awaiting a diagnosis. The contact stated that the vehicle was a total loss. The manuf

Showing 300 of 6 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/BMW/M5#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-07-15. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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