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Electrical systemPart report

2008 BMW 335I Electrical system Problems

Complaints
35about this part
Share
17%of 201 total for the year
Median mileage
79,872miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 35 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 BMW 335I, 17% of the 201 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,872 miles. 5 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The doors will not unlock. The lights flash on the outside but even when pushing the unlock button from the inside of the car the doors stay locked. Wife had to exit my car was by crawling out of the window. Able to use the key for manual unlock of driver door only; gas tank door remains locked so I cannot put gas in my car and, therefore, cannot drive my car.”

NHTSA complaint #10704402, filed 2015-04, 128,534 miles

“The engine malfunction reduced power message keeps coming on and off , low engine oil message keeps coming on even though its good on oil , the steering wheel was hard to turn while I was driving causing me to have to pull over and turn the car off and back on and the steering was ok after that. It's currently being looked at my the dealer where I purchased it only 3 months ago.”

NHTSA complaint #10724891, filed 2015-06, 86,335 miles

“I just got belt replaced. About two weeks later the belt pops. The car lost power steering and then would not start. I've researched online n saw that its a design flaw in the 07- 08 335I's but Bmw is refusing a recall. Imagine if I was on the highway n it happened. Its terrible.”

NHTSA complaint #10693108, filed 2015-03, 59,000 miles

“9/11/2013 at approximately 9:25 am est my 2008 Bmw 335I spontaneously caught fire from what seems to be an electrical problem in the dash board area. I was making my daily commute to work when the AC unit shut off and then turned back on with thick black smoke pouring into the cabin of the car. Naturally I rolled the windows down to allow the smoke to clear so that I could pull over out of traffic. …”

NHTSA complaint #10543454, filed 2013-09, 69,000 miles

“The doors will not unlock. The lights flash on the outside but even when pushing the unlock button from the inside of the car the doors stay locked. I'm being told it is a fuse, but literally none of the doors will lock or unlock. The only way I was able to exit my car was by crawling out of my window.”

NHTSA complaint #10481536, filed 2012-10, 47,520 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2015440%
2014420%
20131126%
201229%
20111616%
2010922%
20091518%
20083517%
20075118%

Other parts of the 2008 BMW 335I

Fuel system
76 complaints
Air bags
43 complaints
Engine
26 complaints
Engine cooling
12 complaints
Exterior lighting
9 complaints
Seat belts
9 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
9 complaints
Brakes
7 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
6 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints
Vehicle speed control
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 BMW 335I

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology