This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I have a 2008 BMW 535I and received the dreaded "engine malfunction - reduced power" readout. The car would not develop more than 1,500 rpms. I took it to the local dealer and the service advisor stated immediately that it was a failed high pressure fuel pump, a rather common occurrence on this particular engine. The hpfp was replaced and the car has performed fine now for about six months, although the aforementioned readout did appear one more time, but I turned off the engine and restarted it immediately and everything was fine.
The N54 engine in the BMW is a hazard-I almost got killed when my car stalled on the road-BMW replaced the hp fuel pump 3X already and the car is less than 3 years old. These engines need to be replaced as there is a design flaw. Do people have to die to fix the problem?
2008 BMW 535I took my car into dealership due to car running rough. They couldn't find anything and sent me on my merry way. Took my car in on Monday, May 4 due to car running rough and ticking noise in engine...told them we were going on a 1,000 mile road trip the end of the week. They couldn't find anything but did replace some brake items. Driving home at the end of our trip, on acceleration my car 'skipped' three times....a couple of minutes later I tested it and accelerated again (on fl turnpike) it 'skipped' hard again three times. Got off at the next exit...at the light I got a 'engine malfunction' light and limped into the 7-11. Put gas in car, called BMW concierge. We were close enough to home to have it towed to the dealership, get a driver to help us transfer all our luggage etc, and take us home. Next day called dealership...they had car day and a half and said it was the fuel injector pump. I understand from tons of BMW owner blogs that this is very common occurrence...we were fortunate enough not to be going 65 miles an hour in front of a semi like many other family's have the misfortune of. I also understand that people have had to have this replace not one, two, or three times but continuous...four! this is absurd. Where's BMW's integrity to do the right thing, address the situation, and not put their consumers in harms way. Do we near a near death experience or our family's filing lawsuits once we're six feet in the grave for them to stand up and take care of these problems once and for all"??"
While driving at highway speed, the car began to run very roughly. A warning light and warning message appeared, indicating that there was an engine problem. We pulled off the highway and into a parking lot. We stopped the engine, waited a few minutes and restarted the car. The car continued to run roughly but there was no warning light or message. We continued on to our destination (shopping). When we finished our shopping, I started the car and it continued to run roughly and the same warning light and message appeared. I wanted to drive the car to the dealer for service but when I pulled out of the parking space the car stalled. I restarted the car, drove it about 100 feet into another parking lot and had the car towed to the dealer. When I described the problem at the dealership, a service rep indicated that they thought it was the fuel pump. I heard that this has been a recurring problem. The dealer was not able to replace the pump without getting authorization from BMW because BMW had has so many fuel pump problems. A failure at highway speed that would cause the car to stall is a dangerous condition.
I am reporting known failures and an "unofficial recall" (see web link to bms service report) of high pressure fuel pumps for 2008/2009 BMW cars with the 3 liter twin turbo engines. When these fuel pumps fail there is an immediate reduction of power and the car goes into "limp mode". BMW has recently extended the warranty on the fuel pumps to over 100K miles and 10 years, but I am concerned that there has not been a formal safety investigation by the us government (that I know of) or a formal recall by BMW since this is a potentially dangerous situation if cars suddenly slow at highway speeds. I am the owner of a 2008 BMW 535, it is now having problems starting in the morning and I am now concerned about when/if my fuel pump will fail - to the point I will no longer let my wife drive the car. www.bmwblog.com/2009/03/.../more-BMW-fuel-pump-news/www.E90post.com/forums/showthread.php?T=181600.
- Bedminster, NJ, USA
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High pressure fuel pump went out on me on the highway. The car stopped real fast (not to a completion), could have caused a major accident. Thankfully nobody was behind me.
Failure of the high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) in my 2008 BMW 535I. Car lost power on the highway and caused a unsafe reduction of speed being the car by design will reduce power during the failure to save the engine.
I am reporting two failures of the high-pressure fuel pump on a 2008 BMW 535I. The first occurred about one yr after delivery resulting in the car having to be returned to the dealer in limp mode. A year after the hpfp was replaced, the exact same failure occurred, and the pump was replaced for a second time. Imo, this represents a serious safety defect that BMW seems incapable of correcting.
Loss of power to car: 1 turbocharger replaced loss of power to car: Fuel pump replaced loss of power to car: 3 fuel injectors and 3 spark plugs replaced.
Was driving at highway speeds when car began to "sputter" causing rough ride. After another 5 miles, the engine warning light came on. I pulled over to the side of the road, stopped the car, then restarted it. The light disappeared, but reappeared after another mile of driving. Contacted BMW who said the car was safe to drive. Service center found that it was stored fault codes, which a previous service bulletin had advised. These fault codes were cleared and the car functioned properly. Please note: This is for a 2009 BMW 535I. The choices available for 2009 BMW's do not include the 5 series.
2008 BMW 535I, with sport package with 3.0 ltr twin turbo engine. Twice since purchasing new on 1 August 2008 the "engine malfunction-reduced power" warning appeared. In both cases warning light disappeared after driving between 25 and 40 miles as did the lack of power. Car also occasionally starts with rough idle that disappears within less than a minute. Car is in the shop now for the first time and initial reports show record of "misfire" event. Issue could be very dangerous if it happens at a very inopportune time such as when acceleration is required to safely blend into traffic. Needs definitive fix immediately! multiple complaints on line in many forums suggest that fix is not yet available from BMW. Perhaps a redesigned high pressure fuel pump is required vice a replacement with one of the current design.
This car was purchase brand new on 12/12/2008. So far the fuel system has failed four time. Fuel pump twice and injectors twice. The car suddenly looses power due to this issues. My car has 36K miles. Having looked at news groups, a lot of people are having similar problems with this model.
1. rough riding - loss of power on highway 2. dozens of times over the last few months. Car has been in shop for two months out of last 12 for the same issue. 3. BMW keeps trying different things but no final fixes as yet.
I want to voice my utmost dissatisfaction with my 535I(customer #113894) thus far based on following details. Service date: 5/22/08, mileage: 7592, vehicle experienced difficulty starting ignition. Your service department replaced "high pressure fuel pump." Service date: 1/17/09, mileage: 16495, vehicle displayed message, "engine malfunction, reduced speed" then engine stalled during driving in 5 freeway. Your service department replaced "high pressure fuel pump." Latest episode happened driving in 5 freeway with my two kids in back seat. Car stalled in the middle of freeway and I've had close call with semi truck coming right behind me. I thought he was going to slam right into me! needless to this experience have given me a scare and fear for my kids' safety, which prompted me to file a complain with NHTSA. This 535I is my first BMW and it will probably be my last one. I've had Acura before this vehicle and had not had this type of life threatening vehicle malfunction.
Second high pressure fuel pump failure in less than 2 months ( first one replaced the 2nd week of December 2008 had another fail today on the way to work 1/14/2009). The high pressure fuel pump (hpfp from now on ) on the N54 motors from BMW has become a major issue spreading across 3 different lines ( 1,3,5 series), some thing need to be done quickly, since buying low content ethanol fuel is nearly impossible. This was the excuse I was given, failures due to "high" ethanol content ( above 10%), drivers have no way of testing at the pump how high the content is except for the labels on the pump.
I have a 2008 BMW 535I with sport package and premium package. I have had an "engine malfunction/reducing horsepower" issue with this car 3 times since purchasing it in August 2008. The first incident occurred within 3 weeks of delivery and only 600 miles. The second incident happened about a month later with approx 1500 miles; and the third incident occurred on 11/3/08 with approximately 2200 miles. BMW says each time that it's a misfire in one of the cylinders - but that they do not know how to fix it. So each time they reset the computer and send me away. This is a very dangerous situation. I drive on California freeways most of the time and when this engine malfunction occurs, the car starts "limping" and missing and I have to slow and pull to the side of busy, busy freeways that are very dangerous. Bimmerfest forum shows that there are lots of owners of the BMW 535I having this same problem - but BMW will not address the issue...... each time the problem occurs, the BMW dealer asks me what kind of gas I'm using - and it's always been 91 octane. Then they ask me what brand - which is chevron, though I didn't realize the brand of gas would be a problem in modern day cars. This is a very dangerous situation to be occurring on the California freeway system, not to mention any freeway system given the speeds at which people drive and the danger of power loss in the middle of traffic and having to pull over on very small shoulders where other cars pass at high rates of speed within only a foot or two of my car when the engine malfunctions.
2008 BMW 535xi wagon. Engine misfiring/losing power at highway speeds. Dealer first reset computer..happened again. Dealer replaced fuel pump..happened again. Dealer replaced a cylinder injector....good so far.
I bought a brand new BMW 525I M sport which has done 1000 miles. It is just 6 weeks old and the high pressure pump (hpp) went bust. I just can't believe it. I buy a car with my hard earned money and this happens. BMW should realize the impact it has on someone who expects a lot from his car since he is paying out of his nose.
Added exxonmobil gas 9/2/2008. Car dead by 9/7/2008, after driving approx. 50 miles. The fuel pump on this very new car has failed. The dealer claims the gas was bad (says alcohol level tested to 15%), while exxonmobil insists the fuel was fine at 10% alcohol, from the ethanol. I believe the real problem is that the 2008 BMW 535xi's can't handle even 10% ethanol, so the fuel pumps are failing.
- Scarsdale, NY, USA
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- La Jolla, CA, USA