2008 BMW 7 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Body, Seats & Latches
Body, Seats & Latches leads by volume: 42 of 94 complaints (45%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 127 in 2007 to 94 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,300–4,850 | 4,300–5,150 | 4,300–5,150 | 4,550 | 4,550–5,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 16–18 | 15–18 | 15–18 | 17 | 15–17 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 13–15 / 21–23 | 13–15 / 20–23 | 13–15 / 20–23 | 14–15 / 21–22 | 13–15 / 19–22 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 494–555 | 494–592 | 494–592 | 523 | 523–592 | |
| Complaints filed | 317 | 127 | 94 | 26 | 48 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 8 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 BMW 7 Series have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 BMW 7 Series?
Body, Seats & Latches: 42 of 94 NHTSA complaints (45%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 BMW 7 Series get?
EPA rates it 15–18 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 BMW 7 Series?
EPA estimates $4,300–$5,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $4,300 (low) | 494 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $4,300 (low) | 494 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 12 | 6.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 13 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | 15 mpg (low) | $5,150 (high) | 592 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 17 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 42 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · Campaign 17V328000 · May 19, 2017
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2005-2008 745i, 745Li, 750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li, and B7 Alpina vehicles equipped with both the Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options. In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.
Consequence: The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the door latch system, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · Campaign 12V502000 · Oct 18, 2012
Defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) that automatically shifts the transmission to Park when the driver presses the Start/Stop button to shutdown the engine. If the driver presses the engine Start/Stop button 2 or 3 times within a short time interval, the system may shift the transmission to Neutral rather than Park. If using the electronic key (Comfort Access mode), there would be no protection from the ignition interlock that prevents key removal if the vehicle is not in Park.
Consequence: If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway. Unattended rollaway incidents often result in a crash or cause injury to pedestrians attempting to stop or enter the vehicle or to other bystanders in the path of the vehicle.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · Campaign 10V446000 · Oct 1, 2010
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.