Fuel Pump Problems of BMW 5 Series

BMW 5 Series owners have reported 20 problems related to fuel pump (under the gasoline fuel system category). The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Fuel Pump problem of the 2010 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 07/01/2011

When the temperature hits 100 degrees as it does in the desert 5 months or so per year, the interior cabin fills up with very harmful gas fumes. We owned a 2008 and the same situation. As a result of this and problems with the fuel pump on the 2008, the dealership bought the car back. My husband really wanted another BMW and when he was looking at buying the 2010 he was told all the problems including the gas fumes had been resolved. Not so. The car has been back to service twice for the gas fumes and no one can shed any light on the situation. When this happens you cannot drive the car as the fumes will knock you out. The car has to sit on the driveway and air out for a few days. You can't park in the garage as the gas fumes enter the house. For a car of this caliber it is not acceptable. Plus it is very dangerous to your health.

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2 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 03/27/2011

Engine malfunction! reduced power was the message I received on my dash display. I took photos of the displayed message. Car went from 65 mph down to 18 mph in a matter of seconds in the far left lane of the interstate highway. Could have been killed. Had to chug and lurch over three lanes of speeding traffic to get to the right shoulder of the road. I've already had the fuel pump replaced by BMW recall (a recall that I was never notified by BMW that the recall existed). Apparently the fuel pump recall was not all of the problem as this same engine malfunction still occurs and the car still behaves the same as before the fuel pump recall. Took the car to the dealer the very next day. He cleared a code in my onboard computer and did nothing to fix this problem. This problem with my BMW 535xi wagon is going to get someone in my family killed or seriously injured. I've read multiple complaints online from bloggers regarding this same problem. Why is BMW not fixing the problem. At the time the fuel pump was replaced the dealer also reprogrammed my car's onboard computer and checked the fuel in the tank which, according to the dealer appeared to be fine.

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3 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 03/08/2011

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 528i 5 Series. The contact stated while driving 25 mph and coming to a traffic light the brakes were applied and it automatically slowed down the vehicle. There was no warning light at the time of the failure. The vehicle continued to hesitate and accelerate, before the contact reached his destination. The dealer towed the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. The manufacturer was contacted and stated they would contact the dealer regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 8,900. Updated 07/08/11 the consumer was informed the fuel pump was clogged for the second time, which was causing the vehicle hesitate when the consumer was attempting to accelerate. Updated 10/12/11.

4 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 11/28/2010

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 535xi (na). While driving approximately 35 mph, the engine began smoking. The dealer made three attempts to diagnose the failure. The high pressure fuel pump was replaced but it cracked again. The vehicle was being repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current mileage was 30,100. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

5 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 08/12/2010

I had my car in for routine service two weeks ago, and I mentioned that the car had been slow to start in the morning, and idled roughly. I was told that the car was 'reprogrammed" and that should take care of the issue. Yesterday, while I was driving on the highway, the engine malfunction light came on, and the car lost acceleration, and I had to pull over on the right, through 3 lanes of rush hour traffic with a car that barely accelerated. I took the car to the dealer who said it was a bad sensor. This morning, my wife was driving the car with my 3 month old daughter and the engine malfunction light came on again. My wife tried to find a safe place to pull over, but the engine died at the light. She started the car again, and made it halfway into the intersection, and the car died again. She was very worried that she was going to get hit while stuck in the intersection. Finally, after a few more cycles of starting the car, going a few feet, and the car dying, she was able to get the car into a parking lot. The car was taken to the dealer again, and now they are changing the high pressure fuel pump.

6 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 05/22/2010

Car loses power 2008 BMW. 535i had just gotten it out of the shop (new plugs and new brakes ,changed the oil air filter full service) and the next day we had gone out for supper when the car would barrly run it was like it had 2 cyclinders. Had the BMW place pick up and they said it was low fuel pump and they had to order. When they got that in it did not fix it so the put another set of plugs and new coils and high pressure fuel pump in also. They ended up covering the whole bill. But it seems not to run like it use to. Not as much power. I would like to find more info on problem and how they extended warranty. * tr.

7 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 05/20/2010

On 5/20/10, my 2008 BMW 535xi suddenly lost power while driving on a single lane, resulting in a near rear-end collision. This happened once previously. Both times the car was towed and the dealer said they replaced the high pressure fuel pump. I complained about the latest incidence to BMW customer relations and services department, case # [xxx] ???. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

8 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 05/19/2010

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?.

9 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 04/19/2010

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/. . . Read more...

10 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 04/16/2010

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.

11 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 04/05/2010

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 535i. The contact stated that the preowned vehicle was purchased in April 2010. The fuel pump failed. The owner was driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle cut off . The vehicle was restarted and taken to the dealer and the fuel pump was replaced. On June 2, 2010 the fuel pump failed again. The dealer replaced that fuel pump with a "new" pump. The dealer was delivering the vehicle back to the owner and the mechanic experience the same failure and returned the vehicle to the dealership. BMW decided to take a fuel sample from the tank to determine if the fuel was the correct. They also advised they had found debris in the fuel system. BMW stated that that they would have to take the fuel tank off and clean it at the owners expense of about $3,000. 00 as this was not covered under warranty. The vehicle is at the dealership at the time of the complaint waiting for repairs. The current and failure mileages were approximately 44,000.

12 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 03/18/2010

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 535xi. The contact was driving approximately 65 mph. There was a sudden reduction in the engine power for 30 seconds. The engine shuttered and stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and the fuel pump was replaced. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on a separate occasion and the computerized system software was updated. The vehicle was being diagnosed by the dealer when the complaint was filed. The manufacturer has not addressed the fuel pump failure. The failure and current mileages were 37,500.

13 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 01/15/2010

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.

14 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 11/13/2009

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.

15 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 09/15/2009

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.

16 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 06/15/2009

We were driving on a 55 mph speed limit road. We were going up a slope, our car ( BMW 5 Series) suddenly lost power and we were unable to drive the car beyond 30 mph. We had to pull to the side of the road. After contacting BMW, they informed us that they can not take it to the dealer as all the dealers are closed on sundays. So we drove the car slowly to the house ( 3 miles away). The car was towed to the dealer next day, were told that it is a high pressure fuel pump failure. The pump was replaced. Now we have the car back. BMW dealer mentioned that there is nothing we can do to prevent this from happening again, BMW is aware of the problem. Also mentioned that such a failure is an acceptable price for the car's great engine. My wife stopped driving the car because the engine may fail with the children with her in the car, it will be dangerous. Every time I take the car to and from work I am worried that the engine may fail and truly can not trust the "great engine" that the dealer is so proud of.

17 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 06/01/2009

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.

18 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 01/17/2009

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 acuras before this vehicle and had not had this type of life threatening vehicle malfunction.

19 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 11/10/2008

High pressure fuel pump keeps failing. Loss of power.

20 Fuel Pump problem of the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Failure Date: 09/07/2008

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.


Other Common Gasoline Fuel System related problems of BMW 5 Series


Safety Ratings of 5 Series Cars
5 Series Service Bulletins
5 Series Safety Recalls
5 Series Defect Investigations