Home · 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible · Complaints

What 8 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (8)Crash / fire / injury (1)Airbags (3)Electrical system (2)Engine (2)Fuel system (2)Transmission & drivetrain (2)Driver assistance (1)Suspension (1)

Newest first · 8 complaints

Mar 10, 2025Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2019 BMW M850I. The contact stated that gear shifter became stuck in gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11647304

Feb 28, 2024Engine

The Coolant tank is known to have and cause leakage by possible high temperatures and over-expansion. When this happens the coolant leaks all over critical engine components such as fuel injectors causing a short and risk of fire. Leaking coolant can also cause many other safety problems such as slippery brakes and/or tires. Fortunately, this hasn't happened to my vehicle yet. I have spoken with several owners who have had this issue happen to them. It would be worth investigating to see if a safety recall is needed. Preventative measures should be taken. Thanks.

NHTSA ODI 11574481

Jun 10, 2023

The software update was transferred from phone to the car. But would not install on the car. The issue has been raised by multiple people on various BMW forums. The clutch appears to be from BMW servers and service locations instead of dealing with root cause are trying to charge customers 350 -450 dollar to manually load gbs software. As a purchaser of the vehicle with automated software updates it is unreasonable to charge for manual update where a over the air software should work Please contact me at [XXX] to discuss my issue and others with BMW software updates that do not install. Thank you. I may also be reached at [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11526356

Oct 5, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemAirbags

Behind the cupholder the shifting unit is unsealed and liquids spill are causing shifting issues to the shifting control module. Also the Airbag sensor is under the same gap which can cause airbag malfunction. There are numerous reports on forums with all model types 2019+, not limited to the 8 series. This is a design flaw on the new center console shifting seal. This is is a life threatening defect, already a open recall for the wire routing under the shifter for the 8 series, same area.

NHTSA ODI 11435507

May 17, 2021AirbagsEngineCrash

2019 M850i XDrive. Consumer writes regarding unintended acceleration of vehicle. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SURGED OVER A RETAINING WALL INTO THE SECOND FLOOR OF A BUILDING. SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11417452

Feb 13, 2021Electrical system

BATTERY INSUFFICIENT CHARGE TO INITIATE REMOTE START. THE CAR AND BATTERY ARE NEW. ON THE DATE OF AUTO PURCHASE THEY NOTED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH THEY DID AT NO COST BUT NOW IT IS NOT RETAINING CHARGE IN COLD WEATHER IN MINNESOTA.

NHTSA ODI 11396045

Feb 5, 2021AirbagsFuel systemDriver assistance

ON OR ABOUT DEC. 3, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH JAMESTOWN, NC , NO VEHICLES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND WITH MY WIFE'S FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. ONLY TIME IT HAPPENED. ON JAN. 14, 2021, WHILE PARKING THE AUTO AND WITH MY WIFE'S FOOT COVERING THE BRAKE PEDDLE, THE CAR SUDDENDLY ACCERATED INTO A BUILDING. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND WITH HER FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR NEVER SHUT OFF. IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING INTO BUILDING. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. BMW SENT A CORPORATE TECH TO EVALUATE. WITH NO LETTERS OR E-MAIL, WE RECEIVED A CALL STATING IT WAS MY WIFE'S FAULT. THREE SAFETY PROBLEMS IS NOT MY WIFE'S FAULT.

NHTSA ODI 11394846

Sep 7, 2020SuspensionFuel system

EVER SINCE I GOT THE MOTORCYCLE DECEMBER OF 2019 I'VE BEEN HEARING THIS SOUND AT THE BACK WHILE I'M RIDING AND I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT I'VE BEEN GOING TO UNFORTUNATELY THEY CAN'T FIND IF WHAT'S THE ISSUE. I REACHED OUT TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE THEY DIRECTED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. AND THE NOISE IS BEEN GOING LOUD NOW, I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER RIDERS WHEN I HIT ANY SMALL POTHOLES EVEN AT AROUND 30-40MPH THE BIKE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL APART.

NHTSA ODI 11353586

Working with the data? Download all 8 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible verdict →