Owners have filed 145 complaints
about the 2012 BMW 528I with NHTSA between 2012 and 2026.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 13 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 77
Against the median year of the BMW 528I. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 39
7.6% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 27
16% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
22.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
33.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
66.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
1111.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
2929.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
2424.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
2121.0%
150,000+ miles
44.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Sep 2012peak 8Jan 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2012 BMW 528I
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE13030Opened 6 Sep 2013Closed 25 Oct 2013SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
Loss of power assist braking
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in improper pump operation and loss of power assist braking.On July 11, 2013, BMW initiated a change to the ca...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Winter Haven, FLFire
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle leaked oil to where it caused an engine fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
POWER TRAIN
While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle leaked oil to where it caused an engine fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ENGINE
Vehicle leaked oil to where it caused an engine fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ENGINE
While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Winter Haven, FL
ENGINE
Vehicle has oil leak bad
NHTSA complaint #11711212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
El Paso, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The failure involved the breaking of the oil chain, which resulted in catastrophic engine damage. Consequently, the timing chain and splash shield were also compromised due to the initial failure. The incident appears to be caused by a malfunction or defect in the oil chain assembly. The affected components are available for inspection and further investigation. This information may be useful for evaluating the need for a recall or identifying underlying manufacturing or design issues.
NHTSA complaint #11684910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Jose, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On [XXX], the water pump's electrical plug connector became defective, ultimately putting myself and [XXX] son in a dangerous situation. While on the highway coming home from work/daycare, the car overheated rapidly, my car started slowing down in the middle of the highway. The car ultimately stopped and had to pull to the side. I tried to call 2 BMW dealerships in San Jose, but at that time the recall remedy was unavailable and said there was nothing they could do for me. So I had to tow to my home. Towed to my mechanic the next day, and they had to fix it. The car was repaired after being in the shop for 1 week. I took the car home and shortly after, the car overheated again. Luckily, I was on my way home and in the neighborhood. This was a very traumatic experience that I never set foot in the care since then and am requesting a refund for the repair that wasn't even fixed in the first place. I do not want to use the car anymore given it is a huge safety risk for me and my son. I travel to the city 4 days a week for work and daycare. I have the receipts for repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11678095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Hills, CA
POWER TRAIN
I had just purchased a car but a month ago I was driving to lunch and I was at a stop sign when the light turned green I started to go the car started shaking and smoke was coming out of the front under the hood I had just an oil change so I took it back to the oil change shop. They could not figure out why the engine blew and I had to take it to a different BMW shop where I have to purchase a rebuilt motor and pay for the repairs. I can request all records from the automotive shop if needed.
NHTSA complaint #11655338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Hills, CA
ENGINE
I had just purchased a car but a month ago I was driving to lunch and I was at a stop sign when the light turned green I started to go the car started shaking and smoke was coming out of the front under the hood I had just an oil change so I took it back to the oil change shop. They could not figure out why the engine blew and I had to take it to a different BMW shop where I have to purchase a rebuilt motor and pay for the repairs. I can request all records from the automotive shop if needed.
NHTSA complaint #11655338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Hills, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I had just purchased a car but a month ago I was driving to lunch and I was at a stop sign when the light turned green I started to go the car started shaking and smoke was coming out of the front under the hood I had just an oil change so I took it back to the oil change shop. They could not figure out why the engine blew and I had to take it to a different BMW shop where I have to purchase a rebuilt motor and pay for the repairs. I can request all records from the automotive shop if needed.
NHTSA complaint #11655338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The turbocharger wastegate actuator issues causing a drivetrain malfunction. The actuator has been changed several times ,that regulates the westgate yet there’s a loss in power. Safety when merging onto freeway as you accelerate the warning light comes on and vehicle losses power other vehicles have to slow significantly to avoid possible running into vehicle entering freeway
NHTSA complaint #11653872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesCorona, CA
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle. After several attempts, the vehicle failed to start. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's office. An independent mechanic arrived and diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11652391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 136,898 milesTolleson, AZ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was condensation underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Engine Malfunction" message was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted 20 minutes later after several attempts. The failure reoccurred several times until the vehicle was taken to the residence and parked. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the control unit seal pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the same independent mechanic on several occasions where it was diagnosed that the ignition coil and timing chain had fractured into the oil pan valve cover, and the oil pan gasket, oil pan, and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,898.
NHTSA complaint #11646791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 136,898 milesTolleson, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was condensation underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Engine Malfunction" message was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted 20 minutes later after several attempts. The failure reoccurred several times until the vehicle was taken to the residence and parked. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the control unit seal pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the same independent mechanic on several occasions where it was diagnosed that the ignition coil and timing chain had fractured into the oil pan valve cover, and the oil pan gasket, oil pan, and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,898.
NHTSA complaint #11646791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 111,000 milesCovington, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started, however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated the vehicle eventually started. In addition, the contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the parts were not available. In addition, the contact stated that previously the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed coolant pump and unknown sensor. The contact was informed that the coolant pump and the unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The unknown sensor was replaced, however the contact was informed that the coolant pump was unavailable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was offered to have the vehicle towed to the dealer, however the parts were not available. The failure mileage was 111,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11628884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 111,000 milesCovington, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started, however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated the vehicle eventually started. In addition, the contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the parts were not available. In addition, the contact stated that previously the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed coolant pump and unknown sensor. The contact was informed that the coolant pump and the unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The unknown sensor was replaced, however the contact was informed that the coolant pump was unavailable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was offered to have the vehicle towed to the dealer, however the parts were not available. The failure mileage was 111,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11628884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle leaked oil to where it caused an engine fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
POWER TRAIN
While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle leaked oil to where it caused an engine fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tukwila, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact stated that there was water leaking from the vehicle. There was an undisclosed electrical failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11624188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tukwila, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact stated that there was water leaking from the vehicle. There was an undisclosed electrical failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11624188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ENGINE
Vehicle leaked oil to where it caused an engine fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Haven, FLFire
ENGINE
While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire.
NHTSA complaint #11624225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, GA
POWER TRAIN
The drivetrain disintegrated. Car started running really rough, and then just stopped completely. Would crank but would not move. Yes, it is available. Car would barely go, and then just stopped in the road. I had to have it towed to a mechanic. No, I had not received a warning of this possible hazard. No, it was not inspected by any of the above, but was inspected by numerous mechanics. Yes, drivetrain light/warning came on, as well as, drive at a slower rate when the car started to drive roughly. The turbo also went out on the car. May 28, 2024
NHTSA complaint #11622315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lexington, GA
ENGINE
The drivetrain disintegrated. Car started running really rough, and then just stopped completely. Would crank but would not move. Yes, it is available. Car would barely go, and then just stopped in the road. I had to have it towed to a mechanic. No, I had not received a warning of this possible hazard. No, it was not inspected by any of the above, but was inspected by numerous mechanics. Yes, drivetrain light/warning came on, as well as, drive at a slower rate when the car started to drive roughly. The turbo also went out on the car. May 28, 2024
NHTSA complaint #11622315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Bragg, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Headlights fill with condensation and cause short circuit and headlight and turn signal malfunction. Headlights fill with condensation and moisture even on sunny summer days. No warnings prior to headlights and turn signals malfunctioning. BMW says to drive with headlights on to dispel condensation but the headlights produce no heat to do so and do not illuminate because circuits are damp and not working.
NHTSA complaint #11615781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
台灣, CA
ENGINE
N20 引擎 汽油泵浦故障
NHTSA complaint #11588383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
台灣, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
N20 引擎 汽油泵浦故障
NHTSA complaint #11588383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.