36 of the 1,239 complaints filed about the BMW 528I are about the braking system — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.
36
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
Vehicle fail breaks malfunction. No response to the brakes. Push many times no break response vehicle hit vehicle in front of it could not be avoided That rotors are less than one year old there about six or 7000 miles on them. They are basically new new tires car will maintain no lights on dash no warning no airbag deployment. Vehicle going in slow speed due to heavy traffic
NHTSA complaint #11660382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11644190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
Upon purchasing the vehicle it was not serviced as supposed I have been calling only to be played around with this has been a nightmare I haven't made my 3rd payment and currently carless
NHTSA complaint #11487466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
Picked up from a stop light no aggressive but normally and a few seconds after going around 20-30ish mph the car stalls and goes into neutral. I was really confused and panicking of what happened, the cars behind me almost crashed into me and I was trying to manage to pull the car over to the side of road and thankfully I did. This could have caused a serious injury to me and others. As I was able to pull off to the side of the road I try to start my car back up and it cranks and cranks for a few seconds which it normally never does and finally when it starts back up the car just starts miss firing like crazy and the check engine light comes on and the car is throwing codes all over the place like drive train malfunction, engine malfunction, low oil pressure, check engine oil, auto stop start malfunction. I was super confused so I shut it off and tried to start it again but it didn’t help at all. I drove slowly into a parking lot and got it towed to a independent repair shop to which they diagnosed the timing chain guides breaking and falling into the oil pump, clogging the oil pump then causing further damage due to no oil going to the top of the motor. I was very confused how all of this could have happened since I took care of my car . If the car had given me a service warning light I would have went and got my engine serviced for this job. Now The thing is these timing chain jobs aren’t cheap and replacing the oil pump chain is even more expensive since it requires lowering the sub frame. Now In my case the timing was so bad to where the engine did something to the cylinders as of what my mechanic said. So my engine is toast and I need a new engine. Car has a hunk of metal parked in my driveway now that I’m still paying off. Good job BMW. I really want to sue bmw for this bs. The car is poorly designed and I’m super thankful this issue did not occur on the freeway because I could have died. I looked into the bmw warranty and it’s only covering up to 100K.
NHTSA complaint #11474223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528i. The contact stated while at a standstill the vehicle stalled randomly. The contact stated that drive train failure warning message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was awaiting diagnostic testing. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V627000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11434597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I'M AT A STOP MY CAR SUDDENLY JUMPS FORWARD WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE. IT'S SCARY CAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IF I'M AT A STOP LIGHT AND SOMEONE IS CROSSING THE STREET MY CAR COULD JUMP AND HIT THEM. I DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NO MORE CAUSE OF THIS. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING IT PICKS UP SPEED ON IT'S OWN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN EVER THE CAR IS DRIVEN ANYWHERE.
NHTSA complaint #11398673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
EARLY 528I, F10 MODELS HAVE FACTORY SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT IMPROPERLY SET FRONT BRAKE MILEAGE TO AN ERRONEOUS 3100 MILES WHEN RESET AFTER FRONT BRAKE REPLACEMENT. BMW DOES NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF SOFTWARE ISSUE AND PLACES SOFTWARE UPGRADE COST ON CUSTOMER THROUGH DEALERSHIP. ISSUE DOES NOT ARISE UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. CUSTOMERS THAT REFUSE TO PAY FOR COST OF BMW SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION CONTINUOUSLY HIT THE RESET OPTION FOR FRONT BRAKES WHICH CONSISTENTLY RESET TO AN ERRONEOUS MILEAGE OF 3100 MILES. THIS CONTINUOUS ERRONEOUS RESET APPROACH DOES NOT ALLOW FOR PROPER BRAKE WEAR ASSESSMENT BASED ON MILEAGE AND LEADS TO LOSS OF AWARENESS ON FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACEMENT WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES. MY WIFE KEPT HITTING THE RESET OPTION TO REMOVE THE ERRONEOUS ALARM SO OFTEN THAT SHE ACTUALLY WAS DRIVING WITH EXTREMELY LOW PADS AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND BMW SHOULD COVER FACTORY SOFTWARE UPGRADE SINCE CUSTOMERS DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ALTER OR UPGRADE SOFTWARE ON THE VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #11391116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
VACUUM PUMP; EPDW, VACUUM LINES - A VACUUM PUMP IS USED TO SUPPLY A VACUUM FOR TEH VEHICLE COMPONENTS THAT REQUIRE THIS, SUCH AS THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
NHTSA complaint #11120571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY MODE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11098919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TAKATA RECALL,, 12-20-2017 I WAS IN A COLLISION. MY VEHICLE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO STOP. I WAS ALONE IN MY VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND REAR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BMW UPON MY REQUEST AND COMPLAINTS HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED MY ONE OF THEIR ENGINEERS. WHO I WAS TOLD SAID THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY WOULD THE PASSENGERS IF I WAS ALONE AND WAS TOLD OH THAT'S A SAFETY PRECAUTION DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #11083916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
-TAKATA -ABS MODULE MALFUNCTION DUE TO MODULE BEING FRIED BY EXCESSIVELY ENGINE HEAT -DSC SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO POOR WIRING AND HEAT FROM POOR PLACEMENT IN ENGINE BAY THIS HAS CAUSED MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH DRIVE ABILITY AND SAFETY I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR QUITE AWHILE THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING SAFETY ISSUES AND BMW IGNORES ME AND MY COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10928923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 528I (BMW 1999) THIS PAST WINTER WHEN I NOTICED THE POWER BRAKES WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDDLE WITH NO ASSIST, AND WHILE THE CAR DI EVENTUALLY STOP, IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE FACED WITH THIS CONDITION SUDDENLY. POWER BRAKE BOOSTER APPARENTLY WENT BAD, WATER LEAKING IN AND FREEZING, FORTUNATELY NO ON E INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #10893683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #10845770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON HIS VEHICLE HAD NOT OPERATED NORMALLY SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW SPECIALIST, WHO STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR THIS MODEL BMW HAD NEVER WORKED PROPERLY . THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10574038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA complaint #10548293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS(BRAKE, TAIL, & TURN SIGNAL) - MELTED WIRE ASSEMBLY IS CAUSING MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A "BURNING" SMELL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ALL AT ONCE MY DASH INDICATED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND TURN SIGNAL HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT ATTACHES TO THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS MELTED. BMW DID A RECALL OF OVER 2,500 3-SERIES VEHICLES FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE 5-SERIES (????) THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10533157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ABS MODULE FAIL AT 127,000 K. THIS STOPS MY SPEEDOMETER FROM WORKING ALONG WITH MY (DCS) TRACTION CONTROL, GAS GAUGE AND THE BRAKE GO INTO EMERGENCY MODE..
NHTSA complaint #10368597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
COMMON ABS ASC+T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE DISABLED ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, AND ALARM DISABLED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. THE CAR CAN NO LONGER BE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT INTRUDERS, THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED AND AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE IS BEING ADDED TO THE VEHICLE(ALSO A VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE CVC), THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND THE CAR IS OUT RIGHT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS IN THESE CARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION EXCEPT OFFER A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART WITH NO UPGRADES TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS HAD THE MODULE FAIL AT ONLY 94K MILES. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE VARY SAME COMPLAINT. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER I WOULD BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CALIFORNIAN "LEMON LAWS". THE ABS SYSTEM, AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM, AND LOCK SYSTEM ARE ALL MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS. THE ODOMETER NOT WORKING I BELIEVE FALLS UNDER A CVC VIOLATION POSSIBLY A FEDERAL MANDATE VIOLATION.
NHTSA complaint #10362395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS / DSC CONTROL MODULE ON MY 2000 528I BMW FAILED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER BOTH STOP WORKING. I WOULD ALSO THINK THAT THE ABS SAFETY FEATURE FOR STOPPING THE CAR AND TRACTION CONTROL IS COMPROMISED.
NHTSA complaint #10247993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BOUGHT A NEW CAR IN 1999: 1999 BMW 528I AT ABOUT 75,500 MILES, THE ABS MODULE (BOSCH 5.7) FAILED. *** BRAKE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR A FEW SECOND THEN ABS LIGHT IS ON *** - CONTACTED A FEW OTHER 1999 AND 2000 BWM E39 OWNERS, THEY ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ABS MODULE. - SENT THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER AT STERLING, VA. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1000+. - DEALER CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE, ABS BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. - CONTACTED BMW NORTHERN AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10227764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.