66 of the 1,239 complaints filed about the BMW 528I are about the other systems — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2012.
66
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Upon triggering the trunk release, the integrated hydraulic dampeners failed to mitigate the tension of the lift springs. The trunk lid swung open with enough velocity to over-extend the hinges and strike the rear windshield, causing the tempered glass to shatter.
NHTSA complaint #11712265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
engine light stays on. had it looked at by mechanic. told the issue is the valtronic actuator. car cuts off when idling. starts back up and drives, when I come to a stop light/stop sign car cuts off again. have contacted BMW North America and a dealership, keep getting the runaround. refer me back to each to contact.
NHTSA complaint #11700340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Description: This complaint concerns both the lack of navigation system support and the unresolved recall status for my 2014 BMW 5 Series. 1.Navigation System: BMW no longer supports map or system updates for this vehicle, and no hardware or retrofit upgrade is available. The outdated GPS system results in inaccurate directions, missing roads, and potentially unsafe routes. BMW dealerships confirm there are no solutions, creating a long-term safety hazard for owners who rely on navigation systems. 2.Recall Incomplete: I have an open recall on this vehicle, but BMW dealerships have only responded with vague statements such as, “it should be coming soon.” There has been no formal notification, letter, or resolution from BMW. This lack of transparency and urgency in addressing safety recalls is unacceptable. 3.Unethical Service Tactics: BMW dealerships are often more focused on convincing customers to upgrade their vehicle than resolving legitimate service issues. Staff push expensive services and frame them as “complaints” on invoices—using high-pressure tactics to imply serious mechanical threats unless those services are purchased. This raises concerns about ethics and misrepresentation. This experience is based on NY but all BMW dealership operate same way overpricing and if you tell them a BMW dealership gives you less than what is on their quote, they want them to show it to you , reflecting their unethical manner to overprice everything when it comes to service or selling. Safety Concern: The combination of an unsupported navigation system and delayed recall resolution undermines vehicle safety and consumer trust. BMW's conduct demonstrates a disregard for long-term customer support and safety compliance. Resolution Requested: •Require BMW to provide retrofit or updated navigation options. •Enforce clear timelines and communication for resolving recalls. •Investigate dealership practices that prioritize upselling over safety and truthfulness.
NHTSA complaint #11668430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Hello my name is [XXX] and I am (was) the owner of a 2013 BMW 528i VIN [XXX] . It was a secondary vehicle for me for until I sustained an injury and it being my primary vehicle. I took it through emissions, updated the registration, and I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I had driven it without a problem then in Juneit did not run at all. At that time there was a recall on the computer system and supposedly it needed a new key programmed to start. That was a 700 expense out of pocket and the car still did not even turn over. I authorized replacing the battery that was another 600, and still the car would not start or run.At this point they were just guessing at what was wrong and going though the process of elimination to try to rectify what was wrong with the car. They did not offer me any kind of courtesy vehicle or even rental discount so I was renting a car while they were trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. I am a small business owner of a non-profit company Modern Day Ministries, LLC that provides assistance to at risk youth and single mothers with disabilities and funding my own organization without loans or assistance. After three months of renting a car, the dealership at 7455 W. Orchid Lane Chandler, Arizona 85226 who had my vehicle only wanted me to keep paying for parts, which for BMW are extremely costly but could not guarantee the car was working. At that time it was known there was a recall on the fuel pump leaking, destroying the electrical system and causing smoking from under the hood or system malfunction, which in my case it fried the electrical system and the car had to be reprogrammed but I had to pay for the new key. I had incurred over 1500.00 in car repairs and another 3000 for renting a car for over 3 months waiting for a remedy. The dealership manager Shane Ohanran I had conversations with failed to take any kind of responsibility for any repairs. I am asking 5000 for out of pocket costs incurred INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO
NHTSA complaint #11664465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Due to the nature of the car potentially catching on fire and a remedy still not being available I am concerned about my safety and of those around me since the car is used to be operated daily for commuting to work.
NHTSA complaint #11657941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Unrepaired recall. No remedy available for over 8 months, with manufacturer acknowledging that there could a vehicle fire in some cases.
NHTSA complaint #11656015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car is doing exactly as said in the recall that is not available. I'm not driving my bmw due to this problem. Please help
NHTSA complaint #11639909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Subject: Complaint Regarding Transmission Malfunction and Potential Safety Hazard To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a recurring issue with the transmission system of my vehicle. The vehicle has been displaying a transmission error code related to the shift pedal; however, no corresponding error message appears on the dashboard. This lack of clear diagnostic messaging significantly complicates the identification and resolution of the issue. The situation escalates in severity as the transmission malfunction light intermittently illuminates while driving. This behavior is alarming, as it poses a serious safety risk. The malfunction light often appears during traffic, raising concerns about the potential for stalling while the vehicle is in motion. Such an occurrence could lead to hazardous conditions for both the driver and surrounding traffic. I strongly urge the appropriate department to address this matter immediately. Given the critical nature of the transmission system, any malfunctions must be treated as safety-related defects. Please prioritize the investigation and resolution of this issue to ensure driver safety and vehicle reliability. I expect a prompt response outlining the steps being taken to rectify this situation and prevent further risks. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11634612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Do to the water pump recall and the water pump electrical connector on my vehicle, it is no longer in driving condition and has caused engine overheating and damage. I am still paying for a car I cannot drive. I need help
NHTSA complaint #11631740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This recall campaign begins Aug 2024. As of today 11-15-24, the dealership still stated, "remedy is unavailable". This is not acceptable. What should I do next?
NHTSA complaint #11625556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Some wires within the steering wheel deteriorated causing my driver air bag to no longer be connected and my horn no longer works to alert other drivers.
NHTSA complaint #11613768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I found out my 2015 BMW 528i has a recall on the Engine Coolant Pump, and it’s causing some serious issues. The pump can fail, leading to engine overheating, which could even result in a fire. The car’s performance has dropped, and there’s a risk the engine might shut down while driving. I’m stuck waiting for the parts to come in, which means the car’s out of commission for a while. On top of that, this recall is likely going to hurt the resale value, and I’ve had to figure out alternative transportation in the meantime.
NHTSA complaint #11611874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Again I write about 2011 bmw 528i, the vanos bolts were recalled and when bmw was fixing them they showed a video , there was belt and metal pieces in the engine oil. Whoever had this car before me did fix the belt and other issues but they said they didn't take off the bottom of the engine pan for the oil to get out .. the vanos bolt recall when I looked it up was June 1st . I had bmw fix the missing bolts 🔩 June 7th it had to be towed there and back to my house. They said they made a decision that it did not happen because of the recall . Which it stated in the recall paperwork that it can affect the engine and to not drive it ! So as of today I have a bmw that was recalled and I do believe other recalls on this car as well had everything to do with me not having a car now because the engine misfiring and stalls and brake light and sensors are all no good. Does not add up . They refused to give a new engine because the car is worth way less than a new engine.
NHTSA complaint #11601328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
N/A Complaint is that no remedy is available 8 months after recall issued. Currently this particular car is still drivable, but suffers oil leaks from this lack of repair. No local dealer or repair shops can fix ahead of the recall because they cannot get the repair bolts either. Eight months is a ridiculous amount of time to wait for a manufacture repair.
NHTSA complaint #11592868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car started to make a loud clicky sound from under the hood then the car completely stalled and died in the middle of the road and would not restart and had a lot of difficulty moving the car due to not being able to put it in neutral. I have now been without a car since November and BMW has taken way too long to fix this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11573163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving in the toll of 130 my sunroof window busted out of nowhere. No 18 wheeler or big truck was in front that could have cause the glass to burst, when it happened it sounded like an explosion. Luckily my sunroof cover was closed shielding the inside of my vehicle otherwise it could’ve been bad for myself and my infants inside the car.
NHTSA complaint #11569690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driver side front door handle/actuator freezes in cold weather. Door will not open from inside or outside. This is a safety issue as it could trap a person inside. This seems to be a problem with the cables that connect the handles to the mechanism itself, not the actual door latch as it can be moved with fingers when the mechanism is frozen.
NHTSA complaint #11505100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.