FaultScore

BMW 528I steering problems

28 of the 1,239 complaints filed about the BMW 528I are about the steering — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2011.

28

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

1997 528I 1 3.6%

Median failure at 135,000 miles

1998 528I 4 14.3%

Median failure at 87,500 miles

1999 528I 2 7.1%

Median failure at 78,000 miles

2000 528I 3 10.7%

Median failure at 54,000 miles

2008 528I 1 3.6%

Median failure at 124,000 miles

2010 528I 1 3.6%
2011 528I 6 21.4%

Median failure at 53,000 miles

2012 528I 3 10.7%

Median failure at 9,000 miles

2013 528I 4 14.3%

Median failure at 84,041 miles

2014 528I 2 7.1%

Median failure at 7,800 miles

2016 528I 1 3.6%

Median failure at 74,000 miles

What owners said

2014 BMW 528I Lakeside, CA

STEERING

Unknown

NHTSA complaint #11542004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 BMW 528I Gibbstown, NJ

STEERING

The "Secure from Rolling" alert pops up on screen and car is prevented from moving. Engine must be shut off and ignition turned back on to work. Gears/spring probably need replaced per error message.

NHTSA complaint #11493363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 528I Bakersfield, CA

STEERING

I noticed all of a sudden when I would turn my steering wheel it would make a clicking sound. Then none of my controls were working on the steering wheel. The horn wouldnt work none of the buttons and the air bag malfunction light was on. I researched and quite a few people had the same problem and I found out it was the ribbon wire inside the steering wheel had snapped and broke. The clock spring i guess might have failed or something. So now i have no horn or airbag and it's very dangerous. To ha e it replaced will be a few hundred dollars. This car just keeps having one problem after another. This seems like a really bad design and it is easily broken. I think they should recall this.

NHTSA complaint #11492924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW 528I Mableton, GA

STEERING

Error Codes : 1. E11480 No Message (Alive Counter Safety 0xD7) Receiver Instrument Cluster Transmitter Airbag 2. E11482 Message (Alive Counter Safety 0xD7) Not Current Receiver Instrument Cluster Transmitter Airbag 3. B7F685 Under Voltage . 4. E114DB Instrument Panel: Demand Based Service Message, Message From CBS Subscriber (BBV) Missing 5. E114DC Instrument Panel: Demand Based Service Message, Message From CBS Subscriber (BBH) Missing 6. E11421 Message Demand Based Service Message From CBS User Has Failed DRIVETRAIN MALFUCTION when drive sport mode The Trunk always Open for no Reason when unlock the car.

NHTSA complaint #11474654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 BMW 528I Vallejo, CA

STEERING

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.

2012 BMW 528I Vallejo, CA

STEERING

Casually picking up from a stop light when my car just randomly decided to turn off on the middle of the road and go into neutral. I lost power steering and brakes. I was able to manage to pull over and restart the car and I was welcomed with a bunch of check engine lights and many other malfunctions. Got the car towed and comes out that the timing chain has failed as well as the oil pump and resulted in damage to the camshaft and cylinder head of the motor. This is just insane how all of this happened in just a few seconds. I took care of my car did oil changes on time, coolant, brakes, transmission fluid. I took care of my car. Bmw put me in a very unsafe condition that day and I’m very upset because that could have ended very bad for me. The n20 motor has been very well known to fail at any time without any warning and bmw has yet to recall this motor. It became very bad to the point to where they even got sued but only limited the warranty up to 100K miles. Many people experienced this problem before 100K and some experienced it earlier. Their is no given time when this timing chain can fail on you. In my case so many things were damaged in the engine and I even contacted bmw NA and they didn’t even care to help. Bmw put me in a very bad spot and they want me to replace the engine and pay labor and pay more than what the cars worth! Bmw is crazy for this and I hope all of these engines get recalled and get replaced free of charge without worrying about how many miles you got on the car.

NHTSA complaint #11452012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 BMW 528I at 74,000 miles Milwaukee, WI

STEERING

THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CV JOINTS, THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 10/19 - IF I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING IT WON'T TURN. THE BMW CERTIFIED DEALER STATES IT IS BOTH CV JOINTS AND BMW HAS BEEN RECALLING THEIR VEHICLES SINCE 2013 FOR CV JOINTS

NHTSA complaint #11355391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 BMW 528I at 192,094 miles Covina, CA

STEERING

WENT ON DATA BASE NHTSA THAT SAYS MY VEHICLE HAS 3 RECALLS . WHAT DO I DO N GO TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS

NHTSA complaint #11339253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW 528I at 84,082 miles Laveen, AZ

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING REGULARLY THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS ON. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO THE LUXURY MOTORSPORT DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 1-855-288-5488. AND AFTER THEY PLUGGED IN THE COMPUTER TO CHECK UP, THE DIAGNOSTIC COMES OUT AS AIRBAG, WABCO 441 120 008 0 / 4411200080 STEERING ANGLE SENSOR DAMAGED.

NHTSA complaint #11330606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 528I at 5 miles LOS Angeles, CA

STEERING

CAR STALLS, AND A BUNCH OF MALFUNCTIONS ARISE, ULTIMATELY LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON

NHTSA complaint #11242402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW 528I at 124,000 miles Weymouth, MA Fire

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS FLASHED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA complaint #11189704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW 528I at 84,000 miles Calumet Park, IL

STEERING

WHEN MAKING TURNS I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. GOING INTO TURN AND COMING OUT OF TURN NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN MAKING TURNS ANYWHERE. AFTER INVESTIGATING COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CLOCK SPRING JUST FOR NO REASON BREAKS CONNECTION WHICH MAKE THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT LIGHT COM ON AND YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF ANY FUNCTIONS ON STEERING WHEEL. FUNCTIONS LIKE CRUISE CONTROL,RADIO CONTROL...ETC. CONNECTIONS INSIDE A STEERING WHEEL SHOULDN'T BE SNAPPING OFF IF THEY WERE DESIGNED CORRECTLY IN A 2013 VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH AIRBAG RECALL AS WELL. IN THAT THESE PART WERE EITHER NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY OR THEY WERE JUST FAULTY.

NHTSA complaint #11176038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 528I at 109,327 miles Farmiington, NM

STEERING

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND POPPED OUT OF GEAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. AND STALLED

NHTSA complaint #11131601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 528I at 61,000 miles Lakewood Ranhc, FM

STEERING

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING, NOISE, ETC. AT SHOP NOW BEING INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA complaint #11058049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 BMW 528I at 7,800 miles Tampa, FL

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED "STEERING DRIVE MODERATELY". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800.

NHTSA complaint #10965920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW 528I Hinesville, GA

STEERING

MY 2013 BMW HORN WENT OUT A WEEK AGO, I PAID ALMOST 300 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIX AND MY BRAKE FLUID CHANGED. A WEEK LATER MY HORN WENT OUT AGAIN ONCE MY DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE THIS LIGHT CAME ON MY CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS MY HORN. WHICH IS EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL THIS COULD BE AN AIRBAG PROBLEM BMW HAS CALLED CERTAIN MODELS OF THESE CARS ON RECALL WHICH MINE DOESN'T FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG BMW 5 SERIES MODELS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THESE ARE IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUES.BMW TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY WIRING, BAD AIRBAGS, OR ANY OTHER SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE COMMON PROBLEMS AMONGST THEIR VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE IS A 2013 MODEL AND IT IS NOW 2017 PARTS THAT SHOULDN'T BE MALFUNCTIONING UNTIL 10 YEARS OR BETTER HAVE OCCURRED. DRIVER RESTRAINT ISSUES ARE SAFETY HAZARDS FAULTY WIRING IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10965855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 528I Pasadena, MD 1 injured

STEERING

WE BOUGHT A 2011 BMW 528I WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WE STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES RIGHT AFTER THAT. PULLING RIGHT, ELECTRONICS FREEZING, CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH KEY FOB, CAN NOT GET OUT FROM CAR BECAUSE DOOR HANDLES DO NOT WORK TIME TO TIME AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON GOT LOCKED INSIDE(CAR LOCKED BY IT SELF) AND WE HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW WHICH TOOK ALMOST 30 MINUTES. BMW SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND WENT EVEN FURTHER SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE FEATURES OF THE CAR. OUR KIDS GETTING LOCKED IN THE CAR IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, CAN NOT GETTING FROM THE CAR IS ANOTHER SERIOUS ISSUE. WHAT IF CAR CATCHES A FIRE IN AN ACCIDENT AND WE GET STUCK IN THE CAR. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I DO HAVE VIDEO RECORDINGS IN MULTIPLIABLE OCCASIONS. EVEN BMW SERVICE TOOK THE CAR FOR THE SAME ISSUES AND CONFIRM IT WAS AN ISSUE. BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY SOLUTION. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES, IT WILL BE ON YOU GUYS IF YOU DO NOT TAKE ACTION IN THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10872459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 528I at 45,000 miles Upland, CA

STEERING

PRIOR TO ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A SAFETY RECALL ON MY CAR I REPORTED AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE. I HAD CALLED BMW ROADSIDE ABOUT THE NOISE I HEARD. I ASKED FOR THEM TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. EVER SINCE THAT FIRST TIME OF ME HEARING A STRANGE NOISE THERE HAS BEEN 3 SEPARATE ENGINE SHUT OFFS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FRWY. EACH TIME THOSE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED I WOULD CALL ROADSIDE AND TRY EXPLAINING MYSELF BUT HAVING THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME DUE TO ME BEING DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD,ANXIETY DISORDER AND COPD. IT WOULD BE SERVICED AND GIVEN BACK TO ME WITH CERTAINTY THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THERE WERE TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THAT WHILE DRIVING ON FRWY. I AM APPALLED BY THE UTTER LACK OF CONCERN FOR MY LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL MY ANXIETY EVERY SINCE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE DRIVEN IT. I DEMAND THE ATTENTION TO THESE NEGLIGENT UNACCEPTABLE OUTCOMES. I EXPECT A REMEDY TO THIS HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE I HAVE ENDURED. I EXPECT ULTIMATELY THAT I BE COMPENSATED IN THE HIGHEST WAY POSSIBLE. MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK DEEPLY INTO MY SPECIFIC CONCERNS, AND HOLD THIS MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR LACK OF CARE IN MAKING ME BE PUT IN LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS 3 XS. THANK YOU NHTSA SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10671720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 BMW 528I at 9,000 miles Montebello, CA

STEERING

I RAN OVER A POT HOLE, ABOUT 4" DEEP, AND BOTH PASSENGER SIDE RIMS WERE BENT SO BAD THAT THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $8,229 I PREVIOUSLY HAD A BMW 750IL 2008. I ALSO HIT A POT HOLE AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE FRONT RIM CRACKED AND BACK RIM BENT. BOTH THE RIMS AND TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AND COST OVER $3000. THE BMWS ARE JUST TO HEAVY FOR THE ALUMINUM RIMS THEY COME WITH. IN OVER 40 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH RIMS UNTIL I STARTED DRIVING BMWS, AND I HAVE HIT A NUMBER OF POT HOLES BEFORE. SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE BMWS COME EQUIPPED WITH STEEL RIMS. THEIR CHEAP RIMS ARE GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10491487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 BMW 528I at 135,000 miles Miami, FL

STEERING

AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THE CAR SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY THE STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM WAS STUCK. FINALLY MANAGED TO GET IT UNLOCKED ONLY TO HAVE IT LOCK AGAIN WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS REALLY SCARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. I DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE AND DECIDED TO GET RID OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #10376928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other BMW 528I problems