FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW 528XI

Owners have filed 239 complaints about the BMW 528XI with NHTSA across model years 2008 to 2014. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2012 BMW 528XI

88 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2010 BMW 528XI

12 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW 528XI year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2014 1 0 0 Wheels
2013 C 86 0 0 77,130 Engine & Cooling
2012 C 88 4 0 76,000 Engine & Cooling
2010 A 12 0 1 92,000 Airbags
2009 9 0 1 77,000 Engine & Cooling
2008 C 43 2 5 80,000 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a BMW 528XI

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 87 36.4%

Worst in 2013

Worst in 2012

Worst in 2013

Lights 20 8.4%

Worst in 2008

Airbags 18 7.5%

Worst in 2012

Other & Unspecified 13 5.4%

Worst in 2013

Fuel & Propulsion 11 4.6%

Worst in 2012

Seat Belts 6 2.5%

Worst in 2008

Seats 6 2.5%

Worst in 2008

Steering 2 0.8%

Worst in 2012

Body & Structure 2 0.8%

Worst in 2012

Brakes 1 0.4%

Worst in 2012

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 0.4%

Worst in 2013

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 0.4%

Worst in 2010

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW 528XI, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 2012 peak 9 Aug 2026

Compare the BMW 528XI

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.