Model line

BMW 528I

Every BMW 528I model year on file, 1979 to 2016. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years83484 involved a crash, fire, injury or death

Model years241979 to 2016

Recall campaigns14Distinct campaigns listing it

Service bulletins2,227Summed across model years

By model year

The 2008 model year drew the most complaints, 118

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.

Components

Engine and cooling leads the BMW 528I complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Engine and cooling

384

Electrical system

186

Powertrain

106

Fuel system

104

Airbags

Lighting

Brakes

Structure

Steering

Speed control

Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.

Model years

The record for each BMW 528I model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

BMW 528I by model year
Year	Body	Complaints	Severity index	Peer index	Recalls	Investigations	Bulletins
2016	Sedan	59	8.5	421	4	1	208
2015	Sedan	65	10.8	406	1	1	271
2014	Sedan	57	10.5	285	3	1	350
2013	Sedan	73	4.1	221	4	1	386
2012	Sedan	90	5.6	300	4	1	372
2011	Sedan	117	4.3	585	4	0	341
2010	Sedan	65	9.2	310	2	0	62
2009	Sedan	23	13.0	82	2	0	55
2008	Sedan	118	14.4	328	2	0	56
2007	Sedan	1	0.0	2	1	0	7
2001	Sedan	2	50.0	9	0	0	6
2000	Sedan	42	21.4	133	1	0	13
1999	Sedan	46	17.4	209	0	0	10
1998	Sedan	33	9.1	138	0	0	19
1997	Sedan	41	14.6	216	0	0	32
1996	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	15
1995	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	4
1994	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	4
1993	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	3
1992	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	4
1991	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	4
1990	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	3
1980	Not decoded	2	0.0	200	0	0	1
1979	Not decoded	0	None	None	0	0	1

Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.

Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the BMW 528I

24V-608 Aug 13, 2024
Improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit
Electrical system · 721k vehicles
24V-527 Jul 11, 2024
Driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect
Airbags · 1,145 vehicles
17V-683 Oct 30, 2017
Heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit
Engine and cooling · 741k vehicles
16V-914 Dec 20, 2016
Affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash
Airbags · 3,506 vehicles
16V-832 Nov 17, 2016
Affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit
Airbags · 91 vehicles
16V-747 Oct 17, 2016
Vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed
Seat belts · 15k vehicles
16V-746 Oct 17, 2016
Affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts
Fuel system · 136k vehicles
15V-718 Oct 30, 2015
Affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child…
Child seats · 7,162 vehicles
15V-188 Mar 31, 2015
Rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light
Lighting · 13k vehicles
14V-627 Oct 7, 2014
Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail
Brakes · 8,988 vehicles

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.