1998 BMW 528I

33 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Nov 26, 2019Failure Nov 15, 201480,000 milesFairfield, CTAir bags

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FIVE YEARS AGO. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE A CODE READER TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT, BUT NO CODE WAS DISCOVERED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11282547
2. Filed Mar 2, 2018Failure Feb 25, 2018151,980 milesBaytown, TXSeats

   THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT ONLY TILTS FORWARD AND BACKWARD A LITTLE AND THE OTHER SIDE STAYS STATIONARY. ALL OTHER SEAT FUNCTIONS WORK EXCEPT THAT.

   NHTSA complaint 11075766
3. Filed Nov 30, 2016Failure Nov 28, 2016273,000 milesSAN Diego, CAAir bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakes, Vehicle speed control

   -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. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10928923
4. Filed Dec 6, 2011Failure Mar 1, 200985,000 milesFayetteville, NCAir bags

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENGINE START UP, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10438757
5. Filed Nov 29, 2010Failure Oct 15, 2010115,000 milesRiverside, NJElectrical system

   THE WIRING HARNESS THAT ENTERS THE TRUNK LID THAT SUPPLIES THE LIGHTS FOR THE REAR LICENSE PLATE AND THE TRUNK LID RELEASE HAS FRAYED AT THE EXACT POINT WHERE THE HARNESS ENTERS THE TRUNK LID. THE WIRING COMES IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SHARP EDGE AT THE OPENING IN THE TRUNK LID, AND SEVERAL OF THE WIRES HAVE BROKEN AT THIS POINT, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE TRUNK LID IS OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT'S LOCKED. I PERFORMED AN INTERNET SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL BMW MODELS.

   NHTSA complaint 10368829
6. Filed Mar 18, 2010Failure Mar 3, 2010Bergenfield, NJManual transmission

   MY 1998 BMW 5-SERIES 528I STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN WHEN I WAS DRIVING, AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ALMOST RAN A FEW RED LIGHTS. WHEN I PARKED MY CAR I HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TURN IT OFF AND I TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) AND IT ACCELERATED W/OUT BEING IN DRIVE. NOW MY CAR JERKS EVERY TIME I'M DRIVING SLOW AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY ANY MORE. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10320643
7. Filed Sep 14, 2009Failure Sep 12, 2009104,000 milesShenandoah, PAPower train

   NO REVERSE GEAR. THE REVERSE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10283907
8. Filed Feb 18, 2009Failure Feb 10, 200782,000 milesANN Arbor, MIAutomatic transmission, Steering

   TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS: 1. TRANSMISSION OF THE CAR BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY WITHIN 82,000 MILES. I HAD TO SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. 2. POWER STEERING OF THE CAR HAD EXPERIENCED LEAK SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. STILL AFTER SO MANY YEARS THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY RECTIFIED DESPITE THE FACT THAT I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER. 3. AFTER I GAVE MY CAR TO THE ANN ARBOR BMW DEALER, ONCE THEY REPLACED SOME UNRELATED MECHANICAL COMPONENTS THAT COST ME OVER $600. HOWEVER, AFTER PAYING THE MONEY WHEN I SHOWED THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT SOLVE, THE MECHANICS ADDED SOME BRAKE FLUID AND THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY DISAPPEARED. THE DEALER DID NOT REIMBURSE THE MONEY FOR INAPPROPRIATELY CHANGING UNNECESSARY COMPONENTS. AGAIN AFTER A FEW MONTHS WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK WHEN THE PROBLEM RESURFACED DUE TO LOW BRAKE FLUID.R. AFTER I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF DEALERS PREMISE, THE ENGINE STARTED GETTING HEATED UP. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND LEFT IT WITH THE DEALER WHO CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY ASKING ME TO PAY ABOUT $250 TO CHANGE THE THERMOCOUPLE, WHICH I AUTHORIZED. HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL GETTING HEATED UP AND DEMANDED AN OPEN AUTHORIZATION SO THAT THEY COULD OPEN UP THE ENGINE. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW MUCH IT COULD COST ME, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST UP TO $5000. THE DEALER HELD MY CAR FOR OVER 14 DAYS WITHOUT GIVING ME A TEMPORARY CAR OR VERIFYING WHETHER THE ENGINE WAS REALLY GETTING HEATED UP AFTER HE CHANGED THE THERMOCOUPLE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THAT CONDITION. AFTER 14 DAYS, DESPITE WRITING TO BMW AMERICA AND THE DEALERS HEAD OFFICE, THE DEALER KEPT ON CLAIMING THAT I WOULD HAVE TO AUTHORIZE THEM FOR FURTHER WORK THAT MIGHT COST ME AT LEAST $1500. FINALLY, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AND GIVE TO ANOTHER MECHANICS WHO FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. TILL NOW THE ENGINE DOES NOT HEAT UP. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10259194
9. Filed Jan 19, 2009Failure Jan 16, 2009Tucson, AZSteering

   WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (MARICOPA HWY) MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SPIN AROUND AND IT HAD NO AFFECT ON THE STEERING OF MY BMW, IN OTHER WORDS I COULD NOT OR I HAVE LOST THE STEERING CAPACITY, THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPINS. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10255525
10. Filed May 15, 2008Failure May 20, 200650,000 milesFeasterville, PALatch

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WOULD FALL OFF IN HER HAND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES AND PREVENTED HER FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE FAILURE HERSELF ON SEVEN OCCASIONS BECAUSE IT WOULD COST $249 TO REPAIR IT AT A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10227912
11. Filed Jan 17, 2008Failure Dec 1, 200762,500 milesNEW Hyde Park, NYAir bags

    98 528I, AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. REPAIR MADE BY BMW DEALER AS PER TSB 61-2000. DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. REPAIR BYPASSED ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION. DEALER AND BMW N/A DECLINED TO COVER REPAIR ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. STATED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE HARNESS AS OUTLINED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN 61-20-00 FROM 2003. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10215271
12. Filed Oct 11, 2007Failure Sep 1, 2007138,000 milesTorrance, CASwitch, DoorFire

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FOR THE WINDOW BURNED THROUGH THE HOUSING AND FELL INTO THE TRUNK. THE BULB LANDED BY THE FUEL TANK. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. FURTHERMORE, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HANDLES FAILED TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DOORS WOULD ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10205426
13. Filed Dec 28, 2006Failure Jan 1, 1901Rancho Cordova, CAGlass, Side/rear

    1998 BMW 528I REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OR INTERNAL MOTOR WENT OUT**CC *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10177512
14. Filed Feb 10, 2006Failure Feb 10, 2006100,000 milesFeasterville-Trevose, PALatch

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 03/03/06.

    NHTSA complaint 10149959
15. Filed Nov 22, 2005Failure Oct 10, 200593,000 milesGreenville, WIElectrical system, Steering

    THE STEERING WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY MOVES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10143505
16. Filed Jun 21, 2005Failure May 4, 2005112,000 milesBloomfield, NJRadiator assembly

    DRIVING ON ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 10MPH AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HOOD. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED COOLANT SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE NECK HAD BROKEN OFF THE RADIATOR(COMMON PROBLEM WITH E39) ALLOWING COOLANT TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS TRAVELLING SLOWLY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER RAPIDLY BEFORE CAR OVERHEATED. COULD HAVE CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT HAD OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED OLD RADIATOR WITH AN AFTERMARKET BRAND THAT IS MORE ROBUST THAN BMW RAD. I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE USING A BMW RADIATOR DUE TO THEIR CHEAP AND FLAWED DESIGN.

    NHTSA complaint 10125996
17. Filed Aug 11, 2004Failure Aug 11, 2004110,000 milesLAS Vegas, NVTail lights

    CONSUMER STATED TAIL LIGHTS WARPED, CAUSING THEM TO BURN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10087681
18. Filed May 11, 2004Failure Mar 1, 19998,321 milesRockville Centre, NYStructure

    THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE INSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN TO USE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK BMW CONSIDERED THE PROBLEM TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART/TRIM AND DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE DRIVER DOOR SQUEAKED UPON OPENING AND CLOSING AND THERE WAS A SQUEAK COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD GO UP TO 35 MPH IN WHICH THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10065194
19. Filed Mar 29, 200460,000 milesIndianapolis, INSide/window

    AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. THE PART WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10065110
20. Filed Oct 14, 2003Failure Oct 14, 2003Millbrae, CAAir conditioner

    AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER STATED HE KNEW WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10042880