BMW 528i Complaints (2009)

23 consumer complaints on file.

#11767276September 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CRITICAL SAFETY REPORT: DRIVING FIRE / INJURY / FAILED RECALL REMEDY (CAMPAIGN 12V-126)While driving, my 2009 BMW E60 suffered an immediate, catastrophic electrical fire originating at the positive battery terminal bulkhead connector in the trunk floor. This exact component is the subject of federal safety mandate NHTSA Recall Campaign 12V-126.The fire occurred with zero warning on a public roadway, forcing an emergency roadside stop directly in front of a local preschool, creating an imminent public safety crisis. In an attempt to suppress the fire and pull the burning battery away from the school zone, I sustained a physical burn injury to my finger (medical documentation available).The vehicle's positive battery terminal melted completely INWARDS, and the heavy-gauge copper wiring and surrounding trunk body panels suffered extreme structural thermal destruction. This specific physical evidence proves a catastrophic localized electrical arc occurred right at the vehicle's structural bulkhead connector due to high electrical resistance—the exact engineering failure mode detailed in Recall 12V-126. This proves the 2012 dealership recall remedy has degraded and failed over time, creating a recurring, life-threatening fire hazard.BMW of North America Executive Customer Care and their National Engineering Group have officially denied liability in writing. BMW NA is attempting to blame a standard, factory-specification aftermarket battery and alleged trunk moisture to absolve themselves of a failed federal safety component.This complaint is formally filed to request that the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) launch a Recall Query (RQ) into the long-term efficacy and degradation of the 12V-126 remedy, as manufacturers cannot legally use aftermarket part exceptions to mask failed safety recall components that result in driving fires and consumer injuries.BMW Corporate Case Reference: 11125880.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11660382May 12, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Vehicle fail breaks malfunction. No response to the brakes. Push many times no break response vehicle hit vehicle in front of it could not be avoided That rotors are less than one year old there about six or 7000 miles on them. They are basically new new tires car will maintain no lights on dash no warning no airbag deployment. Vehicle going in slow speed due to heavy traffic
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11490025October 19, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that he started to smell a burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11486585September 27, 2022
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving and something was burning under my hood
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11474936July 20, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11474978July 20, 2022
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 528I. The contact stated while turning on the heater, there was a bad odor coming from the heater. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts are not available
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11467944June 7, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would overheat. An unknown warning light was illuminated and a warning message that the vehicle was overheating and to slow down and stop the vehicle to prevent further damage was displayed. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11463047May 2, 2022
ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS
I took the 2009 BMW 528i to Bridgeport BMW to have a prior safety recall (17V-673/19V-273) repaired but, it wasn't fixed and my car caught on fire last year before I got another recall letter stating that there's no remedy for the Recall Campaign No. 22V-119: PCV Valve Heater.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11456601March 14, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V683000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated the vehicle was overheating and unsafe to drive. The contact was advised to seek a loaner vehicle while waiting for parts to become available. The approximate failure mileage was 205,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378596December 8, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL SMELL IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR. THE FUEL PUMP LEAKS FUEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11315433March 1, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR BATTERY DRAINING, INSACIABLES BRAKE FLUID TIMING FOR CHANGE OF GEAR TAKES A WHILE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266641October 6, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CAR SMELLS AS FUEL IS LEAKING AND THE HEADLIGHTS BLINK IN AND OUT... MY TRUNK STOP OPENING WITH KEY FOB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11097162May 22, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HELLO, MY CAR FILLED UP WITH SMOKE ONE DAY. IT SMELT LIKE PLASTIC WAS BURNING I WAS PULLING UP TO MY DRIVE WAY AND WAS SUPER DIZZY THE WHOLE INSIDE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. I COULDN'T BREATH PROPERLY. I HAVE CALLED BMW DEALERSHIPS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE THE PART FOR MY CAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE BUT I NEED TO GET TO SCHOOL! PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11083846April 8, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I KEEP GETTING WARNINGS THAT THE HEAD LAMP, RUNNING LAMPS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND EXPOSED WIRES AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD RESULTING IN THE HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION FLAKING OFF AND LEAVING COPPER WIRE EXPOSED AND WIRES ARE TOUCHING, UNINSULATED WIRES. WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT THE LIGHTS, BURNING BULBS AND CAUSE MALFUNCTIONS IN THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, PARKING LIGHTS, AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056958December 27, 2017
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FOUND RECALL INFO ONLINE. TOLD RECALL NOTICE WOULD BE SENT IN DECEMBER. NO NOTICE AS OF YET! DON'T WANT TO DIE BECAUSE OF BMW'S NEGLIGENCE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11001191June 25, 2017
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR - WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "HAZARD LIGHTS CAME ON - THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED OVER 100 MORE GALLOONS IN THE TANK THAN IT HAD PREVIOUSLY - TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER AND WAS STALLING AS I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE FURTHEST LEFT LANE IN ORDER TO GET TO SAFETY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD - I WAS WITH MY PARENTS AND MY HANDICAPPED NEPHEW AND SCARED FOR ALL OF OUR LIVES. THE ENGINE "SPUTTERED AND VIBRATED" BEFORE STOPPING. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG OR ANY CHANGE IN THE WAY THE CAR DROVE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE INCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10966413March 16, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS CAR DOES HAVE SYSTEMS ISSUES INVOLVING FUEL PRESSURE UNDER HWY SPEEDS AND DURING HARD ACCELERATION. THERE IS A ORANGE WARNING LIGHT THAT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHY THE CAR IS TRYING TO PULL VACUUME AND GET UP TO PROPER SPEEDS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS BUT NOT ALL MODELS ARE INVOLVED. I WOULD SUGGEST REPLACING THE O RINGS AND OR INJECTORS AS PREVENTABLE MEASURE AND FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. IF THE DEALER CAN'T HELP YOU THEN REACH OUT TO THE AREA REP IN YOUR SALES CITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937663December 27, 2016
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE VIEW MIRROR WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE DRIVER NOT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO VIEW VEHICLES OUT OF THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10876435June 24, 2016
ENGINE
ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR FAILS SUDDENLY AND THEIR ISSUE OF VECHILE STALLING WHILE DRIVING I GOT JERKING MOTION WHEN DRIVING , IT HAD STALLED @ TRAFFIC SIGNAL IT MAY LEAD TO IMPACT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10862829May 3, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD CYLINDER BULLET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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