BMW 528xi Complaints (2013)

56 consumer complaints on file.

#11759052August 24, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that due to an unrelated failure with the steering column, the vehicle was towed to a dealer for service. The contact stated that the tow truck driver disconnected the battery prior to the vehicle being towed to the dealer. The contact stated that after the recall repair, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the steering column was repaired. The mechanic reconnected the battery, and a message was displayed on the instrument panel. The OBD-II scanner associated the failure with the water pump. The contact notified the dealer of the message, and the dealer refused to service the vehicle after several attempts. The contact called three other dealers and was informed that the battery needed to be connected for the water pump recall to be serviced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753542July 29, 2026
ENGINE
I am submitting this report to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of a safety‑related defect involving the BMW N20/N26 engine timing chain assembly. My vehicle experienced a sudden and complete engine failure at highway speed due to a timing chain malfunction. This failure occurred without warning and created an immediate safety hazard for my [XXX] son, who was driving at the time. Loss of engine power at speed eliminated the ability to accelerate, maintain speed, or safely maneuver, exposing him and surrounding motorists to significant risk. This issue is not an isolated incident. BMW has issued internal service bulletins acknowledging premature timing chain wear and failure in N20/N26 engines. Independent technicians, consumer forums, and numerous owners have documented identical failures, often occurring well before the expected service life of the timing chain. The nature of the defect—catastrophic engine failure without warning—presents a clear safety concern rather than normal mechanical wear. BMW has declined to provide assistance, stating that “there is nothing we can do,” despite the well‑documented history of this defect and its safety implications. The failure of a known defective component at highway speed is foreseeable, preventable, and materially compromises vehicle safety. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this recurring timing chain defect in BMW N20/N26 engines, including: The frequency of sudden engine failures Whether BMW’s internal documentation reflects awareness of a systemic safety issue Whether the defect warrants a recall or other corrective action to prevent further incidents This failure placed a young driver in a dangerous situation and could easily result in collisions, injuries, or fatalities. I am submitting this report to help ensure that other drivers are not exposed to the same risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725807March 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 BMW 528XI. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "Drivetrain Malfunction - Drive Moderately" and "Contact the Service Center" were displayed. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer where it was purchased; however, the dealer refused to honor the warranty and refused to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. Upon searching the vehicle history report on the State Police website, the contact discovered two mileage discrepancies with the vehicle. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 117,217; however, the website indicated a mileage of 117,531 on June 18, 2025, and a mileage of 117,530 on June 24, 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685652September 8, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2013 BMW 528i was serviced under recall 24V-608 (Coolant Pump Electrical Connector / DME). After the recall was marked complete, the car developed several serious failures: Coolant Pump / Connector (Recall Item) – The dealer refused to replace the coolant pump even though the recall notice from the government includes both the pump and connector. Shortly after, the water pump failed completely, causing “High Temperature” warnings and putting me at risk of sudden overheating and breakdown on the road. DME (Engine Control Unit) – This was supposedly updated during the recall, but it failed to detect existing problems. Before the recall, I was never warned about issues with the turbo or oil leaks. Immediately after the recall update, the car started misfiring and showing drivetrain malfunction. The recall did not prevent or detect the failures as promised. Valve Cover Gasket (Oil Leak) – After the recall, a severe valve cover oil leak appeared, causing lean air/fuel mixture, misfires, and risk of fire. Oil leaking onto engine components is a known safety hazard. The dealer admitted the gasket leak existed but refused to cover it. Turbocharger / Wastegate – The DME flagged turbo wastegate actuator problems after the recall. The turbo cannot be ordered separately from the actuator, leading to very expensive repairs. Before the recall update, this issue was not visible, so I believe the recall software either failed to detect earlier or triggered worse conditions. Because of these combined failures, the car became unsafe to drive: misfires caused loss of power, overheating warnings increased risk of sudden engine shutdown, and the oil leak created a fire hazard. An independent mechanic later confirmed the water pump failure and valve cover gasket leak, which I had to repair at my own expense. I believe the recall defect (coolant pump connector / DME) caused or contributed to the damage of the water pump, gasket, and turbocharger. BMW and the dealer refused to rep
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679386August 8, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN
Both of my headlights had moisture. I replaced the driverside first because you could literally see water sitting in the headlamp. Then I replaced the passengerside a year later because it was doing the same thing that the driver side started doing. I have not had any accidents nor has there been any damage to the front of the car. It appears that this is a known problem. My adaptive part is still not working, but the headlights are working. I have replaced my timinig chain and I keep getting a drivetrain malfunction warning. I am not getting a real answer as to why this is occuring.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666894June 14, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
the head lights are frequently burn out although there is no break in the light covers. It is unpredictable and unsafe especially because alot of my driving is at night.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662067May 20, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11657270April 28, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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 dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656692April 25, 2025
ENGINE
The timing chain became stretched so that the valve timing with the pistons had been altered so that a valve face almost hit the top of a piston(one more tooth on the intake camshaft gear would have caused an impact between the piston top and a valve face causing the motor to stall and cease operation thereby causing the vehicle to lose power and possibly control). A timing chain should not stretch so as to cause a strike between a valve face and the top of a piston. Either the timing chain was of inferior quality or the automatic tensioner was inadequate to take up the slack as the chain wore.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11656086April 22, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651116March 27, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11637700January 22, 2025
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
-Drivetrain warning message was displayed, indicated to drive moderately, and moments later car sputtered and ceased to operate. Mechanic inspected and reported the timing chain failed and is to blame. Also, the engine may be impacted due to fraying parts that may have entered engine values over the course of time. Vehicle may be available for inspection for a short period of time (sold car to mechanic for very nominal amount). -My teenage daughter was driving the car when the above occurred and broke down on a busy highway. Thankfully, she avoided a collision. The police were called and the car towed. This could have been extremely harmful to both my daughter and the general public. -An independent mechanic diagnosed the issue and confirmed the issue. -The vehicle was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. The manufacturer (BMW) did perform an extensive evaluation and repair of the coolant line approximately two months ago but did not mention this issue. -I believe the drivetrain warning displayed once or twice with a message to drive moderately. On recollection, this was after the visit to fix the coolant issue. -We purchased the car new in 2013, were the only owners, and I expected much more from BMW. We are very upset given the potential harm that could have occurred. Also, I have since read about a class action lawsuit impacting this very same issue and pertaining to our year, make, and model. We were not informed of this lawsuit, nor did we receive a recall notice for the defective timing chains in these models. I took a substantial loss on this vehicle as compared to its FMV had this not occurred.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11637329January 21, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11609774August 20, 2024
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11601563July 12, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528XI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not able to be restarted and was towed to a local dealer. The local dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a failure with the timing chain. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure with an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program; however, the contact had not received the notification letter. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11568146January 27, 2024
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The vehicle has had no accidents or front impacts but has extensive moisture/condensation build up in both front headlamp housings. I intermittently receive a "adaptive headlight failure "warning in cold temperatures until the vehicle warms up. Night driving visibility is being affected as a result of the lens being covered with said moisture/condensation. I see many 5 series vehicles with the same problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552732October 30, 2023
ENGINE
Engine failure due to faulty timing chain or oil pump while driving
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11542241September 2, 2023
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
BMW 528i xdrive purchased new in 2013. Currently has 103k miles. While driving on hi-way at 65 mph, received "low oil pressure" alarm on instrument panel. Pulled on hi-way, engine shut-down. Initial diagnosis by local mechanic is timing chain failure. Have read COUNTLESS blogs about this being a recurring problem with the plastic timing chain degrading, 90% leading to complete engine failure - repair of which far exceeds value of car. Went to BMW dealership which didn't even bother to read the CLASS ACTION reports I presented. They had done some service work a year or so ago with no mention that this is a rather common issue. Said they would repair at my cost and that's all they can do. Ridiculous the lack of OWNERSHIP and responsibility that BMW is taking. Hopefully if enough people report BMW's behavior, an oversight agency will have enough stroke to force BMW to deal with this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11522108May 15, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The headrest deployed while parked in the dealer ship and was subsequently replaced. The vehicle was parked and not running
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11517294April 16, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Adaptive headlight, turn signals, daytime/parking lamp and headlamp vehicle aim malfunctions. it is available for inspection. Hand signals are required due to the front signals inoperability. It is reason to be aware certain enviromental conditions can prevent hands signals and or other to see the signals. an inability to signal as vehicles are mandated to provide, potentially can be a dire situation for all involved. The actual subject company confirmed the issue upon inspection. Along with two independent mechanic shops. Inspected by manufacturer. There were not any pre-warning alerts. The notifications presented themselves upon the onset of malfunctions. At that point the damage was already embedded. My research uncovered BMW has allowed the defect to exist for over 10 years conservatively. Repairs can cost the BMW owner between $5000 to $10,000. I have not been able to find another manufacture's vehicle with the same issue. Therefore, this is malfeasance on the part of BMW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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