BMW 528i Complaints

833 consumer complaints on file.

#10579456April 13, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
DURING AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH, THE FOLLOWING WARNING DISPLAYS: "FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAIN SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT FORCE LIMITER". THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHT BECOME ACTIVATED WHEN THIS HAPPENS AS WELL. THE WARNING MESSAGE WILL STAY ON FOR HOURS AFTER THE CAR GETS MODERATELY WET, EITHER IN A RAIN STORM OR A CAR WASH. EVEN IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON THE MESSAGE AND ERRORS WILL PERSIST. IT TAKES ABOUT 8-10 HOURS FOR THE ERROR TO GO AWAY. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY AND IS EASILY REPEATABLE. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS APRIL 13, 2014, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RAIN STORM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579344April 12, 2014
POWER TRAIN
FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS, MY CAR, A 2008 BMW 528I SLIPS OUT OF DRIVE (D) INTO PARK (P) AS I WAS BACKING UP & MOVING FORWARD EITHER FROM A PARKING POSITION OR AS I BEGIN TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. *JS THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD GO FROM (D) INTO (P) AND CAUSE THE CAR TO JERK TO A RAPID STOP. IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE AS IT GRINDS TO A STOP. IT REQUIRES ME TO PUT IT BACK INTO PARK AND TURN IT OFF SOMETIMES AND THEN START IT AGAIN. I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG UNTIL I READ ALL THESE OTHER POSTS SO I HAVEN'T REPORTED IT TIL NOW. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I ALWAYS START SLOW NOW FEARFUL THAT IT WILL JUMP INTO P AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. I COULD BE IN A PARKING LOT OR ANYWHERE, MOVING BACKWARD OR FORWARD WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578394April 8, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING BECAME ABNORMALLY FOGGY. THE BULB ALSO LOOKED AS IF IT WAS FOGGY AND BUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DEFAULT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574038March 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON HIS VEHICLE HAD NOT OPERATED NORMALLY SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW SPECIALIST, WHO STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR THIS MODEL BMW HAD NEVER WORKED PROPERLY . THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565248February 21, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2008 528I HAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO TRAFFIC. THE CAR WILL START TO SHAKE AND JERK AS I LIGHTLY APPLY THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENIGINE LIGHT HAS COME TWICE DURING AN ACOOURENCE AND THEN WENT OUT AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. JUST HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO FAULTS WITH THE CAR OR ANY CODES. I FIND IT TO BE A SAFETY HAZZARD BECAUSE AS I STATED BEFORE, I'M IN TRAFFIC AND AS I TURN LEFT/RIGHT, IM UNABLE TO MOVE WHILE THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME IS APPORACHING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561720January 27, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK AND CRACK IN THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN AND THE ELECTRONIC SLEEVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561724January 27, 2014
POWER TRAIN
FOR THE PAST MONTH, MY CAR, A 2008 BMW 528 I (AUTOMATIC) WOULD SLIP OUT OF REVERSE (R) INTO PARK (P) AS I WAS ACCELERATING BACKWARD FROM A DEAD STOP. THE STEPTRONIC GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM WOULD DO THIS APPROXIMATELY 30% OF THE TIME, AND CAUSE THE CAR TO JERK TO A STOP. IT WOULD REQUIRE ME TO PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND START AGAIN. EVENTUALLY AS I KEEP DRIVING AND I'M AT A STOP LIGHT OR SITTING IDLE, THE "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE WOULD POP UP ON MY LCD AND THEN THE GEAR WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP DRIVING ALL TOGETHER. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS SOMETIMES I WAS IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM IS FAULTY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559563January 13, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING IN METRO DETROIT LAST NIGHT MY 2012 BMW 528I XDRIVE SUDDENLY FLASHED A "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE, LURCHED AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP JUST PAST THE INTERSECTION OF NOVI ROAD AND 10 MILE. I WAS TWO MILES FROM THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE WITH ME IN THE CAR. HAD I MADE IT TO I-96 - JUST TWO MILES UP THE ROAD - AND THIS HAPPENED, WE VERY LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. POLICE WERE CALLED BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR WAS ELECTRONICALLY LOCKED. I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE ROADWAY. BMW SERVICE FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TOWED 8 HOURS LATER BECAUSE FEW TOW TRUCKS LACKED THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO MOVE THE CAR WITHOUT DAMAGE. THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE TO ALLOW YOU TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, IT CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED BY A SERVICE TECH UNDERNEATH THE CAR. MY SERVICE ADVISOR WAS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AND HUGE DESIGN FLAW. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL LINKAGE TO EITHER THE START/STOP BUTTON OR THE SHIFTER. IT'S ALL ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE CAR STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558390January 3, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TANK VENT VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS 30,342. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557062December 23, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I NOTICED A SMELL OF FUEL EACH TIME MY WIFE PARKED HER CAR INSIDE OUR GARAGE. HER CAR FOR DUE A SERVICE SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A FULL SERVICE. THE MECHANIC CALLED AND ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN SMELLING FUEL INSIDE OR AROUND THE VEHICLE. HE THEN EXPLAINED THAT HE SUSPECTED IT WAS ORIGINATING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT. HE LATER CONTACTED ME TO EXPLAIN THAT THE PLASTIC TUBE LOCATED ON TOP OF THE IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK AND WAS ALLOWING FUEL TO SPRAY OUT ON TOP OF THE ASSEMBLY, WHICH WAS ALLOWING FUEL AND FUMES TO BUILD-UP IN-AND-AROUND THE VEHICLE. HE RECOMMENDED WE REPLACE IT IMMEDIATELY DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. WHEN I WENT TO PICKUP THE VEHICLE, HE SHOWED ME THE CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, AND EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE CRACK LIKE THAT. TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND FINDING THE PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AT THE TIME THAT WE DID, I BELIEVE, WAS A DISASTER AVOIDED. WE ARE PLANNING A TRIP OUT OF TOWN, AND WILL LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN OUR GARAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS. OUR HOME GAS (OPEN FLAMED) HOT WATER HEATER IS LOCATED INSIDE OUR GARAGE. MY WIFE OFTEN BACKED HER CAR INTO OUR GARAGE WHICH PLACED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 FEET FROM THE OPEN FLAMES OF THE HOT WATER HEATER. I SHUTTER TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HAD LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE LEAKING FUEL AND FUMES, AND OPEN FLAMES FROM THE HOT WATER HEATER SHUTUP IN OUR GARAGE FOR 5 DAYS. NOT ONLY WOULD WE HAVE LOST OUR CAR, BUT QUITE POSSIBLY OUR HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552900November 19, 2013
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO START DRIVING, THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT AND UNCOMFORTABLE LAG OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A TWO-WAY DIVIDED ROAD FROM A RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX. THE VISIBILITY TO THE LEFT IS LIMITED TO ABOUT 200 FT DUE TO A CURVE IN THE DIVIDED ROAD. WHEN I START MOVING FROM THE STOP SIGN, I HAVE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY TRAFFIC THAT MAY BE COMING AT SPEED BEHIND ME. THIS ACCELERATOR LAG MAKES FOR A SAFETY CONCERN. I IMAGINE THIS CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY CONCERN DURING MERGING INTO FREEWAYS WITH VERY SHORT ON RAMPS AND THE RAMP METER ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549866October 28, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548931October 22, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CAR WAS LEASED NEW. A HEAVY 'CHEMICAL ' SMELL OCCURED WHENEVER THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEADACHES AND SINUS PROBLEMS. AT 14 MONTHS INTO THE LEASE, DRIVER HAD AN AIR QUALITY TEST DONE ON INSIDE OF THE CAR. RESULTS CAME BACK WITH ELEVATED UNSAFE LEVELS OF BENZINE. OTHER PERSONS RIDING IN THE CAR EXPERIENCED VISION PROBLEMS. BENZINE IS A KNOWN CARCINOGEN AND SOMETHING WAS VERY, VERY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. BMW IS NOW IN POSSESSION OF THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548976October 22, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND ALL OF EXTERIOR LIGHTNING WOULD NOT FUNCTION UPON ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V407000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548293October 17, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544237September 18, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT (BACK UP AND TURN SIGNAL) WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR MELTED. PER NTBSB AND WEB SEARCH, NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXACT SAME PROBLEM. DASH INDICATED THAT FIRST TAIL LIGHT FAILED, THEN BACK UP LIGHT FAILED. INSPECTION SHOWED MELTED WIRE CONNECTOR. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WAS NEARLY COLLIDED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542735September 9, 2013
POWER TRAIN
FOR THE PAST MONTH, MY CAR, A 2008 BMW 528 IX (AUTOMATIC) WOULD SLIP OUT OF DRIVE (D) INTO PARK (P) AS I WAS ACCELERATING FORWARD FROM A DEAD STOP. THE ELECTRONIC GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM WOULD DO THIS APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE TIME, AND CAUSE THE CAR TO JERK TO A STOP. IT WOULD REQUIRE ME TO PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND START AGAIN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG, SO I DIDN'T REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, IT KEPT HAPPENING. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS SOMETIMES I WAS IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. A FEW WEEKS LATER (BEFORE I HAD CHANCE TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE), THE GEAR SHIFT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AT ALL. THE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM IS AN ELECTRONIC PART, NOT A MECHANICAL CONNECTION. I CALLED BMW, AND THEY SAID THE PART WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL (THE CAR WAS 5K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY). I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, A $1300 EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10541760September 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I RECEIVED A DISPLAYED MESSAGE THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE REAR LAMP. WHEN CHECKING THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND WIRING, I NOTICED THE CONNECTOR ON THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED (PLASTIC) WHERE THE BROWN GROUND WIRE CONNECTED. THE MALE/FEMALE CONNECTOR PARTS GOT SO HOT THAT THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR WAS MELTED WHERE THE GROUND WIRE CONNECTS. THIS WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, BUT IT IS LIKELY THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE HEAT GENERATED TO MELT THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE THE GROUND WIRE TO BURN AND THE BRAKE/REAR LIGHTS TO FAIL. WITH A FAILURE OF THE REAR LIGHTS, AN ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533157August 1, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR EXTERIOR LIGHTS(BRAKE, TAIL, & TURN SIGNAL) - MELTED WIRE ASSEMBLY IS CAUSING MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A "BURNING" SMELL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ALL AT ONCE MY DASH INDICATED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND TURN SIGNAL HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT ATTACHES TO THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS MELTED. BMW DID A RECALL OF OVER 2,500 3-SERIES VEHICLES FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE 5-SERIES (????) THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532957July 31, 2013
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING PERIODICALLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS DEFAULT DEACTIVATES AIRBAGS. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER TO FIX 4 TIMES, AND TODAY THEY DECIDED TO CHARGE A FEE. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY CAR AND MANY OTHERS WITH RECALLS OF THE EXACT SAME MODEL BUT 2 YEARS OLDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to BMW 528i