BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
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.
No injuries · No fire · No crash
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528XI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle came to a stop and the Automatic START/STOP feature activated; however, the engine failed to restart. The message "Drive Train Malfunction Error" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the timing chain had fractured, causing unknown parts to enter the engine. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
No injuries · No fire · No crash
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)
No injuries · No fire · No crash
The vehicle suffered a sudden Drivetrain Malfunction and severe engine overheating while driving, resulting in a physically snapped camshaft and extensive iron shaving contamination in the oil pan (catastrophic engine failure).Ten months ago, an authorized dealership performed the official BMW Water Pump Safety Recall (NHTSA Campaign 24V608000). The vehicle has an active history of drivetrain malfunction fault codes dating back to January 2024. The failure of the recall remedy to safely maintain the cooling loop directly caused severe thermal stress and lubrication breakdown, leading to the camshaft fracturing. Additionally, this engine was under the VANOS Bolt Safety Recall (NHTSA Campaign 23V707000), which covers loosening valvetrain bolts known to break camshafts.This is a direct consequential safety failure resulting from defective recall components, causing sudden engine failure while operating on a public roadway. Vehicle is currently held at Fields BMW awaiting corporate inspection.
No injuries · No fire · No crash
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528XI. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a misfire coming from the engine with the "Drivetrain Malfunction" message displayed. The contact later received a notification for an unknown recall, and a diagnostic test was performed however, no failure was found for the drivetrain. The recall repair was performed. Recently, the contact stated that the vehicle would shut off soon after it was started. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic was performed; the diagnostic test discovered that the camshaft sensor was fractured, and metal shavings were found in the oil pan. The vehicle was then diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 128,900
No injuries · No fire · No crash