BMW 528xi Complaints

158 consumer complaints on file.

#11388234January 14, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SO I BOUGHT A BMW, THEN A LOT OF CONDENSATION AND WATER GOT INTO A HEADLIGHT AND IT MESSED UP THE WIRES AND MY TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING. ORDERED A NEW ONE AND THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING, I GOT ANOTHER ONE AND THE LIGHT ISN'T WORKING AGAIN. IVE HAD MULTIPLE MECHANICS, BMW, ETC LOOK AT MY CAR. COME TO FIND OUT THE WAY THE CAR WAS BUILT, VIBRATION OFF THE ROAD OFTEN CREATES CRACKS OR MICRO FISSURES, THAT MAKE MOISTURE GET INTO A HEADLIGHT AND PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO CONTINUE BUYING NEW HEADLIGHTS IF THIS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY IN THIS PANDEMIC. PEOPLE WILL RATHER NOT USE THEIR TURN SIGNALS AND MESS THEIR CONNECTORS UP THEN REPLACE IT AND I DON'T BLAME THEM. THESE NEED RECALLED. MOISTURE DOESN'T GET OUT UNTIL YOU TAKE OFF THE HEADLIGHT AND YOU NEED TO TAKE OFF THE BUMPER TO REMOVE THE HEADLIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387729January 12, 2021
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE IS ONLY AT 66K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11375692November 21, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR SAYS DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION I WAS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT ON A ONE WAY STREET ON 11/20/2020 WHEN THE CAR JUST DIED NO WARNING JUST SHUT OFF WOULDN'T START COULDN'T PUT IT IN NEUTRAL BLOCKED TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES BEFORE I COULD GET A TOW TRUCK TO REMOVE MY CAR. I HAVE A 2012 BMW 528XI WITH ABOUT 90K + MILES ON IT I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE HAPPENS TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND I WOULD NO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11373270November 6, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF REST (30MINS-1HR) AND A COUPLE TIMES ON EXTENDED DRIVES(2+ HOURS) CAR STALLS OUT THE FIRST 6 TIMES CAME UP WITH POWER TRAIN AND FUEL MODULE CODES TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN ISSUE APPEARED FIX TILL IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN NO LONGER THROWING CODES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365248October 19, 2020
ENGINE
I AM HAVING THE SAME DRIVETRAIN ISSUES THAT OTHER EARLIER MODEL BMW'S BETWEEN 2011 TO 2015 THAT WAS RECALLED. MY OIL PUMP CHAIN MODULE AND TIMING CHAIN MODULE NEEDS REPLACING. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR ABOUT A MONTH OFF AND ON. I STARTED MY CAR AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION APPEARED ON DASH. I'VE DRIVEN CAR FOR 3,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASING AND IT JUST CAME ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362305October 1, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, HE STARTED HEARING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE BECAME AWARE THAT THE PVC HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER CRITZ BMW LOCATED AT 7009 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31406, (912) 354-7000, AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DECLINED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361300September 26, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SUDDENLY THE CAR HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STOPPED WORKING IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT. ONLY THE RIGHT INDICATOR WORKS NOW. ITS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. I COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I THINK BMW HAD THIS ISSUE WITH SOME OF 3 SERIES MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354780September 13, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHEN TURNING MY CAR ON AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR DISPLAYED A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER ON AUGUST 3, 2020 FOR SERVICE AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR WITH A COMPUTER ERROR. THEY MADE A REPAIR TO THE COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. THIS COST $350. ON AUGUST 7, I DROVE FROM MARYLAND TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND RECEIVED THE SAME DRIVETRAIN ERROR MESSAGE AND THE OIL SERVICE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. WE HAD TO ADD A QUART OF OIL AND DRIVE SLOWLY PER THE DRIVETRAIN ERROR MESSAGE. AS SOON AS I RETURNED TO MARYLAND, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO BMW OF ANNAPOLIS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT END OF THE ENGINE WAS GONE AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REBUILD THE MOTOR INCLUDING NEW TIMING CHAINS, CHAIN TENSIONER, CHAIN GUIDES, AND EXHAUST VANOS UNIT (A $6000 REPAIR). THE CAR ONLY HAD 72,000 MILES AND I HAD NEVER MISSED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. BMW NORTH AMERICA OFFERED TO PAY HALF OF $6000 AFTER BEING CONTACTED BY BMW OF ANNAPOLIS. HOWEVER, I THOUGHT THAT BMW NORTH AMERICA SHOULD HAVE PAID THE ENTIRE AMOUNT BECAUSE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 BMW 528I AND I COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THIS CAR HAS HAD 2 PRIOR MAJOR RECALLS. I SENT BMW NORTH AMERICA A FORMAL COMPLAINT, BUT THEY STILL ONLY PAID $3000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351466August 26, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WARNING FOR CHASSIS STABILIZATION IS ON, I ENCOUNTERED NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. I WAS ON A MAIN ROAD AND I GOT REAR ENDED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD MY HAZARD LIGHTS FLASHING
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11340527July 20, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY 2012 528XI HAS 117K MILES ON IT. WHILE I WAS ON A LONG ROAD TRIP, DRIVING ON I-95 AT 1AM ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, WITHOUT ANY WEIRD ENGINE NOISES OR ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORM, THE CAR DISPLAYED A WARNING MESSAGE THAT SAID "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY WARNING "ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOW" WARNING. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE CAR TOLD ME TO PULL OVER SAFELY. LUCKILY, THERE WAS A NICE BIG SHOULDER AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND, SO I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO A STOP. HAD THE CAR TOWED 100 MILES TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE, SO THERE WAS TOO MUCH FRICTION DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION, WHICH SEIZED THE CAMSHAFT AND CAUSED JUMPED TIMING. I'VE HAD A LOT OF "VERY UNUSUAL" (MECHANIC'S WORDS) ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, OF COURSE ALL OUT OF WARRANTY. AND NOW THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY FRIED. I CAN SPEND ANOTHER $11K TO PUT A BRAND NEW ENGINE IN THERE, BUT THE CAR ITSELF ISN'T WORTH $11K ANYMORE. LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. HASN'T BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA BUT CAN FIND IT ON BMW ENTHUSIAST FORUMS (LIKE BIMMERFEST DOT COM).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11331548June 29, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE MESSAGED ME WHILE DRIVING THAT OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. STOPPED, AND RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES. INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING GUIDES BECOMING BRITTLE AND DISINTEGRATING SENDING PARTS INTO THE SPROCKETS AND THE OIL SENSORS. ALSO CHAIN MAKES A WHINING NOISE IF AFFECTED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING THE PROBLEM. OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY (7YR/70K) BY ONE YEAR AND 5K MILES. BMW KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330703June 24, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED BMW AND HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH MY ENGINE, CONSTANTLY REFILLING THE OIL, EVEN AFTER SERVICE. AFTER TAKING THIS TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THERE WEREN'T ANY ISSUES. ALL OF THIS FINALLY CAME TO A HEAD-ON SUNDAY, 6/21/2020 WHEN MY CAR FINALLY CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. AFTER TOWING, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND WOULD COST ME $7,400 WHICH WOULDN'T NECESSARILY REMEDY THE ISSUE, I HEARD THIS COULD REACH TOWARDS 15-20K. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER HAVING ONLY DRIVEN THIS CAR ON AVG 8K/YEAR AND HAVING ROUGHLY 84K MILES IN TOTAL. MY EXPERIENCE WITH BMW HAS SINCE BEEN PAINFUL TO SAY THE LEAST SINCE. I'VE HAD THIS TOWED TWICE IN 2 DAYS, BEEN GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM ON EITHER FIXING THE VEHICLE OR BUYING A NEW ONE - WHEN ASKING FOR A LOANER, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED CONTACT ENTERPRISE AND RESERVE ONE ON MY OWN. I'VE OWNED MULTIPLE GERMAN CARS AND NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS LEVEL OF UNPROFESSIONALISM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330521June 24, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW LOCATED AT 500 INTERSTATE N PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30339, (800) 294-1853, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR OF THE SAME DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330332June 23, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
CAR WAS GIVING THE POWERTRAIN SERVICE MESSAGE, WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD START TO POWER DOWN THE CAR APART OF BUILT IN MECHANISM. TOOK TO BMW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE LOOKED AT. THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN LINKS WERE FOLDING OVER ON ITSELF, AND THE CHAIN WAS CONFIRMED TO HAVE EXCESSIVE PLAY. TIMING CHAIN GUIDES HAVE FAILED, CAUSING EXHAUST CAMSHAFT TO UNSYNC FROM CRANKSHAFT. CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF VALVES CONTACT PISTON. RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE MOTOR AT COST JUST UNDER $15,000. CAR IS UNDER 7 YEARS OLD WITH 98,000 MILES ON IT. WARRANTY WAS "EXTENDED" TO COVER THIS ISSUE IN 2018 OUT TO 7 YEARS, 70,000 MILES. THIS HAS OCCURRED THROUGHOUT SPRING OF 2020. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326467May 29, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
BMW ENGINE N20B20 KNOWN TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. THE CAR IN QUESTION IS 2013 BMW 528I XDRIVE, 4 CYL. TURBO ENGINE, AUTOMATIC, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, SEDAN. I WAS AT WORK AND STARTED DRIVING HOME, GOT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, HIT 65 MPH AND IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED BY THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY THAT THERE IS POWERTRAIN ISSUE AND TO PULL OVER AND CALL SERVICE. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR HOME AND THEN AGAIN TO THE SERVICE SINCE IT WOULD NOT START. I HAD 77130 MILES ON THE CAR AT THE MOMENT. I GOT CALL FROM THE SERVICE THIS MORNING 05/29/2020 WHERE THEY STATED: CAR HAD 3 QUARTS OF OIL INSTEAD OF 5 WHICH CAUSED MECHANICAL DAMAGE AND WEAR. PLASTIC LEAD FOR THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CHAIN IS LOOSE. CAMSHAFT I BELIEVE IS BROKEN. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE FIX IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT $11,000.00. I ASKED IS THERE ANY OTHER SOLUTIONS BESIDE WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT THEY SAID NO EXCEPT FOR GETTING USED ENGINE INSTEAD OF NEW. NOW I HAVE ONE MORE BMW (2007 328I, N52 6 CYL. ENGINE, 6 SPEED MANUAL, REAR WHEEL DRIVE - STILL IN GREAT SHAPE, NEVER LEFT ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD 176000 MILES AND COUNTING), I AM ENTHUSIAST, I TAKE GREAT CARE ABOUT MY CARS. ALWAYS FULL SYNTHETIC OIL EVERY 5000 MILES, ALWAYS MANN FILTER(S), ALWAYS BMW SPEC LL-01 FOR US, ALWAYS CASTROL MADE IN BELGIUM. ALL THE PARTS GENUINE, BEST TIRES. WITH ALL THAT CARE I KNOW THE WEAKNESS - OIL THIRSTY ENGINES. THE CAR THAT'S IN PROBLEM GOT IT'S OIL CHECKED THAT MORNING OR DAY BEFORE AND SHOWED UP MAX. THOSE NEW ENGINES HAVE ELECTRICAL OIL READER (NO STICK ANYMORE) SO I HAVE TO RELY ON THAT. I AM HEAVILY DISAPPOINTED IN BMW AND HOW THEY ARE HANDLING THIS ISSUE. THEY SHOULD OFFER REMEDY AND FULL REIMBURSEMENT OR RECALL FOR THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11322933May 1, 2020
ENGINE
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD (CROSSING OVER RT 29 IN MALVERN, PA). A MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN IN MY CAR SAID DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. AFTER THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT HE SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 100K MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11322939May 1, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I HAD ISSUES WITH MY CAR WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR CHECK, THEY MENTIONED MY TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE HAS SOME ISSUES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $14000 WHILE THE CAR LOAN I HAD ON IT WAS $12000. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AS WE ALREADY KNOW BMW 2012 MODELS HAVE ENGINE ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319080March 23, 2020
ENGINE
MY 2012 BMW 528 XI ENGINE N20 JUST GRENADED ITSELF DUE TO THE ISSUE IN THIS LINK BELOW AND NOTICED YOU HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT LET BMW COVER CUSTOMERS UPTO 7YR/70K MILES. I HAD TO SHELL OUT 7000 FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. MINE FAILED JUST OVER 70K MILES AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER CUSTOMERS IN THE SAME BOAT BASED ON WHAT I AM READING IN THE FORUMS. IS THERE ANOTHER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT COULD BE FILED TO COVER THESE CUSTOMERS SO THAT BMW EXTENDS WARRANTY TO 10YR /120K FOR THESE FAULTY ENGINES. BMW ENGINE CHAIN DEFECTS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS WILLIAMS, ET AL. V. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC, ET AL., CASE NO. 2:17-CV-11567, IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY. HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2017/BMW-N20-N26-ENGINE-LAWSUIT-BLAMES-TIMING-CHAINS.SHTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11316532March 6, 2020
ENGINE
ENGINE'S TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AFTER 6 YEARS AND 65000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11311318February 25, 2020
ENGINE
WITH ONLY 76K MILES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION COMES ON CAR STOPS. BROUGHT TO BMW AND WAS TOLD OIL WAS DARK WITH PIECES OF SHRED METAL AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE FOR OVER $10,000. WAS SO CONFUSED DUE TO HAVING A OIL CHANGE LESS THEN 1 MONTH AGO. NOW CALL IS SITTING BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE ENGINE AND STILL OWE MONEY ON CAR WHICH NO ONE WILL TAKE DUE TO IT NOT DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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