BMW 528i Complaints

833 consumer complaints on file.

#10128989July 16, 2005
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE TILT FUNCTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL RAMDONLY ACTIVATES WHICH RESULTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING UP AND DOWN WHICH IS A SURPRISE TO THE DRIVER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO ERROR INDICATORS SHOW UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125996June 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
DRIVING ON ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 10MPH AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HOOD. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED COOLANT SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE NECK HAD BROKEN OFF THE RADIATOR(COMMON PROBLEM WITH E39) ALLOWING COOLANT TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS TRAVELLING SLOWLY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER RAPIDLY BEFORE CAR OVERHEATED. COULD HAVE CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT HAD OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED OLD RADIATOR WITH AN AFTERMARKET BRAND THAT IS MORE ROBUST THAN BMW RAD. I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE USING A BMW RADIATOR DUE TO THEIR CHEAP AND FLAWED DESIGN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126147June 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE THAT LED TO DISABLING OF ABS SYSTEM, STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND SPEEDOMETER. MULTIPLE BMW OWNER RESOURCE WEB SITES (BIMMERFEST, ROADFLY, ETC.) HAVE THREADED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFLECT THE OWNERS' DISATISFACTION WITH BMW'S LACK OF RESPONSE. THEY COMPLAIN OF CONTROLLER UNIT FAILING, GETTING REPLACED, AND FAILING AGAIN. A NUMBER OF LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE CONFIRMED SEEING THE PROBLEM AND HAVE SUGGESTED SEEKING OUT SOMEONE WHO WILL REBUILD THE CONTROLLER UNIT TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125436June 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
I OWN A 1997 BMW 528I AND EVERYTIME IT RAINS THE GEAR SELECTION SWITCH MALFUNCTION CAUSING RANDOM GEAR SELECTION. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE 1998 MODEL, WHICH USES THE SAME RECALLED PART.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115971March 28, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE - ABS AND ANTI-SKID CONTROL MODULE. THIS APPARENTLY IS A CHRONIC FAILURE FOR BMW 5 SERIES CARS FROM THE 1997 TO 2002 MODEL YEARS THAT OCCURS AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. THE ABS AND ASC LIGHTS BOTH LIGHT AND WITHIN A SHORT TIME AFTER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOP WORKING. NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND NON-WORKING SKID CONTROL, PLUS NOT KNOWING YOUR SPEED IS UNSAFE AND COSTS OVER $1000 TO FIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116945March 28, 2005
TIRES
A BUBBLE IN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE CAUSED A BLOW OUT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PIRELLI P245/451794. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107262March 24, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
A RATTLING NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE FRONT RIGHT STRUT COLLAPSED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106597January 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT A 1999 BMW 528I NEW. I BROUGHT THE CAR REGULARLY INTO SERVICE BASED UPON THEIR PRESCRIBED SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THIS CAR. AT 49,600 MILES ON THE CAR AND EXACTLY 5 YEARS OLD, THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS CAR FAILED. BMW REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER 2004, WITH 64,205 MILES I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS AFTER CAR IS WARMED UP. AT 64,605 MILES, CAR BREAKS DOWN ON ROAD AND IS TOWED INTO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT A NEW MOTOR IS NEEDED. THIS CAR HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MOTOR AS A RESULT OF FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BASICALLY BLAMED THE SITUATION ON US AND NOT THE FAILURE OF THIS BMW ENGINE THAT WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THEIR MAINTENANCE STANDARDS. THERE IS REAL PROBLEM WITH BMW ENGINES AND BASED UPON MY RESEARCH IT RELATES TO BOLTS ON THE OIL PUMP LOOSENING FROM THE CAR'S VIBRATION THEREBY NOT ALLOWING OIL TO BE PUMP INTO THE ENGINE. ALSO, MY REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN ANYMORE. A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106550January 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ASC CONTROL UNIT FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER ON MY 1999 BMW 528I. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE FOR 5 SERIES CARS 9/98 TO 9/00 (MINE WAS BUILT 10/98). BULLETIN INFO: VS-23/WEINTUCH BAUGRUPPE/GROUP:32 32 01 00 (646) DATED 11/2000. THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS CODE IS RA 24 52 515/ 34 52 516. AFTER UNIT FAILED, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH I HAD TO BRAKE HEAVILY AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP. HOWEVER I MANAGED TO STOP WITHIN 2 FEET OF THE CAR THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS CURRENTLY REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF BMW BULLETIN BOARDS (WWW.ROADFLY.COM). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY BMW IS AWARE OF BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I JUST SPENT $1006.37 TODAY FOR THE REPAIR AT CROWN BMW. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN WARRANTY BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. EVENTUALLY, THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM THIS KNOWN PART FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT A NUMBER OF BMW DEALERS ARE STOCKING UP HIGHER THAN USUAL INVENTORIES OF THIS PART, APPARENTLY IN ANTICIPATION OF LARGE SCALE FAILURES OF THE ASC CONTROL UNIT (PART34-52-6-756-343). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106026January 9, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING BOTH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO BE DISABLED, SPECIALLY ONCE THE ENGINE IS WAM, ONCE IT FAILED, RESTARTING THE CAR WON'T CORRECT THE SITUATION. IF THE CAR SITS OVER NIGHT, THE ABS AND TRACTION WORKS AGAIN FOR A WHILE, DEPENDS ON DRIVING CONDITION, IF THE CAR IS TAKEN INTO HIGHWAY RIGHT AWAY, THE ABS MIGHT WORK FOR HOURS, IF IT GOES INTO CITY DRIVING, IT COULD FAIL WITHIN MINUTES. I HAVE SEARCH ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND SO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SIMILAR PROBLEM. WEB SITES RESEARCHED: WWW.BENTLEYPUBLISHING.COM AND WWW.ROADFLY.ORG. *AK THE CAR IS 1999 BMW 528IT, MANUFACTURED 09/98
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102273December 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE OVERHEATED/RADIATOR FAILED (AFTER ONLY 53000 MILES), CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD. NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATION OF OVERHEATING. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9400. MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENDED AT 50000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101956December 1, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100433November 23, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON VEHICLE REPAIR FORUMS. DEFECTIVE MODULE WAS UPGRADED BY BMW ENGINEERING BUT NO RECALL ISSUED, LEFT TO OWNERS TO EXPERIENCE FAILURE BEFORE GETTING MODULE REPLACED. RISK OF EXCESSIVE SPEED. RISK OF OVERSPEED CONDITION WHILE ENTERING POSTED SPEED CORNERS. BMW ONLY REPAIR DUE TO PROGRAMMING, COST OF $2000, RISK OF LESS AFFLUENT OWNERS DRIVING WITH SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083681November 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND BECAME STUCK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093246September 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR NECK FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089700August 20, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
COMPLAINT REGARDING THE 1999 BMW 528I. *MR IN RE TO LATE PAYMENTS ON THE BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087681August 11, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
CONSUMER STATED TAIL LIGHTS WARPED, CAUSING THEM TO BURN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080308July 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
ON JULY 1, 2004 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, PRIOR TO HAVING THE STRUT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V183000 REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE DEFECT OCCURRED. THIS RESULTED IN A COLLISION ON JUNE 25, 2004 WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND THE RIGHT TIRE BROKE. AS RESULT, VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCH. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080309July 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
CONSUMER HAD ALREADY FIXED THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #4V183000. ORIGINAL INVOICE WAS SEND TO THE MANUFACTURER IN MAY 2004. AND STILL WAITING FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT. MANUFACTURER CALL THE CONSUMER AND INDICATED THEY WONT HONORING THE RECALL BECAUSE INDEPENDENT SHOP REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078774June 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE HAD FAILURES OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 1999 BMW WHERE THE SYSTEM LOCKS UP AND CAUSES THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. BASED ON NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS THESE MODELS SEEM VERY PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. BMW DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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