Bmw 528i Reliability
1,227 NHTSA complaints (1997–2016). Complaint rate: 781.5 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2011–2012 Bmw 528i. The 2009 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: ENGINE.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Bmw 528i Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 200 | 0.5% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 176 | 0.0% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 161 | 0.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 92 | 0.0% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 78 | 0.0% |
| AIR BAGS | 70 | 8.6% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 66 | 0.0% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 46 | 0.0% |
| STEERING | 25 | 4.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 24 | 4.2% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997GOOD | — | 49 | 8 | 1 | View 1997View→ |
| 1998GOOD | — | 39 | 2 | 2 | View 1998View→ |
| 1999 | — | 59 | 6 | — | View 1999View→ |
| 2000GOOD | — | 53 | 2 | 4 | View 2000View→ |
| 2001GOOD | — | 3 | 0 | — | View 2001View→ |
| 2008AVOID | — | 181 | 1 | 24 | View 2008View→ |
| 2009GOOD | — | 33 | 1 | 3 | View 2009View→ |
| 2010 | — | 87 | 2 | 5 | View 2010View→ |
| 2011AVOID | — | 164 | 1 | 1 | View 2011View→ |
| 2012AVOID | — | 145 | 0 | 8 | View 2012View→ |
| 2013 | — | 119 | 3 | 1 | View 2013View→ |
| 2014 | — | 89 | 0 | 8 | View 2014View→ |
| 2015 | — | 102 | 0 | 4 | View 2015View→ |
| 2016 | — | 103 | 2 | 8 | View 2016View→ |
See also: Bmw 528iaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Bmw 528i?
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