NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 BMW 528 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 BMW 528 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 13 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 BMW 528.

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1997 BMW 528 owner complaints

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 528, describing incidents dated July 13, 1997 to March 28, 2006.

Most-cited components

Engine 4 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Steering 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Of the 13 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10745657 · Filed August 2, 2015
I BOUGHT THE 1997 BMW 528I OFF LEASE. IT WAS MY SECOND BMW. THE PRIOR BMW HAD VIRTUALLY NO PROBLEMS. I GUESS THE SECOND ONE HAD TO MAKE UP FOR THE FIRST ONE. IF I ONLY HAD A NICKLE FOR EVERY TIME I WISHED I HADN'T TRADED FOR THE SECOND ONE. 1. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE…
ODI #10153889 · Filed March 28, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOWN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ONLY. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM
ODI #8004403 · Filed February 22, 2002
ENGINE KEEPS OVERHEATING DUE TO A FAULTY WATER PUMP. DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE. *AK

Read all 13 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1997 BMW 528 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 BMW 528. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

13 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 BMW 528.

Steering; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Engine

ODI #10745657

Incident: August 1, 2000 · Filed: August 2, 2015

I BOUGHT THE 1997 BMW 528I OFF LEASE. IT WAS MY SECOND BMW. THE PRIOR BMW HAD VIRTUALLY NO PROBLEMS. I GUESS THE SECOND ONE HAD TO MAKE UP FOR THE FIRST ONE. IF I ONLY HAD A NICKLE FOR EVERY TIME I WISHED I HADN'T TRADED FOR THE SECOND ONE. 1. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS TO HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF. WHENEVER I DROVE THE CAR I HAD TO KEEP ONE EYE ON THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE AT ALL TIMES (IT WOULD HEAT UP VERY FAST). THE BMW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS COULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY CHARGED ME OVER $2,000. WELL, THAT AND A COUPLE OF BOLDFACE LIES ENDED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT DEALERSHIP. 2. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED IN ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME FRAME. AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED MOVING IN AND OUT REPETITIVELY AND WOULDN'T STOP ALONG WITH MY SEAT (IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MEMORY SWITCHES IN THE DOOR). THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ALSO. 3. THE RADIO (FM) AND CD PLAYER QUIT IMMEDIATELY ALONG WITH THE SUN ROOF... I AM AN ENGINEER AND I HAVE MANAGED TO FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS MYSELF BUT I AM ASHAMED TO RELATE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BMW DEALERSHIPS HERE, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER AUTO-REPAIR FACILITIES. OH, I MIGHT ADD THAT NONE OF MY FIVE CHILDREN, WHO ARE ALL ENGINEERS OR DOCTORS, OWN A BMW AND I'M SURE NONE OF THEIR KIDS (15) WILL EITHER.

Power Train

ODI #10153889

Incident: March 28, 2006 · Filed: March 28, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOWN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ONLY. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #8004403

Filed: February 22, 2002

ENGINE KEEPS OVERHEATING DUE TO A FAULTY WATER PUMP. DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #854652

Incident: November 30, 1999 · Filed: January 22, 2000

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT FRONT AND BACK BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE BAD. VEHICLE ALSO DIDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION. DEALER WILL ONLY TAKE $200.00 OFF FOR SERVICE. CINSUMER SAID THAT THERE WAS ONLY 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #844413

Incident: July 15, 1999 · Filed: August 5, 1999

ABS BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR WENT ON, AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT CONSUMER COULD DRIVE ANOTHER 200 MILES, ONLY DROVE ANOTHER 50 MILES AND NEEDED NEW FRONT AND BACK ROTORS.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Seat Belts

ODI #827504

Incident: August 30, 1997 · Filed: September 2, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE, AND THE SEAT BELT COVERS ACROSS THE CONSUMER'S NECK. IN CAS OF AN ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BELTS MIGHT CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK

Steering

ODI #814706

Incident: July 13, 1997 · Filed: July 21, 1997

WHILE PARKING HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT AND STEERING WAS LOST. AFTER VEHICLE STAYED PARKED FOR A WHILE STEERING CAME BACK. DEALER NOT ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Air Bags

ODI #806467

Crash

Filed: December 17, 1996

THE ABS BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN APPLIED UPON SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN A 6 TO 8 FOOT HILL, HITTING A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #748337

Incident: June 20, 2001 · Filed: July 12, 2001

ENGINE OVERHEATED SUDDENLY AT EXPRESSWAY SPEED. SUSPECT THERMASTAT OR WATER PUMP. CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE, "MELTDOWN" OF RADIATOR ASSY. *AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #746507

Fire

Incident: September 1, 2000 · Filed: June 6, 2001

THE THIRD/MIDDLE REAR BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING HAS MELTED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP WHEN USING BRAKES FOR EXTENDED TIME PERIODS (E.G., WHEN STUCK IN VERY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC). THIS HAS CAUSED THE RED LENSE TO MELT OVER THE BULB, THEREBY POSING A RISK OF FIRE AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING INSPECTED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT USING THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION DUE TO THE RISK OF FIRE (I HAVE SMELLED THE BURNING PLASTIC). THE HOUSING AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY ARE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT IT WILL NOT FIX THE SAFETY HAZARD EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (AND IT WILL COST $550 FOR ME TO REPAIR IT). THIS DEFECT ALSO PERMITS WHITE LIGHT TO SHINE FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, THEREBY POSING AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

Check your 1997 BMW 528 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 528 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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