1997 BMW 528 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 528, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine425.0%
- Brakes318.8%
- Steering212.5%
- Exterior lighting16.3%
- Seat belts16.3%
- Tires & wheels16.3%
- Airbags16.3%
- Transmission16.3%
- Body & structure16.3%
- Driver assistance16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
ENGINE KEEPS OVERHEATING DUE TO A FAULTY WATER PUMP. DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN JUST 32,000 MILES WE ARE NOW HAVING TO REPLACE ANOTHER SET OF TIRES. THE FIRST 2 WENT AT JUST 11.000 MILES AND EVERY 11,000 MILES LATER. IS THIS STANDARD? BMW SAYS YES! *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2256015 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
BUMPER DEFECTIVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .