1997 BMW 528I Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE RELEASED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE STRUTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT INQUIRED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V183000 (SUSPENSION) BUT HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIRS WAS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AND THE FAILURE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE BADLY. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE DENTED INWARDS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SPRING STRUT PLATE FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V183000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,730.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2006, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. SOMETIME LATER, THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATING. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EITHER A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, TENSIONER, CONTROL MODULE, OR WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER SLICED AND RIGGED THE WIRING FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR SO THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER ILLUMINATE. A DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING WOULD COST MORE TO REPLACE THAN THE ACTUAL COST OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD WORK PROPERLY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,100.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 5, SOUTHBOUND NORTH OF LOS ANGELES IN VICINITY OF SUN VALLEY, MY 1997 BMW 528I STRUCK A LARGE (30 GALLON) PLASTIC BARREL IN THE ROADWAY, IMPACTING THE LOWER FRONT CENTER/RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDERS IT A TOTAL LOSS (EXCEEDING $12,000). THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL OUTSTANDING ON THE 1997 BMW 5 SERIES (RECALL NUMBER 04V183000) REGARDING DEFECTIVE FRONT SUSPENSION/STRUT COMPONENTS, BUT MY CALL TO BMW AT 800-831-1117 DID NOT RESULT IN ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REGARD TO MY VEHICLE. THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO CONFIRM TWO OTHER RECALL SERVICES THAT HAD BEEN PERFORMED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS OFFERING ME A SETTLEMENT FOR TOTAL LOSS, BUT I WOULD PREFER THAT THE CAR BE REPAIRED AND THAT BMW BEAR THEIR SHARE OF THE COST FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF DAMAGE DUE TO THE KNOWN DEFECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON HIS VEHICLE HAD NOT OPERATED NORMALLY SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW SPECIALIST, WHO STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR THIS MODEL BMW HAD NEVER WORKED PROPERLY . THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 MILES.

1997 BMW 528I WAS RUNNING HOT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT, MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR. SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING HOT AND THE BRAKES WERE SCREECHING AND SQUEAKING. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. *KB

TWO THINGS SPECIFICALLY WHICH APPEARS TO BE A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE. FIRST, THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOST ITS REVERSE FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE GOES IN DRIVE WITHOUT A SINGLE PROBLEM AT ALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THE DRUM ON THE VEHICLE. (A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU AND UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM) ALSO, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE TRANSISTOR IN THE LCM (LIGHT CONTROL MODULE). MY LIGHT STAYED ON IN MY 97 BMW 528I AND CAUGHT FIRE, BURNING THE HEADLIGHT CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. THE HEADLIGHT CAUGHT AFIRE BECAUSE THE LCM MODULE DIDN'T TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. ALSO,THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FOR REVERSE. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED RANDOM SHIFT SELECTIONS AFTER RAIN OCCURS. DISPLAY OFTEN SHOWED INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION AND INCORRECT GEAR POSITION ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. GEAR POSITION INDICATOR ON TRANSMISSION HAS DEGRADED SEALANT ALLOWING WATER INTO WIRING AND SWITCH CAUSING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND INCORRECT INDICATIONS FROM TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE SPEED CONTROL. HAS PROGRESSED NOW TO COMPLETE DEGRADATION OF ALL TRANSMISSION FUNCTION AND INDICATION REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 5, SOUTHBOUND NORTH OF LOS ANGELES IN VICINITY OF SUN VALLEY, MY 1997 BMW 528I STRUCK A LARGE (30 GALLON) PLASTIC BARREL IN THE ROADWAY, IMPACTING THE LOWER FRONT CENTER/RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDERS IT A TOTAL LOSS (EXCEEDING $12,000). THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL OUTSTANDING ON THE 1997 BMW 5 SERIES (RECALL NUMBER 04V183000) REGARDING DEFECTIVE FRONT SUSPENSION/STRUT COMPONENTS, BUT MY CALL TO BMW AT 800-831-1117 DID NOT RESULT IN ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REGARD TO MY VEHICLE. THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO CONFIRM TWO OTHER RECALL SERVICES THAT HAD BEEN PERFORMED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS OFFERING ME A SETTLEMENT FOR TOTAL LOSS, BUT I WOULD PREFER THAT THE CAR BE REPAIRED AND THAT BMW BEAR THEIR SHARE OF THE COST FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF DAMAGE DUE TO THE KNOWN DEFECT.

WHEN ALARM IS SET, DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE CAR - CHILD WAS LOCKED INSIDE CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR WITH NO WAY TO GET OUT

1997 BMW 528I WAS RUNNING HOT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT, MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR. SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING HOT AND THE BRAKES WERE SCREECHING AND SQUEAKING. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. *KB

RADIATOR FAILURE AT THE TOP HOSE CONNECTION POINT. LATER LEARNED THAT THE MATERIAL USED IS QUITE UNRELIABLE -- SO I REPLACED ALL THE PLASTIC I COULD FIND IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. $1200. I EXPECT I'LL HAVE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN IN ANOTHER YEAR OR SO.

TWO THINGS SPECIFICALLY WHICH APPEARS TO BE A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE. FIRST, THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOST ITS REVERSE FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE GOES IN DRIVE WITHOUT A SINGLE PROBLEM AT ALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THE DRUM ON THE VEHICLE. (A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU AND UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM) ALSO, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE TRANSISTOR IN THE LCM (LIGHT CONTROL MODULE). MY LIGHT STAYED ON IN MY 97 BMW 528I AND CAUGHT FIRE, BURNING THE HEADLIGHT CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. THE HEADLIGHT CAUGHT AFIRE BECAUSE THE LCM MODULE DIDN'T TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. ALSO,THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FOR REVERSE. *TR

ON 8/23/05 MY BMW 528I VIN#[XXX] BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS. ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS THAT DAY WAS THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND SOME TIMES STALL. MY CAR WAS CONNECTED TO A "CHECK ENGINE COMPUTER SYSTEM" TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE PROBLEM WAS A "CRANK SENSOR" WHICH HE INFORMED ME WAS RECALLED. HE MADE A CALL TO TULLEY BMW (LOCATED IN NASHUA, NH) IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL BUT THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE COULD FIX IT HOWEVER HE FELT IT WAS WORTH MY EFFORTS TO PERSUE THE ISSUE FURTHER AT TULLEY BMW. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR AND GETTING ALL OF THE INFORMATION FROM MY MECHANIC THAT DAY I WENT HOME AND CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. I GAVE THEM THE RECALL # 99E-A01AND MY VIN #. I WAS INFORMED BY NORTH AMERICA BMW THAT THE RECALL INFORMATION IS CORRECT AND ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS MY CAR WAS FIXED BY TULLEY BMW 5/2002. AFTER RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION I CALLED TULLEY BMW AND SPOKE WITH A "PETER" IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION AND PETER CAME BACK WITH THE SAME INFORMATION THAT HIS RECORDS INDICATE IT WAS DONE. WHEN I TOLD HIM IT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THE PART IN MY CAR IS THE ORIGINAL SENSOR AND EXPLAINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART CONNECTED DIFFERENT. AFTER ARGUING SOME MORE HE FINALLY AGREED TO LOOK AT THE CAR ON 8/30/2005. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 8/29/2005 SO IT WOULD BE THERE IN THE AM. IMMEDIATELY THE SERVICE PERSONAL HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE SENSOR. HE CONFIRMED IT WAS IN FACT THE ORIGINAL PART. WHEN I ASKED FOR A RENTAL CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THEY FIRST HAD TO FIND OUT WHO WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THE RECALL. I THEN INFORMED THEM THEY WERE BECAUSE I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAID IT WAS ALREADY DONE THEREFORE TULLEY BMW RECEIVED THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL. NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR THAT NIGHT. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL TANK IMPLODED AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP INSTANTLY. DEALER HAS SEEN 4 TIMES. NO SOLUTION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK IN RAINSTORM. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR REPLACEMENT OF A RELAY, WHICH "WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH." HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL--THEY WERE ONLY REPLACING THOSE THAT FAILED. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PART.*AK

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

WHILE TRYING TO OPEN PASSENGER DOOR THE WITH THE KEY DOOR LATCH AND KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE, WAS UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR.*AK

HEADLIGHT NO LONGER WILL STAY IN ALIGNMENT LIGHT SHINES DOWN NOT OUT ON ROAD. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY ACCIDENT. *JB

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2006, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. SOMETIME LATER, THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATING. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EITHER A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, TENSIONER, CONTROL MODULE, OR WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER SLICED AND RIGGED THE WIRING FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR SO THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER ILLUMINATE. A DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING WOULD COST MORE TO REPLACE THAN THE ACTUAL COST OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD WORK PROPERLY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,100.

AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THE CAR SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY THE STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM WAS STUCK. FINALLY MANAGED TO GET IT UNLOCKED ONLY TO HAVE IT LOCK AGAIN WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS REALLY SCARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. I DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE AND DECIDED TO GET RID OF IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I EQUIPPED WITH NANKANG SPORT NS-1 (255/40/17) DOT U8UY1264906 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE REAR TIRES, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BUBBLES LOCATED ON THE THREAD OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 4,800.