Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 46 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW 528I, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and airbags categories. 10 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 4 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 5 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 6 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 7 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 8 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 9 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 10 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 11 |
| Aug 2002 | 2 | 13 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 14 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 15 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 16 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 17 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 18 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 19 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 20 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 21 |
| Nov 2004 | 2 | 23 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 24 |
| Jan 2005 | 3 | 27 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 28 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 29 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 30 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 31 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 32 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 33 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 34 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 35 |
| Jul 2008 | 1 | 36 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 37 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 38 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 39 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 40 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 41 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 42 |
| Feb 2019 | 1 | 43 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 44 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 45 |
| May 2023 | 1 | 46 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
BMW just issued a Do Not Drive order for BMW 5 series cars from 2000 to 2006. Our car is a 1999 BMW 528I. According to your safety records, this car also has Takata air bags, but I see no indication these have been recalled. Since they are actually older than the 2000-2006 cars, shouldn't these 1999 Takata air bags be just as dangerous? What should I do about this? Thank you.
TAKATA INFLATORS: MY NEPHEW WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH THE DOOR AIRBAG AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG EXPLODED.
WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA POLICE INSURANCE FRAUD STAGED ACCIDENT ATTEMPTED MURDER. OFFICER [XXX] RELEASED A DRIVER IN THE ACCIDENT AND FILED A FALSE ACCIDENT REPORT WITH CAUCASIAN MALES. ACCIDENT REPORT WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA ONLINE. [XXX] AND [XXX] DAMAGE DON'T EQUAL DAMAGES TO MY CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED EYE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE BMW MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 528I (BMW 1999) THIS PAST WINTER WHEN I NOTICED THE POWER BRAKES WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDDLE WITH NO ASSIST, AND WHILE THE CAR DI EVENTUALLY STOP, IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE FACED WITH THIS CONDITION SUDDENLY. POWER BRAKE BOOSTER APPARENTLY WENT BAD, WATER LEAKING IN AND FREEZING, FORTUNATELY NO ON E INJURED.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH TURNED ON. I READ THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. IS THIS TRUE? *TR
I RECENTLY USED THE JACK IN MY 1999 BMW 528I FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A FEW DAYS AGO. THE JACK IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. IT IS LABELED FOR 1997 AND 1998 CARS - NOT THE 1999 I OWN. WHILE JACKING TO REMOVE A TIRE THE JACK POPPED OF PLACE WITH FORCE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I HAD NOT REMOVED THE TIRE. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT JACK. BMW POLICY IF TO NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE AFTER THE 4YEAR/50,000MILE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED....EVEN IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THE NHTSA CAN ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH BMW USA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER REMOVED THE BLACK BOX FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT MECHANICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
TAKATA CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULES.
EQUIPMENT
Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide
AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata Settlement Customer Support Program Overview attachment. This ?component-specific? customer support program applies only if there is a defect in materials or workmanship of the Takata driver?s side airbag module in a listed vehicle.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 59 | 4 | 1 | 66.7 |
| 2015 | 62 | 1 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 2014 | 56 | 3 | 1 | 58.9 |
| 2013 | 73 | 4 | 1 | 52.7 |
| 2012 | 89 | 4 | 1 | 54.6 |
| 2011 | 117 | 4 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2010 | 65 | 2 | 0 | 49.6 |
| 2009 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 46.9 |
| 2008 | 118 | 2 | 0 | 51.7 |
| 2007 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 46.5 |
| 1999Viewing | 46 | 0 | 0 | 40.3 |
| 1998 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 35.5 |
| 1997 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 39.1 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.