Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 46 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW 528I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 46 · page 1 of 2
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.
COMMON ABS ASC+T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE DISABLED ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, AND ALARM DISABLED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. THE CAR CAN NO LONGER BE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT INTRUDERS, THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED AND AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE IS BEING ADDED TO THE VEHICLE(ALSO A VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE CVC), THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND THE CAR IS OUT RIGHT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS IN THESE CARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION EXCEPT OFFER A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART WITH NO UPGRADES TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS HAD THE MODULE FAIL AT ONLY 94K MILES. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE VARY SAME COMPLAINT. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER I WOULD BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CALIFORNIAN "LEMON LAWS". THE ABS SYSTEM, AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM, AND LOCK SYSTEM ARE ALL MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS. THE ODOMETER NOT WORKING I BELIEVE FALLS UNDER A CVC VIOLATION POSSIBLY A FEDERAL MANDATE VIOLATION. *TR
REPEATED FAILURE OF ABS-ODOMETER-SPEEDOMETER ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED TWO YEARS RUNNING. *TR
TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING.*TR
BOUGHT A NEW CAR IN 1999: 1999 BMW 528I AT ABOUT 75,500 MILES, THE ABS MODULE (BOSCH 5.7) FAILED. *** BRAKE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR A FEW SECOND THEN ABS LIGHT IS ON *** - CONTACTED A FEW OTHER 1999 AND 2000 BWM E39 OWNERS, THEY ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE ABS MODULE. - SENT THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER AT STERLING, VA. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1000+. - DEALER CONFIRMED THAT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE, ABS BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. - CONTACTED BMW NORTHERN AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 1999 BMW 528IT WAGON. UNTIL A MONTH AGO MY HUSBAND HAD A 1994 BMW 318IC. ALL FOUR HEADLIGHT LENSES IN THESE CARS BECAME QUITE FILMY, AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD, AS IT DIMINISHED THE ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT. THESE CARS WERE NOT ANTIQUES, AND THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD HOLD UP FOR A MINIMUM OF 10-15 YEARS, IN MY OPINION. WILL YOU PLEASE MAKE BMW DO SOMETHING TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE, NOT THE OWNER'S? I HAVE A 1989 VOLVO, AND ITS LENSES ARE STILL FINE, SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN ALL CARS.*AK
ASC CONTROL UNIT FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER ON MY 1999 BMW 528I. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE FOR 5 SERIES CARS 9/98 TO 9/00 (MINE WAS BUILT 10/98). BULLETIN INFO: VS-23/WEINTUCH BAUGRUPPE/GROUP:32 32 01 00 (646) . THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS CODE IS RA 24 52 515/ 34 52 516. AFTER UNIT FAILED, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH I HAD TO BRAKE HEAVILY AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS CURRENTLY REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF BMW BULLETIN BOARDS (WWW.ROADFLY.COM). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY BMW IS AWARE OF BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN WARRANTY BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. EVENTUALLY, THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM THIS KNOWN PART FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT A NUMBER OF BMW DEALERS ARE STOCKING UP HIGHER THAN USUAL INVENTORIES OF THIS PART, APPARENTLY IN ANTICIPATION OF LARGE SCALE FAILURES OF THE ASC CONTROL UNIT (PART34-52-6-756-343). MY NEXT CAR WILL NOT BE A BMW, THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS. THINK & READ BEFORE YOU BUY BMW! IT'S EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.LC *NM
MY ASC AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, LOST SPEEDOMETER. TOOK TO BMW MECHANIC WHO READ CODES AND IT READ REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR AND SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK. CONTINUED WITH MECHANIC ON LOOKING FOR SOLUTION AND HE CONCLUDED AFTER TALKING TO OTHER BMW MECHANICS AND GOING OVER THE SYMPTOMS THAT IT IS THE ABS CONTROLLER THAT FAILED. SO I HAVE NO ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL OF SPEEDOMETER UNTIL I CAN FIX THIS. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE. SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING, ODOMETER FROZEN, FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE, NO AUTOMATIC STEERING CONTROL, NO ABS PROTECTION FOR EMERGENCY STOPS. KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM YET BMW, TO DATE, HAS ISSUED NO RECALL THAT I KNOW OF, AS CARS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB
THE TILT FUNCTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL RAMDONLY ACTIVATES WHICH RESULTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING UP AND DOWN WHICH IS A SURPRISE TO THE DRIVER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO ERROR INDICATORS SHOW UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE THAT LED TO DISABLING OF ABS SYSTEM, STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND SPEEDOMETER. MULTIPLE BMW OWNER RESOURCE WEB SITES (BIMMERFEST, ROADFLY, ETC.) HAVE THREADED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFLECT THE OWNERS' DISATISFACTION WITH BMW'S LACK OF RESPONSE. THEY COMPLAIN OF CONTROLLER UNIT FAILING, GETTING REPLACED, AND FAILING AGAIN. A NUMBER OF LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE CONFIRMED SEEING THE PROBLEM AND HAVE SUGGESTED SEEKING OUT SOMEONE WHO WILL REBUILD THE CONTROLLER UNIT TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE.
SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE - ABS AND ANTI-SKID CONTROL MODULE. THIS APPARENTLY IS A CHRONIC FAILURE FOR BMW 5 SERIES CARS FROM THE 1997 TO 2002 MODEL YEARS THAT OCCURS AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. THE ABS AND ASC LIGHTS BOTH LIGHT AND WITHIN A SHORT TIME AFTER THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOP WORKING. NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND NON-WORKING SKID CONTROL, PLUS NOT KNOWING YOUR SPEED IS UNSAFE AND COSTS OVER $1000 TO FIX. *JB
I BOUGHT A 1999 BMW 528I NEW. I BROUGHT THE CAR REGULARLY INTO SERVICE BASED UPON THEIR PRESCRIBED SERVICE PROGRAM FOR THIS CAR. AT 49,600 MILES ON THE CAR AND EXACTLY 5 YEARS OLD, THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THIS CAR FAILED. BMW REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER 2004, WITH 64,205 MILES I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED ABOUT A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS AFTER CAR IS WARMED UP. AT 64,605 MILES, CAR BREAKS DOWN ON ROAD AND IS TOWED INTO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT A NEW MOTOR IS NEEDED. THIS CAR HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MOTOR AS A RESULT OF FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BASICALLY BLAMED THE SITUATION ON US AND NOT THE FAILURE OF THIS BMW ENGINE THAT WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THEIR MAINTENANCE STANDARDS. THERE IS REAL PROBLEM WITH BMW ENGINES AND BASED UPON MY RESEARCH IT RELATES TO BOLTS ON THE OIL PUMP LOOSENING FROM THE CAR'S VIBRATION THEREBY NOT ALLOWING OIL TO BE PUMP INTO THE ENGINE. ALSO, MY REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN ANYMORE. A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. *NM
ASC CONTROL UNIT FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER ON MY 1999 BMW 528I. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS ISSUE FOR 5 SERIES CARS 9/98 TO 9/00 (MINE WAS BUILT 10/98). BULLETIN INFO: VS-23/WEINTUCH BAUGRUPPE/GROUP:32 32 01 00 (646) DATED 11/2000. THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS CODE IS RA 24 52 515/ 34 52 516. AFTER UNIT FAILED, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN WHICH I HAD TO BRAKE HEAVILY AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP. HOWEVER I MANAGED TO STOP WITHIN 2 FEET OF THE CAR THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS CURRENTLY REPORTING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF BMW BULLETIN BOARDS (WWW.ROADFLY.COM). IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY BMW IS AWARE OF BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I JUST SPENT $1006.37 TODAY FOR THE REPAIR AT CROWN BMW. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN WARRANTY BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. EVENTUALLY, THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM THIS KNOWN PART FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THAT A NUMBER OF BMW DEALERS ARE STOCKING UP HIGHER THAN USUAL INVENTORIES OF THIS PART, APPARENTLY IN ANTICIPATION OF LARGE SCALE FAILURES OF THE ASC CONTROL UNIT (PART34-52-6-756-343). *NM
THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING BOTH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO BE DISABLED, SPECIALLY ONCE THE ENGINE IS WAM, ONCE IT FAILED, RESTARTING THE CAR WON'T CORRECT THE SITUATION. IF THE CAR SITS OVER NIGHT, THE ABS AND TRACTION WORKS AGAIN FOR A WHILE, DEPENDS ON DRIVING CONDITION, IF THE CAR IS TAKEN INTO HIGHWAY RIGHT AWAY, THE ABS MIGHT WORK FOR HOURS, IF IT GOES INTO CITY DRIVING, IT COULD FAIL WITHIN MINUTES. I HAVE SEARCH ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND SO MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SIMILAR PROBLEM. WEB SITES RESEARCHED: WWW.BENTLEYPUBLISHING.COM AND WWW.ROADFLY.ORG. *AK THE CAR IS 1999 BMW 528IT, MANUFACTURED 09/98
THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON VEHICLE REPAIR FORUMS. DEFECTIVE MODULE WAS UPGRADED BY BMW ENGINEERING BUT NO RECALL ISSUED, LEFT TO OWNERS TO EXPERIENCE FAILURE BEFORE GETTING MODULE REPLACED. RISK OF EXCESSIVE SPEED. RISK OF OVERSPEED CONDITION WHILE ENTERING POSTED SPEED CORNERS. BMW ONLY REPAIR DUE TO PROGRAMMING, COST OF $2000, RISK OF LESS AFFLUENT OWNERS DRIVING WITH SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND BECAME STUCK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *SC
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.
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