ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:CONNECTORS/PLUGS/RECEPTACLES; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP
2013 BMW 528I
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 73 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 BMW 528I, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and electrical categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 386 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 2016 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 2016 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 2016 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 5 |
| Mar 2017 | 2 | 7 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 8 |
| Jul 2017 | 1 | 9 |
| Sep 2017 | 1 | 10 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 11 |
| Jan 2018 | 2 | 13 |
| Mar 2018 | 1 | 14 |
| Apr 2018 | 1 | 15 |
| May 2018 | 4 | 19 |
| Jul 2018 | 2 | 21 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 22 |
| Jan 2019 | 1 | 23 |
| Feb 2019 | 1 | 24 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 25 |
| May 2019 | 3 | 28 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 29 |
| Jul 2019 | 2 | 31 |
| Oct 2019 | 2 | 33 |
| Nov 2019 | 1 | 34 |
| Mar 2020 | 1 | 35 |
| Jun 2020 | 1 | 36 |
| Jul 2020 | 2 | 38 |
| Aug 2020 | 1 | 39 |
| Sep 2020 | 2 | 41 |
| Oct 2020 | 1 | 42 |
| Dec 2020 | 1 | 43 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 44 |
| Sep 2021 | 2 | 46 |
| Dec 2021 | 3 | 49 |
| Jun 2022 | 1 | 50 |
| Jul 2022 | 1 | 51 |
| Oct 2022 | 1 | 52 |
| Apr 2023 | 1 | 53 |
| Jul 2023 | 1 | 54 |
| Oct 2023 | 1 | 55 |
| Feb 2024 | 2 | 57 |
| Apr 2024 | 1 | 58 |
| Aug 2024 | 1 | 59 |
| Sep 2024 | 1 | 60 |
| Oct 2024 | 3 | 63 |
| Nov 2024 | 1 | 64 |
| Dec 2024 | 2 | 66 |
| Jan 2025 | 1 | 67 |
| Feb 2025 | 2 | 69 |
| Apr 2025 | 1 | 70 |
| Jun 2025 | 1 | 71 |
| Aug 2025 | 1 | 72 |
| Sep 2025 | 1 | 73 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine4743.1%
- Airbags1412.8%
- Electrical1412.8%
- Powertrain (other)1311.9%
- Steering43.7%
- Seat belts43.7%
- Exterior lighting43.7%
- Brakes32.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Loss of power assist braking
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in improper pump operation and loss of power assist braking.On July 11, 2013, BMW initiated a change to the camshaft geometry that prevented the seal disk from blocking the oil port.BMW has not received any braking complaints related to loss of power assist after the design change was implemented in production.The owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to a BMW dealer who will install a locking ring into the camshaft to keep the seal disk in its proper location.BMW expects to begin dealer and owner notification in November 2013 and complete dealer and owner notification in December when the remedy is expected to be available.Based on the actions taken by BMW, this investigation is closed.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
On [XXX], Century West BMW in North Hollywood, CA performed recall 20E-A01 B120921 (DME reprogram/connector update) on my 2013 BMW 528i. Within 30 minutes of leaving the dealership, the car displayed a red “engine overheating – stop immediately” warning while I was in a crowded intersection with my child in the vehicle. This created an immediate danger to us and to surrounding traffic. Prior to the recall, the vehicle had no history of overheating. When I returned the next morning ([XXX]), the service advisor admitted they had no timestamp or documentation of the coolant bleed procedure. Instead of proving the recall was performed correctly, the dealership attempted to shift blame onto unrelated issues such as the thermostat or an oil leak, even sending me a video of the oil leak but providing no proof of proper recall completion or verification. This negligence placed me, my child, and the public at serious risk of injury and could have caused catastrophic engine damage. The fact that the vehicle overheated almost immediately after recall work indicates the recall was not properly completed or verified, and the car was returned to me in an unsafe condition. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11687089
- Incident
- Sep 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. The contact stated that after driving and parking the vehicle, the contact smelled an abnormal burning odor. The contact stated the burning odor occurred frequently. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The contact was aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact was unaware that the vehicle needed to be taken to an authorized BMW dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact was referred to a BMW dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11680731
- Incident
- Jun 21, 2024
- Mileage
- 107,000 mi
Hello my name is [XXX] and I am (was) the owner of a 2013 BMW 528i VIN [XXX] . It was a secondary vehicle for me for until I sustained an injury and it being my primary vehicle. I took it through emissions, updated the registration, and I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I had driven it without a problem then in Juneit did not run at all. At that time there was a recall on the computer system and supposedly it needed a new key programmed to start. That was a 700 expense out of pocket and the car still did not even turn over. I authorized replacing the battery that was another 600, and still the car would not start or run.At this point they were just guessing at what was wrong and going though the process of elimination to try to rectify what was wrong with the car. They did not offer me any kind of courtesy vehicle or even rental discount so I was renting a car while they were trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. I am a small business owner of a non-profit company Modern Day Ministries, LLC that provides assistance to at risk youth and single mothers with disabilities and funding my own organization without loans or assistance. After three months of renting a car, the dealership at 7455 W. Orchid Lane Chandler, Arizona 85226 who had my vehicle only wanted me to keep paying for parts, which for BMW are extremely costly but could not guarantee the car was working. At that time it was known there was a recall on the fuel pump leaking, destroying the electrical system and causing smoking from under the hood or system malfunction, which in my case it fried the electrical system and the car had to be reprogrammed but I had to pay for the new key. I had incurred over 1500.00 in car repairs and another 3000 for renting a car for over 3 months waiting for a remedy. The dealership manager Shane Ohanran I had conversations with failed to take any kind of responsibility for any repairs. I am asking 5000 for out of pocket costs incurred INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO
- NHTSA ID
- 11664465
- Incident
- Jun 2, 2025
Unrepaired recall. No remedy available for over 8 months, with manufacturer acknowledging that there could a vehicle fire in some cases.
- NHTSA ID
- 11656015
- Incident
- Apr 22, 2025
Unknown
- NHTSA ID
- 11644190
- Incident
- Feb 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump and plug connector had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- NHTSA ID
- 11643511
- Incident
- Feb 18, 2025
- Mileage
- 87,000 mi
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine and entering the cabin through the vents. The engine warning light was illuminated. There were unknown messages displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- NHTSA ID
- 11633687
- Incident
- Oct 22, 2024
- Mileage
- 60,000 mi
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000(Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- NHTSA ID
- 11632469
- Incident
- Dec 19, 2024
- Mileage
- 108,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âÂÂdischarged batteryâ complaints.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâÂÂs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.
WHEELS
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) warning light comes on while driving. The following DSC fault codes for the wheel speed sensors are stored: 480712 and/or 480715 and/or 480718 and/or 48071B They cannot be cleared, even though the wheel speed sensors work correctly and no problem can be found with the wiring harness.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.
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.
Compare model years
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 |
| 2013Viewing | 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 |
| 1999 | 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.