RoadVitals

2009 BMW 528XI

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Sep 10, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 BMW 528XI, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and exterior lighting categories. 6 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine450.0%
  • Electrical225.0%
  • Exterior lighting112.5%
  • Powertrain (other)112.5%

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

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.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Sep 10, 2018

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V683 RECALL ISSUED FOR FAULTY PCV VALVE HEATER IN OCTOBER 2017 WITH NO REMEDY AS OF TODAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2018.

NHTSA ID
11128420
Incident
Oct 30, 2017
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 3, 2018

IN DECEMBER 2017 RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING ENGINE COMPONENT KNOWN AS POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE HEATER. CALLED MY LOCAL BMW OF PEABODY MA AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPONENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON LATE JANUARY 2018 AND I WILL INFORMED BY MAIL. CAR SMOKING ON AND OFF I MADE SURE THEY HAVE MY NAME AND ADDRESS. AS OF SEPTEMBER 2018, THERE'S NO CONTACT LACK OF SERVICE AND CONCERNS

NHTSA ID
11124131
Incident
Apr 28, 2018
Engine
Filed Feb 20, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED. TWO DEALERS WERE CONTACTED: (BMW OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, 1295 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, (434) 270-8664) AND (BMW OF STERLING, 21710 AUTO WORLD CIR, STERLING, VA 20166, (571) 434-1944). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO DETERMINE WHEN THE REMEDY AND PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11073876
Incident
Jan 10, 2018
Engine
Filed Oct 6, 2017

MY CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DOING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11032128
Incident
Oct 6, 2017
Mileage
220,840 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. AS A RESULT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ID
10659443
Incident
Nov 19, 2014
Mileage
77,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 19, 2013

I RECEIVED A MESSAGE THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT AND SIGNAL LIGHT WERE MALFUNCTIONING. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE INFLATED PRICE OF $550 TO CORRECT ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 32000, WHEN I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONSTANT ISSUE WITH 2008 AND 2009 5 SERIES BMWS. 100S IF NOT MORE OF THIS PROBLEM ARE ON INTERNET AND THE COMPLAINTS ALONG WITH THE COST BMW IS CHARGING TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536031
Incident
Aug 15, 2013
Mileage
32,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

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 “discharged battery” complaints.

B160623

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

B653423

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicle’s 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.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: 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 "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

SIB-63-11-14

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

BMW: ON SOME VEHICLES, WHEN STARTING, LOW BEAM, WITH 0552 OPTION, WOULD BRIEFLY FLASHES, DUE TO A FAULTY LED MAIN LIGHT MODULE THAT NEEDS REPLACING. MODEL 2008-14 F01, F02, F06, F07, F10, F12, F13, F25. *PE

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

BMW 528XI by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014111—
2013551039.4
2012530039.2
2010100035.0
2009Viewing600—
2008310033.2

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.