RoadVitals

2010 BMW 528XI Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
10
Latest Mar 19, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 BMW 528XI, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags325.0%
  • Electrical216.7%
  • Engine216.7%
  • Exterior lighting216.7%
  • Seat belts216.7%
  • Visibility18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A WARNING LIGHT ON DURING DRIVING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" MALFUNCTIONS". BMW STATES THERE IS A 10YR "WARRANTY" (RECALL) ON THIS ISSUE BUT MY VIN DOES FALL IN THE SERIES OF VIN'S . MY YEAR 2010 IS NOT COVERED, YET I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE MANY OTHERS HAVE AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SINCE THIS KILLS MY RESALE VALUE. BMW SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE AND OR FIX ALL SAFETY ISSUE PERIOD.

NHTSA ID 10991107 · filed May 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528XI. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID 10818017 · filed Jan 5, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS DRIVING 2010 BMW 528XI ON HIGHWAY @SPEED OF 65 MPH AND ELECTRIC SUPPLY DISCONNECTED IN THE CAR AND I LOST THE CONTROL. I COULD NOT CONTROL SPEED AND BRAKES. IT WAS A SERIOUS THREAT TO MY LIFE. FORTUNATELY, I LET CAR GO AND IT STOPPED BY ITSELF ON SHOULDER. I CALLED TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY MENTIONED THAT BMW CANNOT HELP IN THIS CASE AND JUST NOTED THE COMMENTS. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN BMW 5 SERIES AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OF YOU EXPERIENCED SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID 11046119 · filed Nov 14, 2017

I DROVE ACROSS TOWN TO MY PARENTS HOUSE AND WHEN I GOT THERE I TURNED THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND LOCKED IT. I VISITED WITH THEM FOR ROUGHLY 30 MINUTES BEFORE I HAD TO LEAVE AGAIN. I WAS APPROACHING MY CAR AND CLICKED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB. ONCE THE CAR UNLOCKED I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I UNLOCKED TO HOOD TO RELEASE PRESSURE AND QUICKLY RAN TO GRAB A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CAR WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER I NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. I PUT THOSE FLAMES OUT BUT AFTER TWO MINUTES MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED BY FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FINALLY ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY PUT OUT MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. MY PARENTS HOUSE TOOK QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE AS WELL FROM THE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ID 11003663 · filed Jul 7, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER (FLEMINGTON BMW, 216 US HIGHWAY 202 31, FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822, (908) 788-2691) INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO WAIT TO RECEIVE A SECOND LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND THAT PARTS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2018. THE DEALER MADE NO MENTION OF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THE PART WOULD PREMATURELY FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 11080119 · filed Mar 19, 2018

ON 11/17/17 I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MY WIFE WHO HAD A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE DRIVING OUR BMW. SHE WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR FAILED CREATING A VERY LOUD SCARY SHRILL NOISE, NOT UNLIKE A SIREN. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN SURGING CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOSE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS GIVING A FEELING FOR THE DRIVER OF LACK OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FEAR OF HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SPEAK WITH EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I MET MY WIFE AT A SHOPPING CENTER AND SWITCHED CARS WITH HER, AND CAREFULLY DRIVING THE DAMAGED CAR HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, 2500 DOLLARS, PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IS NOT A GOOD OPTION.

NHTSA ID 11062681 · filed Jan 14, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE INSULATION COVERING THE WIRES GOING TO THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (ANGEL EYES) BULBS HAS SPLIT AND CAUSED A SHORT OR AN ARC WHICH HAS VISIBLY BURNED AND MELTED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR TO THE BULB AND CAUSED THE LIGHT TO MALFUNCTION AND PRODUCE WARNINGS INSIDE THE CAR. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE POWER CONTINUES TO FLOW THROUGH THE WIRES AS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT JIGGLING THE WIRES SOMETIMES MAKES THE BULB LIGHT UP. *TR

NHTSA ID 10682763 · filed Feb 11, 2015

APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO MY ENTIRE SET OF RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WENT OUT ON MY CAR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK TO AAA AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG BUT GOT LIGHTS WORKING, THEY THOUGHT JUST LOOSE WIRES. A WEEK OR SO AGO STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO AAA AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE THE WHOLE BOARD FOR LIGHTS AND TO TAKE TO DEALER. I THEN READ ONLINE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR/MODEL OF CAR FOR REAR TAIL LIGHTS. NOW MY LEFT TAILLIGHT IS ENTIRELY NOT WORKING. MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL SO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WHICH I DON'T THINK IS RIGHT AS CLEARLY THIS IS A LARGER ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID 10551772 · filed Nov 11, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A WARNING LIGHT ON DURING DRIVING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" MALFUNCTIONS". BMW STATES THERE IS A 10YR "WARRANTY" (RECALL) ON THIS ISSUE BUT MY VIN DOES FALL IN THE SERIES OF VIN'S . MY YEAR 2010 IS NOT COVERED, YET I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE MANY OTHERS HAVE AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SINCE THIS KILLS MY RESALE VALUE. BMW SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE AND OR FIX ALL SAFETY ISSUE PERIOD.

NHTSA ID 10991107 · filed May 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SAFETY BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT INDICATOR LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS EMPTY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID 10611314 · filed Jul 17, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2010 BMW 528 XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND WIPER RELAY FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE HAPPENED ONCE OR TWICE IN THE PAST, BUT LASTED ONLY A FEW MINUTES. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE 100 BLOCK IN THE RAIN, WITH NO WORKING WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE COST TO REPLACE BOTH COMPONENTS WAS $1878.07. *JB

NHTSA ID 10947194 · filed Jan 25, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .