2011 BMW 528I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
164
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
10
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2011 BMW 528I
The 2011 BMW 528I has received a total of 164 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV), FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE. 10 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (33 complaints), Engine And Engine Cooling (31 complaints), and Power Train (25 complaints).
Recalls for the 2011 BMW 528I
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2011 BMW 528I, potentially affecting up to 1,032,977 vehicles.
Recall 17V683000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
| 740,561 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer...
View full details →Recall 16V746000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 136,188 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive,...
Consequence: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
View full details →Recall 16V832000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
| 91 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a...
Consequence: Depending on the severity of the crash, inadequate activation of the driver and/or passenger air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and active head restraints may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
View full details →Recall 14V176000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
| 156,137 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive...
Consequence: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2011 BMW 528I
164 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 BMW 528I. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 31 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Train | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasoline | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontaldriver Clockspringspiral Cassette | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemstarter Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcrankcase Pcv | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lightingheadlights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagestrunk Lidlatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodytrunk Lid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
I am filing a complaint regarding the recall work performed on my 2011 BMW 528i for the VANOS bolt safety recall. The recall notice stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive until repaired. I arranged towing to Jackie Cooper BMW in Edmond, Oklahoma because of this safety warning. The dealership performed the recall repair and released the vehicle back to me. Immediately after picking it up, the vehicle experienced a failure and became inoperable. The vehicle had to be towed again. This time, the dealership covered the towing cost and had the vehicle returned to my residence. Staff present at the time included a technician named Luke and the Service Drive Manager, Tayler Hawkins. Staff statements indicated that diagnostic charges would have applied if issues outside the recall were found, but no diagnostics were ultimately billed. There were also inconsistencies regarding the availability of the service manager. I am filing this complaint because the vehicle failed immediately after recall service and required towing. I am concerned that the recall work may not have been performed correctly or that the vehicle was released in a condition that was not suitable for operation. I am requesting that this incident be documented as part of the recall and safety record for this vehicle.
I am filing a complaint regarding the recall work performed on my 2011 BMW 528i for the VANOS bolt safety recall. The recall notice stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive until repaired. I arranged towing to Jackie Cooper BMW in Edmond, Oklahoma because of this safety warning. The dealership performed the recall repair and released the vehicle back to me. Immediately after picking it up, the vehicle experienced a failure and became inoperable. The vehicle had to be towed again. This time, the dealership covered the towing cost and had the vehicle returned to my residence. Staff present at the time included a technician named Luke and the Service Drive Manager, Tayler Hawkins. Staff statements indicated that diagnostic charges would have applied if issues outside the recall were found, but no diagnostics were ultimately billed. There were also inconsistencies regarding the availability of the service manager. I am filing this complaint because the vehicle failed immediately after recall service and required towing. I am concerned that the recall work may not have been performed correctly or that the vehicle was released in a condition that was not suitable for operation. I am requesting that this incident be documented as part of the recall and safety record for this vehicle.
I am filing a complaint regarding the recall work performed on my 2011 BMW 528i for the VANOS bolt safety recall. The recall notice stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive until repaired. I arranged towing to Jackie Cooper BMW in Edmond, Oklahoma because of this safety warning. The dealership performed the recall repair and released the vehicle back to me. Immediately after picking it up, the vehicle experienced a failure and became inoperable. The vehicle had to be towed again. This time, the dealership covered the towing cost and had the vehicle returned to my residence. Staff present at the time included a technician named Luke and the Service Drive Manager, Tayler Hawkins. Staff statements indicated that diagnostic charges would have applied if issues outside the recall were found, but no diagnostics were ultimately billed. There were also inconsistencies regarding the availability of the service manager. I am filing this complaint because the vehicle failed immediately after recall service and required towing. I am concerned that the recall work may not have been performed correctly or that the vehicle was released in a condition that was not suitable for operation. I am requesting that this incident be documented as part of the recall and safety record for this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over, and after several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, and the message "Drivetrain Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure started recently and had occurred several times. Additionally, the vehicle was vibrating intermittently and lost motive power. The contact stated that occasionally the vehicle failed to accelerate above 15 MPH. The contact smelled the odor of gasoline inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Safety Rating for the 2011 BMW 528I
The 2011 BMW 528I received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2011 BMW 528I
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 10 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2011 BMW 528I. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
B010122 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Isley, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC.
B621616 — EQUIPMENT
WARRANTY INFORMATION Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks or the BMW Certified Pre-Owned Program. If you are using a Main labor code for another repair, use the Plus code labor operation 00 00 556 instead. Refer to KSD2 for...
B514415 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
A Groaning Noise is Heard from the Front Door Trim . A groaning noise can be heard from one or both of the front door decorative trim pieces while on rough roads. CAUSE The chrome plating of the trim mounting pins rubs against the door panel creating a groaning noise.
B110315 — ENGINE
N20 and N26 Engine: Oil Leaks from Cylinder Head Cover. There is an engine oil leakage under the vehicle, or the vehicle smells of engine oil. The cylinder head cover gasket is leaking engine oil due to loose retaining bolt(s).
652013 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Vehicle inTransport Mode Cannot Be Unlocked with Remote Control. When the vehicle is in transport mode, intermittently it cannot be unlocked via the remote control key. CAUSE When the vehicle is in transport mode, to reduce power consumption, the software is designed to disable the outside antenna receiver from waking...
320114 — STEERING
Service Action: Replace Power Steering Pump Belt Pulley. The screw connection on the power steering pump belt pulley may slacken. This may lead to an audible squeaking and rattling at the pulley drive. AFFECTED VEHICLES This Service Action involves 5 Series 535d vehicles according to VIN selection. First check if...
110514 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
S63TU Engine: Noises from Leaking Exhaust Manifold. A rattling, knocking, clattering or hissing noise can be heard from the engine compartment while the engine is running. It is more pronounced when the engine is under load. CAUSE The exhaust manifold attaching screws have come loose, causing an exhaust leak.
360114 — WHEELS
Fitting Winter Tires Properly to Vehicles with Ceramic Brakes. Wheel studs may loosen after wheels for the rear axle are incorrectly fitted to the front axle on vehicles equipped with option 2NK (ceramic brakes). Incorrect installation of rear axle winter tires (wheel style 409M) onto the front axle in conjunction...
130413 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
N55 Engine: Erroneous Service Engine Soon Lamp Illuminated with Mixture Faults Stored in the DME. INFORMATION An error has been identified in the current version of ETK regarding N55 fuel injector replacement part numbers and production dates. Installing the incorrect injector part number can lead to an erroneous Service Engine...
340213 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incorrect Remaining Service Life from CBS Data for Brake Pads. The calculated remaining service life for the brake pads (front and/or rear axle) from the CBS data does not match the actual brake pad thickness. The customer notices implausible remaining distances (too high or too low) on the front and/or...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2011 BMW 528I
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 528I
- 2007 BMW 528I — 1 complaint
- 2008 BMW 528I — 181 complaints
- 2009 BMW 528I — 33 complaints
- 2010 BMW 528I — 87 complaints
- 2011 BMW 528I (current)
- 2012 BMW 528I — 145 complaints
- 2013 BMW 528I — 119 complaints
- 2014 BMW 528I — 89 complaints
- 2015 BMW 528I — 101 complaints
- 2016 BMW 528I — 102 complaints