2016 BMW 528I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

102

Owner Complaints

2 Crashes 8 Fires

4

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

4

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2016 BMW 528I

The 2016 BMW 528I has received a total of 102 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:CONNECTORS/PLUGS/RECEPTACLES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR. 4 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (33 complaints), Engine And Engine Cooling (26 complaints), and Engine (16 complaints).

Recalls for the 2016 BMW 528I

NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 2016 BMW 528I, potentially affecting up to 1,474,877 vehicles.

Recall 24V608000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:CONNECTORS/PLUGS/RECEPTACLES

| 720,796 vehicles affected

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water...

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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Recall 24V608000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP

| 720,796 vehicles affected

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water...

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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Recall 16V747000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

| 15,455 vehicles affected

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock...

Consequence: In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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Recall 16V914000 — AIR BAGS

| 3,506 vehicles affected

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John...

Consequence: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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Recall 15V718000 — CHILD SEAT

| 7,162 vehicles affected

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As...

Consequence: If the child seat is not properly attached to the lower anchors, it can increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the inboard lower anchor on the left rear seat, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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Recall 15V718000 — SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

| 7,162 vehicles affected

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535d xDrive, M5, 550i, 550i xDrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As...

Consequence: If the child seat is not properly attached to the lower anchors, it can increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the inboard lower anchor on the left rear seat, free of charge. The recall began on December 28, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

View full details →

Owner Complaints for the 2016 BMW 528I

102 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 BMW 528I. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11716890 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | | N/A miles
I have 2016 BMW 5 series car, for past two to three years headlights are getting condensation inside on colder months. Dealer is not able to fix the condensation, they are advising to replace the headlights. Some of my friends replaced OEM headlights, but after few years they are started condensation, it’s looked like defect from manufacturer, I had few Honda vehicles older than my BMW car, they never had any condensation complaints. It’s look like manufacturer used cheap materials causing condensation, it is causing low light at night times may lead to accidents. Please look at this issue and consider it as a safety issue and please recall these headlights. Dealer is asking $2500 + $500 labor to fix each headlight. All of my friends are having same problem, I bet other BMW car owners too. Please issue a recall on this safety issue.
#11713522 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles Fire
On January 29, 2020, while driving my 2016 BMW 5 Series under normal operating conditions, the engine compartment caught fire without warning. Smoke and flames originated from the engine bay while the vehicle was in motion. I was forced to pull over and exit the vehicle immediately. The fire spread rapidly, and the vehicle was declared a total loss. At the time, both my insurance carrier and BMW representatives inspected the vehicle, but no definitive cause was identified. In January 2026, I received notification that this same vehicle is subject to BMW Safety Recall Campaign No. 24V-608, which states that liquid from the positive crankcase ventilation system can drip onto the water pump electrical connector, potentially causing a short circuit and, in rare cases, an engine fire. This recall describes the same failure event that destroyed my vehicle, which occurred before any recall remedy was available.
#11713522 | ENGINE | | N/A miles Fire
On January 29, 2020, while driving my 2016 BMW 5 Series under normal operating conditions, the engine compartment caught fire without warning. Smoke and flames originated from the engine bay while the vehicle was in motion. I was forced to pull over and exit the vehicle immediately. The fire spread rapidly, and the vehicle was declared a total loss. At the time, both my insurance carrier and BMW representatives inspected the vehicle, but no definitive cause was identified. In January 2026, I received notification that this same vehicle is subject to BMW Safety Recall Campaign No. 24V-608, which states that liquid from the positive crankcase ventilation system can drip onto the water pump electrical connector, potentially causing a short circuit and, in rare cases, an engine fire. This recall describes the same failure event that destroyed my vehicle, which occurred before any recall remedy was available.
#11713522 | STRUCTURE:BODY | | N/A miles Fire
On January 29, 2020, while driving my 2016 BMW 5 Series under normal operating conditions, the engine compartment caught fire without warning. Smoke and flames originated from the engine bay while the vehicle was in motion. I was forced to pull over and exit the vehicle immediately. The fire spread rapidly, and the vehicle was declared a total loss. At the time, both my insurance carrier and BMW representatives inspected the vehicle, but no definitive cause was identified. In January 2026, I received notification that this same vehicle is subject to BMW Safety Recall Campaign No. 24V-608, which states that liquid from the positive crankcase ventilation system can drip onto the water pump electrical connector, potentially causing a short circuit and, in rare cases, an engine fire. This recall describes the same failure event that destroyed my vehicle, which occurred before any recall remedy was available.
#11697057 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles Fire 1 Injury
My coolant line overheated. From the leaking water pump and pcv that exploded all over my engine causing it to overheat and now how has not turned back on. Ive been without a car for months and when I seen the recall and reached out to the dealer expressing my situation they said they would get back to me and have not called or emailed or even responded in months.

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Safety Rating for the 2016 BMW 528I

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2016 BMW 528I in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 BMW 528I

BMW of North America, LLC has issued 4 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 BMW 528I. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

B710316 — EQUIPMENT

SERVICE ACTION: B-PILLAR COMPLIANCE LABEL: CHASSIS NUMBER VERIFICATION. Vehicles may contain one or more incorrect labels. Incorrect labels attached during production.

B661316 — LANE DEPARTURE

Erroneous Blind Spot Warnings. Orange triangle warning indicator, on exterior mirror, sporadically appears when there is no vehicle in warning zone. Control unit software error.

B510916 — STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

Automatic Trunk Does Not Open Fully. Automatic trunk does not open fully on first attempt when using any opening options. During the first unlock attempt, whether using: the inside trunk switch, remote key, Smart opener (foot swipe), the automatic trunk lid only opens part way as shown. HKL software and...

B112314 — EQUIPMENT

SI B11 23 14March 2015 EngineTechnical Service This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 11 23 14 dated February 2015. PERFORM THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THIS SERVICE INFORMATION ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES BEFORE CUSTOMER DELIVERY OR THE NEXT TIME THEY ARE IN THE SHOP FOR MAINTENANCE OR REPAIRS. designates changes to...

NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 BMW 528I

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the BMW 528I

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Other BMW Models

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