2016 BMW 528I Engine Problems

16 NHTSA complaints on file

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Engine Issues in the 2016 BMW 528I

16 engine complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 BMW 528I. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 1 resulted in injury.

16
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

All Engine Complaints

#11713522 | 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 | Fire
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.
#11687010 |
During initial cold starts there is blue smoke billowing from the exhaust for approx 20 seconds. The odor is horrible.
#11682147 |
Multiple critical BMW engine components are manufactured from plastic, including the oil pan, coolant expansion tank, valve cover, and turbo inlet pipe. These parts are prone to premature failure from normal heat & stress, as confirmed by independent mechanics. Failures can cause sudden loss of oil or coolant, persistent oil leaks, overheating, loss of power, and roadside breakdowns. The use of plastic for an oil pan is concerning. Plastic cannot withstand impacts with common road hazards such as tire fragments, etc. Striking a retread at highway speed could easily crack the pan, dump all engine oil, and lead to catastrophic engine seizure, endangering people. In my case (2016 BMW 528i), several plastic components have already failed, including the oil pan, turbo inlet pipe, coolant expansion tank, valve cover, and multiple coil packs. While BMW considers coil pack replacement a normal maintenance item, there are widespread complaints of premature failures. Most...
#11681035 |
Coolant pump failure engine failure also caused fire in engine bay. Insurance inspector. Pre shop inspection. No light were on prior to explosion.
#11676315 |
Very often, when I change the gear to 'Drive' or 'Reverse' I get a message on the dashboard screen - "secure Vehicle against rolling" and the car DOES NOT move unless I shift the auto gear lever several times or sometimes shut off the engine to get back to normal driving. Once when I was in such a situation, no matter what I do, the error message would not go away and I had to call the tow truck to get home. And when tow truck person brought the car home, the problem fixed itself!! I only have 81000 miles on this car. It is a very serious safety issue as far as I am concerned. PLEASE HELP.
#11669076 |
My vehicle is a 2016 BMW 528i xDrive. There is an active safety recall listed under NHTSA Campaign Number 24V-608, issued in August 2024. The affected component is the engine coolant pump. As of June 2025, no remedy has been made available by BMW, and I have been told by both BMW corporate and my local dealer that they cannot provide a fix or a timeline. This component is essential to keeping the engine within safe temperature limits. Failure of the coolant pump could lead to overheating and potentially increase the risk of fire, as the recall suggests. This places my safety and that of others on the road at risk every time I drive the vehicle. I rely on this car for regular transportation and feel I have no choice but to drive a vehicle with an unresolved critical safety issue. The vehicle has not yet experienced a failure...
#11655918 |
Concern- smoke coming out of back exhaust at start up Cause - TAYLOR BMW (dealership) - possible needs updated oil line, turbo may be leaking internally Correction- dealership pulled faults to see if cat efficiency faults were present, saw none. Did verify smoke on startup. Doesn’t look like the turbo oil feed line has been changed (updated with check valve). There is some oil encrusted on the body of turbo. Would replace all lines since turbo removal is required for any of them; however once cat is off and if the chamber inside is wet with oil, at that point it would need a turbo as well as the lines. The above is the written diagnosis from dealership and I was quoted a price ranging from $2600- 4600- In 2016, NHTSA issued a notice for certain models/ years regarding the turbocharger feed lines (extending warranty for that part to 10...
#11653684 |
I've gotten my car fixed multiple times and nothing has worked. My car is leaking coolant severely it overheats constantly I get the red and the yellow message. My heater is self stopped working and my car on the freeway has stopped from going 75 to 80 miles dropping all the way to 20 miles.
#11643709 |
Leak error messages that cannot be removed until recall issue with fluid leak is fixed. Leak is corroding engine fuel lines and can cause a fire Will driving. The remedy is taking to long to be deployed. Need assistance with this issue.
#11636766 |
I have an Issue with my car cause Engine Coolant smells like oil burning and smoke coming inside the car through AC and also having a recall issue but no remedy available with BMW so spend my money and get repaired from outside mechanic, BMW reported me that if there is no remedy available right now so we can't do anything so I get repaired outside and spend 1500$.
#11631740 |
Do to the water pump recall and the water pump electrical connector on my vehicle, it is no longer in driving condition and has caused engine overheating and damage. I am still paying for a car I cannot drive. I need help
#11615371 |
On our 2016 BMW 528i, the valve cover had to be replaced at 82,723 miles. We took the car in to Galleria BMW in D'Iberville, MS on [XXX] for an oil change and the mechanic reported there was oil on the engine and that he needed to replace the valve cover because this was a fire hazard. I was surprised the valve cover needed to be replaced and not just the gasket. Their service advisor said due to the high heat environment and age, the plastic valve cover would wear and deteriorate like a tire. I thought, what if this happened when I did not need an oil change and drove a few thousand miles with leaking oil on my engine. I think it is appalling plastic parts would be used in that environment. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
#11561401 |
2016 BMW 528i with 65,000 miles. Oil leaking from pan and told by mechanic that premature failed oil pan gasket and warping of oil pan well known by the manufacturer but they refuse to address the problem leaving the repair bill for customers. Poor design should not be the purchaser's responsibility.
#11554223 |
Bmw had recalled the n20 engine for timing chain guides replacement up to year 2015. The original timing chain guides were orange in color but also found to an inferior part from manufacturer. Bmw had replaced the original guides to a white color as supposed to a better product. Now then my 2016 model 528xi not only has the original orange color chain guides or let's say inferior part from manufacturer because my manufacturer date my car is 08/2015..
#11544725 |
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528I. The contact stated that when he started the vehicle, he heard an unusual rattling sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a stretched timing chain guide. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
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