2012 Bmw 528I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Bmw 528I has 145 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: the car was leased new. a heavy 'chemical ' smell occured whenever the ventilation system was activated. driver suffered headaches and sinus problems. at 14 months into the lease, driver had an air quality test done on inside of the car. results came back with elevated unsafe levels of benzine. . ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 3 injuries

145

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

47 complaints

32%

• THE CAR WAS LEASED NEW. A HEAVY 'CHEMICAL ' SMELL OCCURED WHENEVER THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEADACHES AND SINUS PROBLEMS. AT 14 MONTHS INTO THE LEASE, DRIVER HAD AN AIR QUALITY TEST DONE ON INSIDE OF THE CAR. RESULTS CAME BACK WITH ELEVATED UNSAFE LEVELS OF BENZINE.
• WHILE DRIVING IN METRO DETROIT LAST NIGHT MY 2012 BMW 528I XDRIVE SUDDENLY FLASHED A "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE, LURCHED AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP JUST PAST THE INTERSECTION OF NOVI ROAD AND 10 MILE. I WAS TWO MILES FROM THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE WITH ME IN THE CAR. HAD I MA
• DRIVING IN THE HOV AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM WHEN AN ALERT MESSAGE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY" DISPLAYS. CAR ENGINE IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND WE HAVE NO PROPULSION. WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WIND UP ON A NARROW SHOULDER OF THE LIE IN NY. POLICE COME AND CLOSE DOWN 2 LANES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“THE CAR WAS LEASED NEW. A HEAVY 'CHEMICAL ' SMELL OCCURED WHENEVER THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEADACHES AND SINUS PROBLEMS. AT 14 MONTHS INTO THE LEASE, DRIVER HAD AN AIR QUALITY TEST DONE ON INSIDE OF THE CAR. RESULTS CAME BACK WITH ELEVATED UNSAFE LEVELS OF BENZINE. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

30 complaints

21%

• WHILE DRIVING IN METRO DETROIT LAST NIGHT MY 2012 BMW 528I XDRIVE SUDDENLY FLASHED A "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE, LURCHED AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP JUST PAST THE INTERSECTION OF NOVI ROAD AND 10 MILE. I WAS TWO MILES FROM THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE WITH ME IN THE CAR. HAD I MA
• DRIVING IN THE HOV AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM WHEN AN ALERT MESSAGE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY" DISPLAYS. CAR ENGINE IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND WE HAVE NO PROPULSION. WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WIND UP ON A NARROW SHOULDER OF THE LIE IN NY. POLICE COME AND CLOSE DOWN 2 LANES
• MY BMW 528I 2012 I BOUGHT USED IN APRIL 2015. IN NOVEMBER 2015 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN IT WENT AWAY , BUT A WEEK LATER IT CAME ON AND ANOTHER LIGHT SAYING THE COOLANT WAS LOW. I TOOK IT TO BE TOPPED OFF THAT DID NOT WORK. MY CAR WENT FROM YELLOW ZONE TO RED SEVERE WHEN DRIVING HOME WITH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHILE DRIVING IN METRO DETROIT LAST NIGHT MY 2012 BMW 528I XDRIVE SUDDENLY FLASHED A "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE, LURCHED AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP JUST PAST THE INTERSECTION OF NOVI ROAD AND 10 MILE. I WAS TWO MILES FROM THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE WITH ME IN THE CAR. HAD I MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

20 complaints

14%

• DRIVING IN THE HOV AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM WHEN AN ALERT MESSAGE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY" DISPLAYS. CAR ENGINE IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND WE HAVE NO PROPULSION. WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WIND UP ON A NARROW SHOULDER OF THE LIE IN NY. POLICE COME AND CLOSE DOWN 2 LANES
• LAST MONTH MY CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,200 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY) AND LEAKING OIL ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY AND UNDER THE HOOD. IT COST ME $1570 TO FIX BY REPLACING THE FITER CASING. LUCKILY THAT THE OIL LEAK WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHAT IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY? THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAFE CAR TO DRIVE. TH
• VEHICLE BOUGHT IN JULY 2014 WITH ~24K MILES; STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED. 9-12 MONTHS LATER, A "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD JUST LEFT THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IMMEDIATELY; I DID. MANY TESTS LATER, WAS TOLD MY "MO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“DRIVING IN THE HOV AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM WHEN AN ALERT MESSAGE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY" DISPLAYS. CAR ENGINE IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND WE HAVE NO PROPULSION. WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WIND UP ON A NARROW SHOULDER OF THE LIE IN NY. POLICE COME AND CLOSE DOWN 2 LANES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

12 complaints

• I RAN OVER A POT HOLE, ABOUT 4" DEEP, AND BOTH PASSENGER SIDE RIMS WERE BENT SO BAD THAT THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $8,229 I PREVIOUSLY HAD A BMW 750IL 2008. I ALSO HIT A POT HOLE AT ABOUT 45 M
• WHILE DRIVING IN METRO DETROIT LAST NIGHT MY 2012 BMW 528I XDRIVE SUDDENLY FLASHED A "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE, LURCHED AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP JUST PAST THE INTERSECTION OF NOVI ROAD AND 10 MILE. I WAS TWO MILES FROM THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE WITH ME IN THE CAR. HAD I MA
• I WAS DRIVING AT 30, AND HIT A POT-HOLE. ALL OF SUDDEN MY RARE PASSENGER DOOR POPPED OPENED. MY DASH BOARD STARTED LIGHTING, AND ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED LIGHTING. TAKEN TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AS WE CARRY OUR BABY OFTEN TIMES IN THE REAR SEAT (HE WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHEN INCIDENT HAPPENED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“I RAN OVER A POT HOLE, ABOUT 4" DEEP, AND BOTH PASSENGER SIDE RIMS WERE BENT SO BAD THAT THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $8,229 I PREVIOUSLY HAD A BMW 750IL 2008. I ALSO HIT A POT HOLE AT ABOUT 45 M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

• MY BMW 528I 2012 I BOUGHT USED IN APRIL 2015. IN NOVEMBER 2015 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN IT WENT AWAY , BUT A WEEK LATER IT CAME ON AND ANOTHER LIGHT SAYING THE COOLANT WAS LOW. I TOOK IT TO BE TOPPED OFF THAT DID NOT WORK. MY CAR WENT FROM YELLOW ZONE TO RED SEVERE WHEN DRIVING HOME WITH
• THIS 2012 BMW 528, WHILE STANDING STILL ON A CITY STREET, WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND ON THE LEFT REAR CORNER AND THE ACTIVE HEADREST RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED STRIKING THE DRIVER IN THE HEAD AND CAUSING A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
• VEHICLE BOUGHT IN JULY 2014 WITH ~24K MILES; STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED. 9-12 MONTHS LATER, A "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD JUST LEFT THE DEALERSHIP SO I CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IMMEDIATELY; I DID. MANY TESTS LATER, WAS TOLD MY "MO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY BMW 528I 2012 I BOUGHT USED IN APRIL 2015. IN NOVEMBER 2015 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN IT WENT AWAY , BUT A WEEK LATER IT CAME ON AND ANOTHER LIGHT SAYING THE COOLANT WAS LOW. I TOOK IT TO BE TOPPED OFF THAT DID NOT WORK. MY CAR WENT FROM YELLOW ZONE TO RED SEVERE WHEN DRIVING HOME WITH ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 145 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE CAR WAS LEASED NEW. A HEAVY 'CHEMICAL ' SMELL OCCURED WHENEVER THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEADACHES AND SINUS PROBLEMS. AT 14 MONTHS INTO THE LEASE, DRIVER HAD AN AIR QUALITY TEST DONE ON INSIDE OF THE CAR. RESULTS CAME BACK WITH ELEVATED UNSAFE LEVELS OF BENZINE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE DRIVING IN METRO DETROIT LAST NIGHT MY 2012 BMW 528I XDRIVE SUDDENLY FLASHED A "FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" MESSAGE, LURCHED AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP JUST PAST THE INTERSECTION OF NOVI ROAD AND 10 MILE. I WAS TWO MILES FROM THE EXPRESSWAY AND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN WERE WITH ME IN THE CAR. HAD I MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: DRIVING IN THE HOV AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM WHEN AN ALERT MESSAGE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY" DISPLAYS. CAR ENGINE IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND WE HAVE NO PROPULSION. WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WIND UP ON A NARROW SHOULDER OF THE LIE IN NY. POLICE COME AND CLOSE DOWN 2 LANES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I RAN OVER A POT HOLE, ABOUT 4" DEEP, AND BOTH PASSENGER SIDE RIMS WERE BENT SO BAD THAT THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $8,229 I PREVIOUSLY HAD A BMW 750IL 2008. I ALSO HIT A POT HOLE AT ABOUT 45 M
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)