2013 Bmw 528I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Bmw 528I has 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: this car has a push-button start/stop on the dash and not a key insert. twice, i have somehow, with the car in "park" exited-car not moving-on a level surfaced parking lot- and locked the car only to discover the car engine was still running. last friday this happened and i took my key fob into my o. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports 5 injuries

119

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

48 complaints

40%

• THIS CAR HAS A PUSH-BUTTON START/STOP ON THE DASH AND NOT A KEY INSERT. TWICE, I HAVE SOMEHOW, WITH THE CAR IN "PARK" EXITED-CAR NOT MOVING-ON A LEVEL SURFACED PARKING LOT- AND LOCKED THE CAR ONLY TO DISCOVER THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. LAST FRIDAY THIS HAPPENED AND I TOOK MY KEY FOB INTO MY O
• WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND THE GUIDES CAME APART.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A PUNGENT ODOR WAS PERCEIVED IN THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY SECONDS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION KICKED OUT OF GEAR AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS AL

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

“THIS CAR HAS A PUSH-BUTTON START/STOP ON THE DASH AND NOT A KEY INSERT. TWICE, I HAVE SOMEHOW, WITH THE CAR IN "PARK" EXITED-CAR NOT MOVING-ON A LEVEL SURFACED PARKING LOT- AND LOCKED THE CAR ONLY TO DISCOVER THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. LAST FRIDAY THIS HAPPENED AND I TOOK MY KEY FOB INTO MY O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

17 complaints

14%

• DRIVER RESTRAINT /AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON TO NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER STATES THAT THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENT ，BUT ONLY A MINOR SCUFF ON THE REAR NUMBER WAS OBSERVED. DEALER STATED THE MINOR SCUFF HAS CAUSED THE SYSTEM LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND WILL NOT COVER THE COST UNDER THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISES TO BOTH ARMS AND LEGS. THERE WAS ALSO UPPER ABDOMINAL BRUISING AND STOMAC
• VEHICLE PART # BMW 61319354047 WILL FAIL CAUSING ABS AND ALL AIRBAG SYSTEMS TO BE DISABLED. VEHICLES MANUFACTURED USING THIS ASSEMBLY OF POOR QUALITY CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, FAILURE OF AIRBAGS,SEAT BELTS RESTRAIN & ABS SAFETY SYSTEMS, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE FOR OPERATION UNDER ANY FEDER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“DRIVER RESTRAINT /AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON TO NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER STATES THAT THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENT ，BUT ONLY A MINOR SCUFF ON THE REAR NUMBER WAS OBSERVED. DEALER STATED THE MINOR SCUFF HAS CAUSED THE SYSTEM LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND WILL NOT COVER THE COST UNDER THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

12%

• I HAVE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WHERE AT RANDOM TIMES (ABOUT 2X PER MONTH) THE DOORS MAKE A RATCHETING SOUND LIKE THE MOTOR IS TRYING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK DOOR IN VERY QUICK SEQUENCE. IT HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER I OPEN THE DOOR COMING INTO THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I UNLOCK VIA THE
• THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND/OR ACTUATOR FAILS AND DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ELECTRIC BUTTON ON THE DASH TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS. UPON PULLING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR LOCK PIN SLOWLY MOVES UP AND THEN RECEDES BACK DOWN INTO THE LOCK POSITION WHEN RELEASING THE HAND
• I BOUGHT A 2013 BMW 528 I A YEAR AGO WITH NO WARRANTY BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. RIGHT NOW ITS IN THE SHOP. I'VE TAKEN IT TOO TWO SHOP (BMW) BOTH SHOPS SAY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS AM HAVING. THE FIRST SHOP SAYS IT WILL COST ME 10000.00 THE 7000.00. I B

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

“I HAVE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WHERE AT RANDOM TIMES (ABOUT 2X PER MONTH) THE DOORS MAKE A RATCHETING SOUND LIKE THE MOTOR IS TRYING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK DOOR IN VERY QUICK SEQUENCE. IT HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER I OPEN THE DOOR COMING INTO THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I UNLOCK VIA THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

13 complaints

11%

• MY CAR ONLY HAS 53,791 MILES AND THE SHUT DOWN TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE WARNING POPPED UP ON MY SCREEN DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. AND I COULDN'T RESTART MY CAR. I WAS LUCKY TO BE BY THE STOP SIGN WHEN IT DIED AND NOT ON THE 50 MPH ROAD OR FREEWAY. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP AN HOUR LATER
• TRANSFER CASES WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED 3 MONTHS PRIOR BY A BMW DEALER WHO PROVIDED ME WITH AN INSPECTION REPORT SHOWING THERE WERE NOT PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. BUT 3 MONTHS AND 1399 MILES LATER, AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE SAME BMW DEALER PROVIDED AN IN
• THE CAR HAD 73,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN STOP AND GO CITY TRAFFIC WHEN SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE (AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO AFTER IT DETECTS ENGINE PROBLEMS) AND INDICATORS LIT UP SAYING THAT I NEEDED TO PULL OVER AS THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE

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

“MY CAR ONLY HAS 53,791 MILES AND THE SHUT DOWN TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE WARNING POPPED UP ON MY SCREEN DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. AND I COULDN'T RESTART MY CAR. I WAS LUCKY TO BE BY THE STOP SIGN WHEN IT DIED AND NOT ON THE 50 MPH ROAD OR FREEWAY. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP AN HOUR LATER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

6 complaints

• THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND/OR ACTUATOR FAILS AND DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ELECTRIC BUTTON ON THE DASH TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS. UPON PULLING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR LOCK PIN SLOWLY MOVES UP AND THEN RECEDES BACK DOWN INTO THE LOCK POSITION WHEN RELEASING THE HAND
• My BMW suddenly started making a weird sound. I took it to BMW and they could not tell me exactly what happened. However they told me that a new engine was needed. I contacted headquarters and they referred me back to the local BMW. The Local BMW said that there's no way for them to know what caused
• Upon purchasing the vehicle it was not serviced as supposed I have been calling only to be played around with this has been a nightmare I haven't made my 3rd payment and currently carless

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

“THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND/OR ACTUATOR FAILS AND DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT PRESSING THE ELECTRIC BUTTON ON THE DASH TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS. UPON PULLING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR LOCK PIN SLOWLY MOVES UP AND THEN RECEDES BACK DOWN INTO THE LOCK POSITION WHEN RELEASING THE HAND”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~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 119 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THIS CAR HAS A PUSH-BUTTON START/STOP ON THE DASH AND NOT A KEY INSERT. TWICE, I HAVE SOMEHOW, WITH THE CAR IN "PARK" EXITED-CAR NOT MOVING-ON A LEVEL SURFACED PARKING LOT- AND LOCKED THE CAR ONLY TO DISCOVER THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. LAST FRIDAY THIS HAPPENED AND I TOOK MY KEY FOB INTO MY O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: DRIVER RESTRAINT /AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON TO NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER STATES THAT THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENT ，BUT ONLY A MINOR SCUFF ON THE REAR NUMBER WAS OBSERVED. DEALER STATED THE MINOR SCUFF HAS CAUSED THE SYSTEM LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND WILL NOT COVER THE COST UNDER THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I HAVE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WHERE AT RANDOM TIMES (ABOUT 2X PER MONTH) THE DOORS MAKE A RATCHETING SOUND LIKE THE MOTOR IS TRYING TO LOCK AND UNLOCK DOOR IN VERY QUICK SEQUENCE. IT HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER I OPEN THE DOOR COMING INTO THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I UNLOCK VIA THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MY CAR ONLY HAS 53,791 MILES AND THE SHUT DOWN TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE WARNING POPPED UP ON MY SCREEN DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. AND I COULDN'T RESTART MY CAR. I WAS LUCKY TO BE BY THE STOP SIGN WHEN IT DIED AND NOT ON THE 50 MPH ROAD OR FREEWAY. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP AN HOUR LATER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)