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1997 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 BMW 528I do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
41Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
41
199733
199846
199942
2000
Compare all 528I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
12Air Bags
5Power Train
5Engine And Engine Cooling
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Structure
3Unknown Or Other
3Electrical System
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1Steering
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 41 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

1997 BMW 528I WAS RUNNING HOT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT, MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR. SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING HOT AND THE BRAKES WERE SCREECHING AND SQUEAKING. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10224013

85,000 miles · Jan 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR FAILURE AT THE TOP HOSE CONNECTION POINT. LATER LEARNED THAT THE MATERIAL USED IS QUITE UNRELIABLE -- SO I REPLACED ALL THE PLASTIC I COULD FIND IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. $1200. I EXPECT I'LL HAVE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN IN ANOTHER YEAR OR SO.

NHTSA ODI #10002697

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004702

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.