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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
41Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 BMW 528I

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 41 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Suspension: 12 reports
  • Air Bags: 5 reports
  • Power Train: 5 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    41
    1997    33
    1998    46
    1999    42
    2000
    Compare all 528I years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Visibility complaints

    1 reports
    Clear category filter
    Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000
    Visibility

    WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK IN RAINSTORM. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR REPLACEMENT OF A RELAY, WHICH "WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH." HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL--THEY WERE ONLY REPLACING THOSE THAT FAILED. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECA…

    Read full complaint

    WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK IN RAINSTORM. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR REPLACEMENT OF A RELAY, WHICH "WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH." HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL--THEY WERE ONLY REPLACING THOSE THAT FAILED. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PART.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #737305

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.