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: 18 of 33 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.
Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reports
62,500 miles · Jan 17, 2008
Air Bags
98 528I, AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. REPAIR MADE BY BMW DEALER AS PER TSB 61-2000. DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. REPAIR BYPASSED ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION. DEALER AND BMW N/A DECLINED TO COVER REPAIR ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. STATED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE CLEA…
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98 528I, AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. REPAIR MADE BY BMW DEALER AS PER TSB 61-2000. DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. REPAIR BYPASSED ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION. DEALER AND BMW N/A DECLINED TO COVER REPAIR ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING DEFECT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. STATED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE HARNESS AS OUTLINED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN 61-20-00 FROM 2003. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215271
138,000 miles · Oct 11, 2007
Exterior LightingStructureFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FOR THE WINDOW BURNED THROUGH THE HOUSING AND FELL INTO THE TRUNK. THE BULB LANDED BY THE FUEL TANK. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. FURTHERMORE, TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FOR THE WINDOW BURNED THROUGH THE HOUSING AND FELL INTO THE TRUNK. THE BULB LANDED BY THE FUEL TANK. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. FURTHERMORE, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HANDLES FAILED TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DOORS WOULD ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
NHTSA ODI #10205426
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2006
Visibility
1998 BMW 528I REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OR INTERNAL MOTOR WENT OUT**CC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10177512
100,000 miles · Feb 10, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 03/03/06.
NHTSA ODI #10149959
93,000 miles · Nov 22, 2005
Electrical SystemSteering
THE STEERING WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY MOVES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON CONSTANTLY AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10143505
112,000 miles · Jun 21, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DRIVING ON ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 10MPH AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HOOD. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED COOLANT SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE NECK HAD BROKEN OFF THE RADIATOR(COMMON PROBLEM WITH E39) ALLOWING COOLANT TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS TRAVELLIN…
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DRIVING ON ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 10MPH AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HOOD. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED COOLANT SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE NECK HAD BROKEN OFF THE RADIATOR(COMMON PROBLEM WITH E39) ALLOWING COOLANT TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS TRAVELLING SLOWLY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER RAPIDLY BEFORE CAR OVERHEATED. COULD HAVE CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT HAD OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED OLD RADIATOR WITH AN AFTERMARKET BRAND THAT IS MORE ROBUST THAN BMW RAD. I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE USING A BMW RADIATOR DUE TO THEIR CHEAP AND FLAWED DESIGN.
NHTSA ODI #10125996
110,000 miles · Aug 11, 2004
Exterior Lighting
CONSUMER STATED TAIL LIGHTS WARPED, CAUSING THEM TO BURN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10087681
8,321 miles · May 11, 2004
Structure
THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE INSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN TO USE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK BMW CONSIDERED THE PROBLEM TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART/TRIM AND DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE DRIVER D…
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THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE INSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN TO USE THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK BMW CONSIDERED THE PROBLEM TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART/TRIM AND DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE DRIVER DOOR SQUEAKED UPON OPENING AND CLOSING AND THERE WAS A SQUEAK COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD GO UP TO 35 MPH IN WHICH THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10065194
60,000 miles · Mar 29, 2004
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. THE PART WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10065110
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2003
Equipment
AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER STATED HE KNEW WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10042880
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.
1998 BMW 528I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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