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1999 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 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 →
46Owner 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

1999 BMW 528I

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 46 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)

  • Air Bags: 9 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 7 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6 reports
  • Power Train: 4 reports
  • Structure: 4 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    2
    2001
    Compare all 528I years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Air Bags
    9    Vehicle Speed Control
    7    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    6    Power Train
    4    Structure
    4
    All reported categories
    Electrical System
    3    Exterior Lighting
    3    Service Brakes, Air
    3    Electronic Stability Control (esc)
    2    Equipment
    2    Service Brakes, Electric
    2    Steering
    2    Tires
    2    Unknown Or Other
    2    Back Over Prevention
    1    Electronic Stability Control
    1    Engine And Engine Cooling
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Seats
    1    Service Brakes
    1    Traction Control System
    1

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

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    25 reports with mileage · 21 unknown

    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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    6 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

    Equipment complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    108,000 miles · May 19, 2011
    EquipmentStructure

    I RECENTLY USED THE JACK IN MY 1999 BMW 528I FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A FEW DAYS AGO. THE JACK IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. IT IS LABELED FOR 1997 AND 1998 CARS - NOT THE 1999 I OWN. WHILE JACKING TO REMOVE A TIRE THE JACK POPPED OF PLACE WITH FORCE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I HAD NOT REMOVED THE TIRE. I CONTACTED BMW CU…

    Read full complaint

    I RECENTLY USED THE JACK IN MY 1999 BMW 528I FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A FEW DAYS AGO. THE JACK IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. IT IS LABELED FOR 1997 AND 1998 CARS - NOT THE 1999 I OWN. WHILE JACKING TO REMOVE A TIRE THE JACK POPPED OF PLACE WITH FORCE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I HAD NOT REMOVED THE TIRE. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT JACK. BMW POLICY IF TO NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE AFTER THE 4YEAR/50,000MILE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED....EVEN IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THE NHTSA CAN ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH BMW USA. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10402116

    51,300 miles · Jun 25, 2003
    Equipment

    1999 BMW 528I A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURE AT 51,300 MILES. REQUESTED FACTORY ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED. BMW WAS WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS AS THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WITH FAILURES AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE WHICH MAY INDICATE A DEFECTIVE PART. BMW APPARENT WILL NOT FIX COMPRESSORS MA…

    Read full complaint

    1999 BMW 528I A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURE AT 51,300 MILES. REQUESTED FACTORY ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED. BMW WAS WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS AS THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WITH FAILURES AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE WHICH MAY INDICATE A DEFECTIVE PART. BMW APPARENT WILL NOT FIX COMPRESSORS MAKING NOISE EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. IF TRUE, THIS IS POOR PERFORMANCE FROM THIS AUTOMOBILE MAKER. *NLM

    NHTSA ODI #10023767

    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.