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2000 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 BMW 528I do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

28 reports with mileage · 14 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. 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 reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Seats complaints

2 reports
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145,000 miles · Nov 10, 2018
SeatsFire

AS I WAS DRIVING MY BELOVED 2000 BMW 528I ON 11/9/2018 AT 2:15 PM, ON ROUTE 12 SOUTH IN DUCK, NC, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE HEATED SEATS WERE NOT TURNED ON. NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, EXCEPT FOR A REAR TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR THAT HAD APPEARED WIT…

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AS I WAS DRIVING MY BELOVED 2000 BMW 528I ON 11/9/2018 AT 2:15 PM, ON ROUTE 12 SOUTH IN DUCK, NC, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE HEATED SEATS WERE NOT TURNED ON. NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, EXCEPT FOR A REAR TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR THAT HAD APPEARED WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. I HAD JUST DRIVEN THROUGH A RAIN SHOWER, SO THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON, BUT I HAD TURNED THE WIPERS OFF. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE FRONT SEAT BUT THERE WAS NOTHING UNDER THE SEAT THAT WAS CAUSING A PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE 911 OPERATOR, FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE DUCK NC POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND ATTEMPTED TO US A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE SEAT KEPT BURNING. THE DUCK NC FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN THE ARRIVED THEY FILLED THE FRONT SEAT WITH WATER. AS I WAS CLEARING MY POSSESSIONS OUT OF THE CAR, I NOTICE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL ON, SO I TURNED THEM OFF. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 145,000 MILES ON IT, I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND I HAD KEPT IT IN MINT CONDITION. I HAD A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC PERFORM THE MAINTENANCE WORK. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018, THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW BMW BATTERY. OTHER THAN MAINTENANCE WORK, THE CAR HAD NEVER HAD ANY ENGINE COMPONENTS FAIL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT WAS A GREAT VEHICLE. PICTURES OF THE BURNT SEAT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ARE INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI #11150678

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2000
SeatsCrashInjury

MY VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED ON FREEWAY AT ABOUT 30-40 MPH. MY VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. DURING THE COLLISION MY SEATBACK FAILED AND I WOUND UP LAYING HORIZONTALLY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735301

Official recalls

1

00V048000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Feb 17, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.

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.