Exterior Lighting. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports16 fire reports2 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

7 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2021

Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

The car started to leak gas from the tank.

NHTSA ODI #11422314

198,460 miles · Dec 21, 2020

Electrical SystemSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other

FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ON AND IT PULLS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL IS GOING TO COME OFF AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS LOCKED WHERE IT WON'T EXTENDED OUT TO BUCKLE AND THE CAR DOG WALKS BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11384325

80,000 miles · Aug 27, 2020

StructureUnknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING LAST WEEK, WE HEARD HEAVY CLUNKING SOUNDS. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO INVESTIGATE THE NOISE, AND HE IDENTIFIED THE THE FRAME SWAY BAR MOUNT HAD SHEERED OFF WHERE THE SWAY BAR TO FRAME MOUNT IS. THE MECHANIC ASKED IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WE BOUGHT IT USED IN 2012, AND THERE WAS NO REPORT OF AN ACCID…

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NHTSA ODI #11351496

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2018

EngineUnknown Or Other

CAR STARTED SMOKING. REPAIR SHOP SAID IT'S A PROBLEM WITH PCV VALVE AND IF OVER HEATED CAN CAUSE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11115122

78,102 miles · Sep 22, 2015

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

CAR GAS HAVEN'T BEEN AS USUAL TOOK CAR FOR OIL CHANG ROTATION OF TIRES. DISCOVERED GAS LEAKAGE. LOOKING AT POSSIBLE FUEL LINE OR PUMP.

NHTSA ODI #10767400

16,500 miles · Sep 16, 2015

Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

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HELLO I'M REPORTING IN REGARDS TO AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. FOR APPROXIMATELY THE PAST MONTH I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I FIRST THOUGHT I WAS OVER FILLING SO CHANGED THE AMOUNT OF GAS I PUT IN THE VEHICLE. THAT STILL DIDN'T STOP THE SMELL FROM COMING BACK. SO I DECIDED TO SCHEDULE MY VEHICLE FOR AN APPOINTMENT. AS A RESULT THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THEY SMELLED IT BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A LEAK. I DROVE HOME WITHOUT A STRONG SMELL BUT BY THE TIME I ARRIVED TO THE DESTINATION IT WAS EVIDENT AGAIN. I CONTACTED A FEW OTHER BMW AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND TALKED WITH SERVICE ADVISORS AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH ISSUE/CONCERN. AT ONE DEALERSHIP THE ADVISOR HUNG UP ON ME WHILE I WAS EXPLAINING IT. I READ A FEW ARTICLES WHERE OTHER BMW OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE, SOME WHO CARS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS MADE ME BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT THAT CAUSES THIS ISSUE. SO I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD BY JOEY THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I CAN'T KEEP PAYING DIAGNOSTIC FEES FOR THEM TO DETERMINE NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAD IT ESCALATED AND WAS TOLD BY KAYLA THAT I NEED TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. NEVER WAS I OFFERED TO HAVE IT CHECKED FOR FREE. I UNDERSTAND I'M OUT OF WARRANTY BUT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES WITHOUT BEING TOLD AN ISSUE EXISTS IS ROBBERY. I JUST WANT MY CAR CONCERN RESOLVED BEFORE ANYONE IS INJURED OR HARMED AS A RESULT OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10764209

94,326 miles · Feb 21, 2014

Unknown Or Other

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MY 2008 528I HAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO TRAFFIC. THE CAR WILL START TO SHAKE AND JERK AS I LIGHTLY APPLY THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENIGINE LIGHT HAS COME TWICE DURING AN ACOOURENCE AND THEN WENT OUT AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. JUST HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NO FAULTS WITH THE CAR OR ANY CODES. I FIND IT TO BE A SAFETY HAZZARD BECAUSE AS I STATED BEFORE, I'M IN TRAFFIC AND AS I TURN LEFT/RIGHT, IM UNABLE TO MOVE WHILE THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME IS APPORACHING.

NHTSA ODI #10565248

Official recalls

17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Oct 30, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

13V407000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

Sep 11, 2013

BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.