IllustrationI was driving and something was burning under my hood
2009 BMW 528I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 BMW 528I do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 528I years →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
Limited mileage data: 11 of 22 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.
- Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine complaints
8 reportsThe contact owns a 2009 BMW 528I. The contact stated while turning on the heater, there was a bad odor coming from the heater. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. …
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The contact owns a 2009 BMW 528I. The contact stated while turning on the heater, there was a bad odor coming from the heater. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts are not available
I took the 2009 BMW 528i to Bridgeport BMW to have a prior safety recall (17V-673/19V-273) repaired but, it wasn't fixed and my car caught on fire last year before I got another recall letter stating that there's no remedy for the Recall Campaign No. 22V-119: PCV Valve Heater.
CAR BATTERY DRAINING, INSACIABLES BRAKE FLUID TIMING FOR CHANGE OF GEAR TAKES A WHILE
FOUND RECALL INFO ONLINE. TOLD RECALL NOTICE WOULD BE SENT IN DECEMBER. NO NOTICE AS OF YET! DON'T WANT TO DIE BECAUSE OF BMW'S NEGLIGENCE!
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR - WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "HAZARD LIGHTS CAME ON - THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED OVER 100 MORE GALLOONS IN THE TANK THAN IT HAD PREVIOUSLY - TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER AND WAS STALLING AS …
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I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR - WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "HAZARD LIGHTS CAME ON - THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED OVER 100 MORE GALLOONS IN THE TANK THAN IT HAD PREVIOUSLY - TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER AND WAS STALLING AS I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE FURTHEST LEFT LANE IN ORDER TO GET TO SAFETY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD - I WAS WITH MY PARENTS AND MY HANDICAPPED NEPHEW AND SCARED FOR ALL OF OUR LIVES. THE ENGINE "SPUTTERED AND VIBRATED" BEFORE STOPPING. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG OR ANY CHANGE IN THE WAY THE CAR DROVE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE INCIDENT.
ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR FAILS SUDDENLY AND THEIR ISSUE OF VECHILE STALLING WHILE DRIVING I GOT JERKING MOTION WHEN DRIVING , IT HAD STALLED @ TRAFFIC SIGNAL IT MAY LEAD TO IMPACT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD CYLINDER BULLET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Official recalls
217V683000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.