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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 →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
2007118
200822
200965
2010117
201189
2012
Compare all 528I years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine
8Engine And Engine Cooling
5Electrical System
4Fuel/propulsion System
4Unknown Or Other
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes
2Air Bags
1Exterior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
100,000 miles · Apr 8, 2018
Exterior Lighting

I KEEP GETTING WARNINGS THAT THE HEAD LAMP, RUNNING LAMPS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND EXPOSED WIRES AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD RESULTING IN THE HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION FLAKING OFF AND LEAVING COPPER WIRE EXPOSED AND WIRES ARE TOUCHING, UNINSULATED WIRES. WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT THE LIGHTS,…

Read full complaint

I KEEP GETTING WARNINGS THAT THE HEAD LAMP, RUNNING LAMPS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND FOUND EXPOSED WIRES AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD RESULTING IN THE HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION FLAKING OFF AND LEAVING COPPER WIRE EXPOSED AND WIRES ARE TOUCHING, UNINSULATED WIRES. WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT THE LIGHTS, BURNING BULBS AND CAUSE MALFUNCTIONS IN THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, PARKING LIGHTS, AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11083846

Official recalls

2

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.