IllustrationWhen driving any acceleration will cause the car to shift from Drive to Neutral. This can happen under normal driving conditions and at any speed.
2010 BMW 528I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 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
10–25K
225–50K
1150–75K
675–100K
16100–150K
7150K+
43 reports with mileage · 22 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 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 reports1 injury reports
Power Train complaints
9 reportsThe "Secure from Rolling" alert pops up on screen and car is prevented from moving. Engine must be shut off and ignition turned back on to work. Gears/spring probably need replaced per error message.
FOUND FAULTS FOR VANOS SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAR START MAKING A RATTLE NOISE LIKE SOMETHING BUCKING AGAINST SOMETHING AS I ACCELERATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW SECONDS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER A FEW SECONDS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.
WHILE ACCELERATING THE CAR JUMPS INTO NEUTRAL RANDOMLY. WHETHER FROM A SLOW START OR ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES AND THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE HOSES WERE REPLACED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL INTERMITTE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE HOSES WERE REPLACED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,298.
WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT COMES TO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE RPM GOES TO AROUND 4000 AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING SIGN COMES. I HAVE TO PULLOVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER THAT IT RUNS SMOOTH. IT HAPPENS ONCE A WHILE. IN LAST TWO MONTHS IT HAPPENED SIX TIMES. TWO TIMES I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HARDLY SURVIVED FROM THE AC…
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WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT COMES TO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE RPM GOES TO AROUND 4000 AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING SIGN COMES. I HAVE TO PULLOVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER THAT IT RUNS SMOOTH. IT HAPPENS ONCE A WHILE. IN LAST TWO MONTHS IT HAPPENED SIX TIMES. TWO TIMES I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HARDLY SURVIVED FROM THE ACCIDENTS. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN.
WHILE DRIVING CAR BEGAN SLUGGISH AND THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE #2 AND #5 ENGINE COILS. I REPLACED THOSE. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM ENGINE COIL #2 HAD TO BE REPLACED. TWO MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM - ENGINE COILS #1, #2, AND #5 HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO EXPLANATION …
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WHILE DRIVING CAR BEGAN SLUGGISH AND THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE #2 AND #5 ENGINE COILS. I REPLACED THOSE. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM ENGINE COIL #2 HAD TO BE REPLACED. TWO MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM - ENGINE COILS #1, #2, AND #5 HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO EXPLANATION FOR THE CONTINUED PROBLEM. THEIR ONLY SUGGESTION IS TO HAVE THEM ALL REPLACED. SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A BIGGER PROBLEM HERE. *TR
WHILE AT A STOP AND HIGHER SPEEDS (40-65MPH) CAR JERKS FORWARD WITHOUT PRESSING ACCELERATOR. ALSO, SHIFTS RADICALLY, SURGING FORWARD OR SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTS WHILE IN MOTION. *TR
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.