WHEN YOU CRANK THE CAR SMOKE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD
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
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.
What owners actually said
65 reportsIN DECEMBER, 2017, BMW SENT A RECALL NOTICE, RETAIL CAMPAIGN NO. 17V-683: PCV VALVE HEATER. WHEN WILL BMW FIX THIS ISSUE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO LOCAL DEALERS (…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO LOCAL DEALERS (BMW OF BAYSIDE, 21427 NORTHERN BLVD, BAYSIDE, NY 11361 AND BRAMAN BMW WEST PALM BEACH, 2901 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY BOTH DEALERS THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THEY ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
VEHICLE STALLED TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH; THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BOTH TIMES. ANOTHER TIME IT STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE BMW IN BATON ROUGE FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS NOW AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOT YET A FIX FROM BMW.
EACH TIME I STARTED THE ENGINE , THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, INVOLVING THE PCV VALVE, WHICH ALSO RELATES TO LEAKAGE OF ENGINE OIL. THE RECALL POSES A FIRE RISK . …
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EACH TIME I STARTED THE ENGINE , THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, INVOLVING THE PCV VALVE, WHICH ALSO RELATES TO LEAKAGE OF ENGINE OIL. THE RECALL POSES A FIRE RISK . I'VE CONTACTED BMW, THEY STATED "UNFORTUNATELY, THE PARTS AND PROCEDURES AREN'T AVAILABLE TO ANY DEALER YET. BMW IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON PRODUCING THE PARTS FOR THIS RECALL. " I HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME TO WHICH THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM , THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS ON THE NEWS OF BMW CARS THAT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE , EVEN WHILE JUST BEING PARKED. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I'M VER CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY.
RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.: 17V683: PCV VALVE HEATER ON JANUARY 22, 2018, WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON THE 10 FREEWAY, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I PULLED OVER, TURNED MY CAR OFF, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS. I OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH TURNED INTO…
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RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.: 17V683: PCV VALVE HEATER ON JANUARY 22, 2018, WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON THE 10 FREEWAY, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I PULLED OVER, TURNED MY CAR OFF, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS. I OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH TURNED INTO FIRE BURNING THE ENTIRE FRONT END INTO THE SEATING AREA OF THE CAR. THE PCV VALVE HEATER MELTED CAUSING THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED WHO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TOW YARD. RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FROM BMW, HOWEVER, NO INSTRUCTION PROVIDED ON HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THIS LOSS. WAS INFORMED "REMEDY UNAVAILABLE".
MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS. I'VE ALREADY REPLACE THE SPARKPLUGS, COILS, & FUEL FILTER, BUT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY. THE SUDDEN STOPPING HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING OR WHEN I'M IDLE AT EITHER A STOP SIGN OR A LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS UNTIL IT COMPLETELY TURNS OFF FROM I'M IDLE AND THERE IS NO WARNING FOR WHEN I'M ACTUALLY DRI…
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MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS. I'VE ALREADY REPLACE THE SPARKPLUGS, COILS, & FUEL FILTER, BUT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GO AWAY. THE SUDDEN STOPPING HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING OR WHEN I'M IDLE AT EITHER A STOP SIGN OR A LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS UNTIL IT COMPLETELY TURNS OFF FROM I'M IDLE AND THERE IS NO WARNING FOR WHEN I'M ACTUALLY DRIVING, IT JUST STOPS.
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.
SAT .OCT 15 , 2016 AFTER I PARK THE CAR THE NEXT DAY I HAVE THE MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY PANEL AND DASH BORD." PASS.RESTRAINT SYSTEM"- FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAIN SYSTEM AFFECTING THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER.CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT". THIS MESSAGE IS STILL ON CAR IS RUNNING GO…
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SAT .OCT 15 , 2016 AFTER I PARK THE CAR THE NEXT DAY I HAVE THE MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY PANEL AND DASH BORD." PASS.RESTRAINT SYSTEM"- FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAIN SYSTEM AFFECTING THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER.CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT". THIS MESSAGE IS STILL ON CAR IS RUNNING GOOD BUT MY BLUETOOTH DO NOT WORK OR THE PHONE DUE TO THIS INCIDENT,LAST YEAR WAS RECALL FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM -PASSENGER SIDE BUT WAS COVER BY THE RECALL. I DNO'T HAVE A PASSENGER OR ANYBODY WHO WAS SITTING IN THE PASSINGER SIDE .I WAS READING ABT THE SAME INCIDENT RIGHT HERE IN CT ON SAFERCAR.GOV.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
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.
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