Engine. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 14 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 reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

37 reports

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94,000 miles · May 9, 2018

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SERVICE ROAD, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO BMW OF DALLAS (6200 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #11092691

70,155 miles · May 2, 2018

Engine

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MY BMW 2013 528I M SPORT FAILED ON THE HIGH WAY HEAVY TRAFFIC SHOWS ERROR MESSAGE "LOW OIL PRESSURE" STOP IMMEDIATELY. FULL POWER NOT AVAILABLE" "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" ENGINE FAILED TO START. TOWED TO NEARBY BMW DEALER. DEALER TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE. THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE DAMAGED DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND BMW EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS /70000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 70150 MILES. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM WITH BMW NA AND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX THE CAR. AFTER LOTS OF PHONE CALL THEY AGREED 50% OF THE COST, THAT IS UP TO 10K. I SEARCHED INTERNET AND TALK TO OTHER BMW OWNERS. THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES OF ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AT 70K MILES. BMW KNOWS THIS ISSUE BUT TRYING TO AVOID RECALL. THIS IS VERY HARMFUL FOR THE BMW CAR OWNERS. VERY DANGEROUS RISK. PLEASE HELP. CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET JUSTICE AND ISSUE RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #11091352

75,000 miles · Apr 4, 2018

Electrical SystemEngine

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I BOUGHT A 2013 BMW 528 I A YEAR AGO WITH NO WARRANTY BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. RIGHT NOW ITS IN THE SHOP. I'VE TAKEN IT TOO TWO SHOP (BMW) BOTH SHOPS SAY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS AM HAVING. THE FIRST SHOP SAYS IT WILL COST ME 10000.00 THE 7000.00. I BELIEVE THAT DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE WAS A BAD CAR. CANY PROVE IT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE SHOP WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. WHAT LEGAL ACTION CAN I TAKE AN CAN I STOP PAYING ON THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE ITS NOT WORKING AN I'M NOT DRIVING IT.

NHTSA ODI #11083346

116,000 miles · Jan 5, 2018

Engine

PER THE MECHANIC, THE TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTIONED IN THE ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LOSS OF ENGINE COMPRESSION IN THE CYLINDERS. THE COMPLETE ENGINE, WITH 116,000 MILES, WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS A 2013 MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND WOULD…

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NHTSA ODI #11060802

120,000 miles · Nov 8, 2017

EngineFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A PUNGENT ODOR WAS PERCEIVED IN THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY SECONDS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION KICKED OUT OF GEAR AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S FARM. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNUSUAL. THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A SPECIALIST WOULD CALL WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11044432

91,065 miles · Sep 29, 2017

Engine

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND THE GUIDES CAME APART.

NHTSA ODI #11030495

44,000 miles · May 15, 2017

Engine

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THIS CAR HAS A PUSH-BUTTON START/STOP ON THE DASH AND NOT A KEY INSERT. TWICE, I HAVE SOMEHOW, WITH THE CAR IN "PARK" EXITED-CAR NOT MOVING-ON A LEVEL SURFACED PARKING LOT- AND LOCKED THE CAR ONLY TO DISCOVER THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. LAST FRIDAY THIS HAPPENED AND I TOOK MY KEY FOB INTO MY OFFICE MORE THAN 100 YARDS FROM MY CAR. MY FIANCE (WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE PUSH-BUTTON SYSTEM DID THE SAME THING AT OUR HOUSE. THE CAR RAN IN OUR GARAGE FOR THREE HOURS. WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD DONE THIS BEFORE. WHY IS THERE NOT A CUT OFF SWITCH AFTER 5 MINUTES OR SOMETHING, THAT SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE WHEN THERE IS NO WEIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT? THERE CERTAINLY IS A SWITCH FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT TRIGGERS THE AIRBAG WHEN I PUT A HEAVY BAG OF GROCERIES IN THAT SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10985722

Official recalls

24V608000 · Electrical System:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:pump

Aug 13, 2024

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:pump

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

15V188000 · Exterior Lighting

Mar 31, 2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

14V627000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Oct 7, 2014

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

13V454000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 26, 2013

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

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

PE13030 · Loss Of Power Assist Braking

Opened Sep 6, 2013 · Closed Oct 25, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in improper pump operation and loss of power assist braking.On July 11, 2013, BMW initiated a change to the camshaft geometry that prevented the seal disk from blocking the oil port.BMW has not received any braking complaints related to loss of power assist after the design change was implemented in production.The owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to a BMW dealer who will install a locking ring into the camshaft to keep the seal disk in its proper location.BMW expects to begin dealer and owner notification in November 2013 and complete dealer and owner notification in December when the remedy is expected to be available.Based on the actions taken by BMW, this investigation is closed.