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2012 BMW 528XI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 BMW 528XI do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

36 reports with mileage · 18 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. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 8 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

54 reports
75,600 miles · Jun 29, 2020
EnginePower Train

VEHICLE MESSAGED ME WHILE DRIVING THAT OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. STOPPED, AND RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES. INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING GUIDES BECOMING BRITTLE AND DISINTEGRATING SENDING PARTS INTO THE SPROCKETS AND THE OIL SENSORS. ALSO CHAIN MAKES A WHINING NOISE IF AFFE…

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VEHICLE MESSAGED ME WHILE DRIVING THAT OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. STOPPED, AND RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES. INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING GUIDES BECOMING BRITTLE AND DISINTEGRATING SENDING PARTS INTO THE SPROCKETS AND THE OIL SENSORS. ALSO CHAIN MAKES A WHINING NOISE IF AFFECTED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING THE PROBLEM. OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY (7YR/70K) BY ONE YEAR AND 5K MILES. BMW KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11331548

84,000 miles · Jun 24, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED BMW AND HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH MY ENGINE, CONSTANTLY REFILLING THE OIL, EVEN AFTER SERVICE. AFTER TAKING THIS TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THERE WEREN'T ANY ISSUES. ALL OF THIS FINALLY CAME TO A HEAD-ON SUNDAY, 6/21/2020 WHEN MY CAR FINALLY CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. AFTER TOWI…

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I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED BMW AND HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH MY ENGINE, CONSTANTLY REFILLING THE OIL, EVEN AFTER SERVICE. AFTER TAKING THIS TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THERE WEREN'T ANY ISSUES. ALL OF THIS FINALLY CAME TO A HEAD-ON SUNDAY, 6/21/2020 WHEN MY CAR FINALLY CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. AFTER TOWING, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND WOULD COST ME $7,400 WHICH WOULDN'T NECESSARILY REMEDY THE ISSUE, I HEARD THIS COULD REACH TOWARDS 15-20K. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER HAVING ONLY DRIVEN THIS CAR ON AVG 8K/YEAR AND HAVING ROUGHLY 84K MILES IN TOTAL. MY EXPERIENCE WITH BMW HAS SINCE BEEN PAINFUL TO SAY THE LEAST SINCE. I'VE HAD THIS TOWED TWICE IN 2 DAYS, BEEN GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM ON EITHER FIXING THE VEHICLE OR BUYING A NEW ONE - WHEN ASKING FOR A LOANER, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED CONTACT ENTERPRISE AND RESERVE ONE ON MY OWN. I'VE OWNED MULTIPLE GERMAN CARS AND NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS LEVEL OF UNPROFESSIONALISM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11330703

155,000 miles · Jun 24, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW LOCATED AT 500 INTERSTATE N PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30339, (800) 294-1853, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR OF THE SAME DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.

NHTSA ODI #11330521

70,000 miles · May 1, 2020
EnginePower Train

I HAD ISSUES WITH MY CAR WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR CHECK, THEY MENTIONED MY TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE HAS SOME ISSUES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $14000 WHILE THE CAR LOAN I HAD ON IT WAS $12000. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AS WE ALREADY KNOW BMW 2012 MODELS HAVE ENGINE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11322939

70,000 miles · Mar 23, 2020
Engine

MY 2012 BMW 528 XI ENGINE N20 JUST GRENADED ITSELF DUE TO THE ISSUE IN THIS LINK BELOW AND NOTICED YOU HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT LET BMW COVER CUSTOMERS UPTO 7YR/70K MILES. I HAD TO SHELL OUT 7000 FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. MINE FAILED JUST OVER 70K MILES AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER CUSTOMERS IN THE SAME BOAT BASED ON WHAT…

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MY 2012 BMW 528 XI ENGINE N20 JUST GRENADED ITSELF DUE TO THE ISSUE IN THIS LINK BELOW AND NOTICED YOU HAD A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT LET BMW COVER CUSTOMERS UPTO 7YR/70K MILES. I HAD TO SHELL OUT 7000 FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. MINE FAILED JUST OVER 70K MILES AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER CUSTOMERS IN THE SAME BOAT BASED ON WHAT I AM READING IN THE FORUMS. IS THERE ANOTHER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT COULD BE FILED TO COVER THESE CUSTOMERS SO THAT BMW EXTENDS WARRANTY TO 10YR /120K FOR THESE FAULTY ENGINES. BMW ENGINE CHAIN DEFECTS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS WILLIAMS, ET AL. V. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC, ET AL., CASE NO. 2:17-CV-11567, IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY. HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2017/BMW-N20-N26-ENGINE-LAWSUIT-BLAMES-TIMING-CHAINS.SHTML

NHTSA ODI #11319080

20 miles · Feb 25, 2020
Engine

WITH ONLY 76K MILES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION COMES ON CAR STOPS. BROUGHT TO BMW AND WAS TOLD OIL WAS DARK WITH PIECES OF SHRED METAL AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE FOR OVER $10,000. WAS SO CONFUSED DUE TO HAVING A OIL CHANGE LESS THEN 1 MONTH AGO. NOW CALL IS SITTING BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD …

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WITH ONLY 76K MILES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION COMES ON CAR STOPS. BROUGHT TO BMW AND WAS TOLD OIL WAS DARK WITH PIECES OF SHRED METAL AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE FOR OVER $10,000. WAS SO CONFUSED DUE TO HAVING A OIL CHANGE LESS THEN 1 MONTH AGO. NOW CALL IS SITTING BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE ENGINE AND STILL OWE MONEY ON CAR WHICH NO ONE WILL TAKE DUE TO IT NOT DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11311318

120,000 miles · Feb 7, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion System

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW THE CAR TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET UP TO ANY DECENT SPEED. PROBABLY 0-35 IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I WAS ADVISED BY A SERVICE CENTER THAT TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IS IMMINENT AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY $8000 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ON A CAR FOR WHICH I OWED $11000, THAT AT THE TIME WAS ONLY WORTH AB…

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DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW THE CAR TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET UP TO ANY DECENT SPEED. PROBABLY 0-35 IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I WAS ADVISED BY A SERVICE CENTER THAT TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IS IMMINENT AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY $8000 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ON A CAR FOR WHICH I OWED $11000, THAT AT THE TIME WAS ONLY WORTH ABOUT $4000. AS OF TODAY, IT'S WORTH ABOUT $800 WITH A $3800 BALANCE ON THE NOTE. OVERPRICED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND COSTLY REPAIRS WERE ALL PERFORMED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

NHTSA ODI #11307662

74,000 miles · Nov 25, 2019
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BELLEVUE (LOCATED AT 13617 NORTHUP WAY, BELLEVUE, WA 98005, (425) 243-5201), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BELLEVUE (LOCATED AT 13617 NORTHUP WAY, BELLEVUE, WA 98005, (425) 243-5201), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #11282327

105,628 miles · Sep 27, 2019
EnginePower Train

MY 2012 BMW 528 XDRIVE SUDDENLY GOT A WARNING LOW OIL PRESSURE FOLLOWS BY DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION, AND SLOWS DOWN-WENT ON NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ALL THAT HAPPENED WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE HAS BROKEN APART, TI…

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MY 2012 BMW 528 XDRIVE SUDDENLY GOT A WARNING LOW OIL PRESSURE FOLLOWS BY DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION, AND SLOWS DOWN-WENT ON NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ALL THAT HAPPENED WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE HAS BROKEN APART, TIMING CHAIN CAME OFF, JUMPED TIME, STARVED ENGINE FOR OIL & CONTAMINATED ENGINE AND WILL REQUIRE A WHOLE NEW ENGINE REPLACE WHICH WILL COST AROUND $13756.56 +LABOR+TAX MY TOTAL WAS $ 16456. I FOUND OUT I AM NOT ALONE AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BMW OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I ALSO CALLED THE BMW NORTH AMERICA THEY TOLD ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ONLY UP TO 70,000 MILES AND THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, MY CAR FAILS AT 105K MILES. I THINK BMW MUST STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT. WE CAN NOT BUY AN EXPENSIVE CAR LIKE BMW WITH AN ENGINE LIFE IS LESS THAN 8YRS.

NHTSA ODI #11258583

61,000 miles · Sep 13, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528XI. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF CATONSVILLE (6700 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, BALTIMORE, MD 21228, (844) 221-1352) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528XI. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF CATONSVILLE (6700 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, BALTIMORE, MD 21228, (844) 221-1352) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED PARTIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #11255319

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.