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2013 BMW 528XI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 BMW 528XI do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.

About this comparison →

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

30 reports with mileage · 26 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

56 reports
120,000 miles · Aug 23, 2018
Structure

THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TODAY (8/23/2018) ON A CHICAGO-AREA HIGHWAY. I SAW NO LIKELY CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE -- E.G., FLYING DEBRIS. NOR IS THERE ANY DAMAGE TO THE LINER THAT SITS UNDERNEATH THE GLASS. THE FIRST THING THAT COMES UP WHEN GOOGLING THE ISSUE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED JAN 2018 AGAINST BMW. …

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THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TODAY (8/23/2018) ON A CHICAGO-AREA HIGHWAY. I SAW NO LIKELY CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE -- E.G., FLYING DEBRIS. NOR IS THERE ANY DAMAGE TO THE LINER THAT SITS UNDERNEATH THE GLASS. THE FIRST THING THAT COMES UP WHEN GOOGLING THE ISSUE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED JAN 2018 AGAINST BMW. CONSUMER REPORTS HAS SEVERAL ARTICLES DESCRIBING INCREASED INCIDENCE OF EXPLODING SUNROOFS SINCE CARMAKERS HAVE INCREASED THE SIZE OF SUNROOFS IN THE LAST 5-7 YRS.

NHTSA ODI #11121866

68,000 miles · Jul 24, 2018
Air BagsSteeringVehicle Speed Control

MY WIFE WAS TURNING HEAR STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD A "CLICK" AND THEN SHE GOT SOME LIGHTS ON HER DASHBOARD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE "CLOCK SPRING" FAILED. FROM READING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE WITH 2013 BMW 5 SERIES. IT IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE WHEN IT FAILS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NO LONGER…

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MY WIFE WAS TURNING HEAR STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD A "CLICK" AND THEN SHE GOT SOME LIGHTS ON HER DASHBOARD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE "CLOCK SPRING" FAILED. FROM READING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE WITH 2013 BMW 5 SERIES. IT IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE WHEN IT FAILS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NO LONGER OPERABLE (HORN, AIRBAG OR ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL).

NHTSA ODI #11113220

86,000 miles · Jul 10, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE MESSAGE "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" DISPLAYED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (REEVES BMW TAMPA, 109 EAST FOWLER AVE, TAMPA, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE MESSAGE "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" DISPLAYED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (REEVES BMW TAMPA, 109 EAST FOWLER AVE, TAMPA, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #11110591

90,000 miles · Jan 3, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528XI. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNION PARK BMW IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528XI. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND LOST POWER COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNION PARK BMW IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11058346

30,000 miles · Aug 8, 2017
Air BagsSeats

MY CARE HAS 30000 MILES; WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOV 2016. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR VERY WELL. I GOT A WARNING SIGN THAT READ 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION'. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID THE SZL (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) AND THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IN READIN…

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MY CARE HAS 30000 MILES; WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOV 2016. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR VERY WELL. I GOT A WARNING SIGN THAT READ 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION'. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID THE SZL (STEERING ANGLE SENSOR) AND THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IN READING SEVERAL THREADS I THINK THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED BY BMW. I AM UNCLEAR AS TO WHY A RESTRAINT SYSTEM ISSUE DOESN'T FALL UNDER SAFETY WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR COVERAGE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #11013830

98,000 miles · May 11, 2017
Power Train

DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY ERROR, CAR LOST POWER AS DRIVING AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I HAD TO HAVE FLATBED TOW TRUCK COME AND GET VEHICLE AND TAKE TO DEALERSHIP, THIS PARTICULAR ERROR IS WIDELY REFERENCED BY BMW OWNERS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR, COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC, COU…

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DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY ERROR, CAR LOST POWER AS DRIVING AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I HAD TO HAVE FLATBED TOW TRUCK COME AND GET VEHICLE AND TAKE TO DEALERSHIP, THIS PARTICULAR ERROR IS WIDELY REFERENCED BY BMW OWNERS FOR THIS MODEL YEAR, COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC, COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, HAD 50K MI INSPECTION AND CURRENTLY HAS 98K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10984870

Official recalls

1

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.

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.