1997 BMW 528 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 528 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 BMW 528. That is the most of any 528 model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints, 23%). Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 13owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 BMW 528 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 23% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 23% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 15% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 8% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 8% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 8% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 BMW 528 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 BMW 528.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I bought the 1997 bmw 528i off lease. It was my second bmw. The prior bmw had virtually no problems. I guess the second one had to make up for the first one. If i only had a nickle for every time i wished i hadn't traded for the second one. 1. The first problem occurred immediately, the engine…
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at no particular speed, the gear shift indicator down shifted into neutral. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection only. Updated 4/11/2006 - *nm
Engine keeps overheating due to a faulty water pump. Dealer has replaced water pump twice. *ak
Engine overheated suddenly at expressway speed. Suspect thermastat or water pump. Caused major engine failure, "meltdown" of radiator assy. *ak
The third/middle rear brake light housing has melted due to excessive heat build up when using brakes for extended time periods (e.g., when stuck in very slow moving traffic). This has caused the red lense to melt over the bulb, thereby posing a risk of fire and preventing the car from being…
Other BMW 528 years
See all BMW 528 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 BMW 528?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic, steering problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 BMW 528?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 BMW 528 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 528 model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.