1998 BMW 528I Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Nov 26, 2019 · 33 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 528I years
Fewer complaints than other years 12th of 15 for complaints
Safety recalls
None on file
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 BMW 528I. That ranks 12th out of 15 528I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (6 complaints, 18%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 1998 BMW 528I problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags6 · ~80,000 mi
Power Train4 · ~93,000 mi
Steering4 · ~87,500 mi
Structure4 · ~73,161 mi
Electrical System3 · ~104,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages3 · ~75,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control3 · ~273,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling2 · ~89,220 mi
Exterior Lighting2 · ~124,000 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1 · ~273,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags618%80,000——
Power Train412%93,000——
Steering412%87,500——
Structure412%73,161——
Electrical System39%104,000——
Latches/locks/linkages39%75,000——
Vehicle Speed Control39%273,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling26%89,220——
Exterior Lighting26%124,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)13%273,000——
Equipment13%———
Fuel System, Gasoline13%———
Seats13%151,980——
Service Brakes13%273,000——
Unknown or Other13%———
Visibility13%———
Wheels13%30,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 1999, with 7 complaints
1998: 1199811999: 772000: 1200012002: 112003: 4200342004: 332005: 2200522006: 222007: 1200712008: 222009: 3200932010: 222011: 1201112016: 112018: 1201812019: 11

n = 33 complaints · Source: NHTSA

1998 BMW 528I recalls (0)

No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 BMW 528I.

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 bmw 528i. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated five years ago. The contact attempted to use a code reader to diagnose the defect, but no code was discovered. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle had not…

Air Bags · received Nov 26, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11282547

The left side of the driver seat only tilts forward and backward a little and the other side stays stationary. All other seat functions work except that.

Seats · received Mar 2, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11075766

-takata -abs module malfunction due to module being fried by excessively engine heat -dsc system failure due to poor wiring and heat from poor placement in engine bay this has caused multiple issues with drive ability and safety i've been complaining for quite awhile that the car has been having…

Service Brakes · received Nov 30, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10928923

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 bmw 528i. The contact stated that after engine start up, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the air bag sensors needed to be reset. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not…

Air Bags · received Dec 6, 2011 · NHTSA complaint 10438757

The wiring harness that enters the trunk lid that supplies the lights for the rear license plate and the trunk lid release has frayed at the exact point where the harness enters the trunk lid. The wiring comes in direct contact with the sharp edge at the opening in the trunk lid, and several of the…

Electrical System · received Nov 29, 2010 · NHTSA complaint 10368829

Other BMW 528I years

← 1997 528I · 1999 528I →

See all BMW 528I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1998 BMW 528I?

Owners most often report air bags, power train, steering problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 6 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 1998 BMW 528I?

No safety recalls are on file for this model year.

Was the 1998 BMW 528I a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 528I model years, the 1998 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.