2011 BMW 528I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 528I years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW 528I. That is the most of any 528I model year in the database (15 years). The most reported problem area is engine (34 complaints, 29%), typically at around 42,500 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 118owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 BMW 528I 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 | 34 | 29% | 42,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 32 | 27% | 113,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 25 | 21% | 44,740 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 17 | 14% | 56,340 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 11 | 9% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 8% | 41,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 6% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 5% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 5% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 3% | 29,186 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 85,080 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 BMW 528I recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a result, the SCU may not accurately determine if activation and deployment of the air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and head restraints is necessary in the event of a crash.
Risk: Depending on the severity of the crash, inadequate activation of the driver and/or passenger air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and active head restraints may increase the risk of injury.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.
Risk: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
Risk: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
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.
1. Vanos Bolts recall. NHTSA Recall 23V-707. Cause the car the have a rough idle, check engine light, car to stall, and cut off in traffic all with seconds. Dealership says it was not the Vanos Bolts that cause the shutdown, but it is the DME and ICM. 2. The safety of myself and my 15 year old…
I am filing a complaint regarding the recall work performed on my 2011 BMW 528i for the VANOS bolt safety recall. The recall notice stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive until repaired. I arranged towing to Jackie Cooper BMW in Edmond, Oklahoma because of this safety warning. The dealership…
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over, and after several attempts, the vehicle restarted. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, and the message…
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: 23V707000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the message "Drive Train Malfunction - Drive…
Other BMW 528I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 528I | 59 | 4 |
| 2015 528I | 65 | 1 |
| 2014 528I | 57 | 3 |
| 2013 528I | 73 | 4 |
| 2012 528I | 90 | 4 |
| 2011 | 118 | 4 |
| 2010 528I | 65 | 2 |
| 2009 528I | 23 | 2 |
| 2008 528I | 118 | 2 |
| 2007 528I | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 528I | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 528I | 42 | 1 |
| 1999 528I | 46 | 0 |
| 1998 528I | 33 | 0 |
| 1997 528I | 41 | 0 |
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 2011 BMW 528I?
Owners most often report engine, engine and engine cooling, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 34 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 BMW 528I?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 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 2011 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.