2012 BMW 528I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 528I years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 528I. That ranks 3rd out of 15 528I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (43 complaints, 48%), typically at around 81,500 miles. Complaints mention 3 fires, 3 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 90owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 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 | 43 | 48% | 81,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 26 | 29% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 20 | 22% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 13% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 13% | 65,750 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 6% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 4% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 3% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3% | 81,455 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 3% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 3% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3% | 122,600 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 3% | 54,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 20,090 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 BMW 528I recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of power assist braking (PE13030) — opened Sep 6, 2013, closed Oct 25, 2013, led to recall 13V454000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
car engine timing chain guides are faulty and there have been lawsuits that were settled and no recall on the actual part with drivers still having issues with the N20 engine now getting quotes for over $15,000. is this not an incident where itâs not the fault of a driver but manufacturing? This…
Vehicle has oil leak bad
The failure involved the breaking of the oil chain, which resulted in catastrophic engine damage. Consequently, the timing chain and splash shield were also compromised due to the initial failure. The incident appears to be caused by a malfunction or defect in the oil chain assembly. The affected…
On [XXX], the water pump's electrical plug connector became defective, ultimately putting myself and [XXX] son in a dangerous situation. While on the highway coming home from work/daycare, the car overheated rapidly, my car started slowing down in the middle of the highway. The car ultimately…
I had just purchased a car but a month ago I was driving to lunch and I was at a stop sign when the light turned green I started to go the car started shaking and smoke was coming out of the front under the hood I had just an oil change so I took it back to the oil change shop. They could not…
Other BMW 528I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 528I | 59 | 4 |
| 2015 528I | 65 | 1 |
| 2014 528I | 57 | 3 |
| 2013 528I | 73 | 4 |
| 2012 | 90 | 4 |
| 2011 528I | 117 | 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 2012 BMW 528I?
Owners most often report engine, fuel/propulsion system, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 43 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 BMW 528I?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 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 2012 has 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.