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1998 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 BMW 528I do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
41
199733
199846
199942
20002
2001
Compare all 528I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
6Power Train
4Steering
4Structure
4Electrical System
3
All reported categories
Latches/locks/linkages
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Exterior Lighting
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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50,000 miles · May 15, 2008
Latches/locks/linkages

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WOULD FALL OFF IN HER HAND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES AND PREVENTED HER FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE FAILURE HERSELF ON…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WOULD FALL OFF IN HER HAND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES AND PREVENTED HER FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE FAILURE HERSELF ON SEVEN OCCASIONS BECAUSE IT WOULD COST $249 TO REPAIR IT AT A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10227912

100,000 miles · Feb 10, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 03/03/06.

NHTSA ODI #10149959

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

AUTOMATIC TRUCK LATCH FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608967

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.