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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

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

33 reports
66,440 miles · Aug 11, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED AND A POWERSTEERING HOSE REPLACED, THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING A LOT OF FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (7 GALLONS IN 10 MILES). IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FUEL LINE CONNECTION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT WAS NOT FULLY CONNECTED AND SPRAYED FUEL OUT. THE CONNECTION IS A FACTORY ST…

Read full complaint

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED AND A POWERSTEERING HOSE REPLACED, THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING A LOT OF FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (7 GALLONS IN 10 MILES). IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FUEL LINE CONNECTION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT WAS NOT FULLY CONNECTED AND SPRAYED FUEL OUT. THE CONNECTION IS A FACTORY STANDARD QUICK CONNECT TYPE.. IN MY OPINION, FUEL LINES SHOULD NOT BE OF THIS TYPE OF QUICK CONNECTION, SINCE FAILURE TO PROPERLY CONNECT THE LINES MAY HAVE DETRIMENTAL RESULTS. FUEL LINES SHOULD HAVE THREADED OR SIMILAR TYPE OF CONNECTION. ONCE DISCONNECTED THEY WOULD REQUIRE AN EFFORT IN CONNECTING AND MAY NOT RESULT IN AN INADVERTANT OVERSIGHT. IN MY CASE, IT JUST SPRAYED OUT LOTS OF FUEL IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10032595

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. UPON IMPACT, SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BLOWING DOOR PANEL OFF, AND CAUSING INJURY TO PASSENGER'S RIBS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026780

30,000 miles · Feb 25, 2003
Wheels

BMW 528I SPORT WHEELS BEND AND WARP EASILY CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WHEEL REPAIR SPECIALIST AND BMW DEALERSHIPS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ALUMINUM IS TOO THIN AND IS PRONE TO WARP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008095

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER SMELLED GAS WHILE DRIVING,.TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC ,AND THEY STATED THAT CONSUMER HIT SOMETHING AND IT PUNCTURED GAS TANK, CAUSING A LEAK. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PLASTIC GAS TANK. HOW EASY IT WAS TO PUNCTURE IT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013404

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE WITH FOOT OFF GAS AND ON BRAKE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY INTO GARAGE WALL, PLACED CAR INTO REVERSE, THEN SHOT OUT OF FRONT OF GARAGE ALL WITHOUT PLACING FOOT ON GAS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #724523

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL HARNESS SHORTED FOR DRIVER SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. YH

NHTSA ODI #609334

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Structure

TRUNK MOTOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609059

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

AUTOMATIC TRUCK LATCH FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608967

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER IS 3 MPH OFF ON ADJUSTMENT. MJS

NHTSA ODI #607832

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

AUTO STEERING WHEEL COLUMN FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607288

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.