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2011 BMW 528I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 528I years

Owner complaints for the 2011 BMW 528I are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

68 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

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.

  • Engine. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine complaints

33 reports
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2,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN ACCELERATION THAT OCCURS PRIMARILY AFTER (I) THE VEHICLE HAS SLOWED DOWN TO A SPEED BETWEEN 18 MPH AND 24 MPH; (II) A FULL STOP (ALTHOUGH IT IS INTERMITTENT FOLLOWING A FULL STOP) AND (III) SUDDEN SURGES OF ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN MODERATE ACCELERATION…

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THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN ACCELERATION THAT OCCURS PRIMARILY AFTER (I) THE VEHICLE HAS SLOWED DOWN TO A SPEED BETWEEN 18 MPH AND 24 MPH; (II) A FULL STOP (ALTHOUGH IT IS INTERMITTENT FOLLOWING A FULL STOP) AND (III) SUDDEN SURGES OF ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN MODERATE ACCELERATION IS DESIRED. THE PEDAL CAN BE DEPRESSED NEARLY FULLY WITH NO NOTICEABLE ACCELERATION FOR A SHORT PERIOD. AFTER THE DELAY THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE, OFTEN IN A SURGE. FROM A FULL STOP ACCELERATION IS OFTEN A JERKY AFFAIR. THE ACCELERATION ISSUES SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISE SAFETY DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED VEHICLE PERFORMANCE, BOTH WITH THE ACCELERATION DELAY AND THE SUDDEN SURGE OF ACCELERATION THAT OCCURS AFTER ABOUT A SECOND TO A SECOND AND A HALF AFTER THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN DEPRESSED. OFTEN TIMES WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NEARLY HIT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATION DELAY. LIKEWISE, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN UNTIL A ROAD IS EMPTY AS I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO CROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504194

150 miles · Mar 22, 2013
EnginePower TrainSuspension

AFTER PURCHASING MY 2011 528I I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY FROM A STOP OR AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, IT ACTUALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS APPLYING THE BREAKS UNTIL YOU APPLIED CLOSE TO HALF THROTTLE THEN IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND RECEIVED A PATCH AND PROGRAMMING WHICH MADE NO CHA…

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AFTER PURCHASING MY 2011 528I I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY FROM A STOP OR AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, IT ACTUALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS APPLYING THE BREAKS UNTIL YOU APPLIED CLOSE TO HALF THROTTLE THEN IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND RECEIVED A PATCH AND PROGRAMMING WHICH MADE NO CHANGE. TO TOP ALL OF THIS OFF IT PICKS AND CHOOSES WHEN ITS GOING TO DRIVE "NORMAL" SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT....THIS IS UNSAFE...... ON THE FREEWAY IT WONT DOWNSHIFT TO PASS UNLESS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE MOTOR JUST LUGS AND WONT GIVE YOU THE EXPECTED RESPONSE CAUSING CARS AND TRUCKS ALIKE TO BE CUT OFF BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED.... I CANT BELIEVE BMW IS ALLOWING ITS FLAGSHIP MODEL THE 5 SERIES TO HAVE THESE ISSUES AND NOT ADDRESS THEM.... THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT AS DESCRIBED BY MANY, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND LEFT AT THE END OF THE DAY WITH A $300.00 ALIGNMENT????? I'M CONCERNED WITH GETTING STUCK WITH A LEMON $50,000 CAR THAT I WONT BE ABLE TO SELL, ATLEAST OFFER A BUY BACK PROGRAM??? HELP!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504064

33,000 miles · Feb 22, 2013
EnginePower Train

FROM A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE IS A LAG OR HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR TAKES OFF. WHEN IT DOES TAKE OFF, THERE IS A HARD JERK. IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO GAUGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER CARS WHEN IT LUNGES VERY QUICKLY. IF YOU'RE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, AS IN MY CASE, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO IF IT'S…

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FROM A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN ACCELERATING, THERE IS A LAG OR HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR TAKES OFF. WHEN IT DOES TAKE OFF, THERE IS A HARD JERK. IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO GAUGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER CARS WHEN IT LUNGES VERY QUICKLY. IF YOU'RE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, AS IN MY CASE, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO IF IT'S WET, AND THIS HAPPENS, IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AS IT CAN BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499724

Official recalls

4

17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Oct 30, 2017

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

16V832000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 17, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

16V746000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 17, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

14V176000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 10, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.