3.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,867 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 BMW 528 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 BMW 528 Owner Comments

problem #3

Sep 152021

528

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I own bmw 528i 2012. These engines are straight up bad. Timing chain failed at 149K miles with no signs of failure. Just driving down the road when suddenly the car just turns off and goes into neutral on its own. I simply pulled over restarted the car to cylinder misfires, car struggling to accelerate, smoke out the exhaust, and a loud rattling sound. I pulled over had the car towed. I had my car taken to a independent shop for repairs and diagnostics and what I got told was absolutley crazy. The timing chain guides broke off the timing chain, went down into the oil pump and those pieces settled into the pump restricting oil from going to the top of the motor causing the timing chain to start slacking and breaking from the top. He also said one of the Camshaft caps also has a crack in it.The car has been parked in my driveway for 6 months because repairing the motor would cost a ton, and putting in a remanafactured motor with labor cost would cost just as much as buying the same car again. BMW had a lawsuit about the N20/N26 but thats only covered upto 100K miles. Considering my car was running good I had no reason too change anything on this car. Oil changes were done almost every 3-5K miles and the car had no sounds no lights on the dash. I tried to claim the SULEV/PZEV Warranty which is covered upto 150K miles and the dealerships either never contacted me back or they just said no. I even contacted the HQ of BMW and they also refused any repair even with SULEV Warranty. BMW knows 100% these motors have a bad timing chain issue and that these timing chains can fail at any moment. What type of motor fails at 150K miles. Im a college student, my dad gave me this car for graduating high school. I maintained my car so much just for it to fail out of no where and the way it failed could have caused someone to crash into me. Im really upset that BMW isnt taking responsibility for whats wrong and wont recall these timing chains or motor no matter the mileage on the car.

- Vallejo, CA, USA

problem #2

May 042020

528 4-cyl

  • 122,600 miles
I was driving on the freeway and my car suddenly stopped running and shut down on me mid freeway! I stepped on gas pedal and nothing! it turned off on me and wouldn't turn on! now it turns but gas won't work! I believe there is a problem with the gas pump of something regarding gas fuel! I had to call my car insurance to tow my car when I became stranded on the freeway.

- Grand Terrace, CA, USA

problem #1

Sep 042018

528

  • miles
The car front and rear tires were of different size and I noticed when I got the car from dealer next day as the car would drift towards one side. It gave "drivetrain error" since its all wheel drive with power not being equally distributed due to different RPM on front and rear. This wasn't the case when I test drove the day before. I kept thinking its a transmission issue but it was tire that was causing it. At high speed (40-60mph) when I take off from gas the car would drift to one side and would stall. This is serious safety issue and could have caused not only passenger life but also major transmission and drivetrain breakdown. The dealer swapped the tires because with mismatched tires the car would have been non-drivable at the time I bought. This AWD is very sensitive to tires tread differences. After calling dealer he is denying and saying its "as-is" and not responsible for anything.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

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