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BMW · NHTSA safety record

2010 BMW 528I

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 65 safety complaints about the 2010 BMW 528I with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 4 mention a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the engine and its cooling and the exterior lighting.

The most complained-about system is the engine and its cooling, named in 17 complaints, 26% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 100,000 miles, the median across the 43 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2010 to December 2025 · How this is counted

What is on file

65 complaints on file

65

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

4

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17 · 26%
ENGINE 16 · 25%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 9 · 14%
AIR BAGS 7 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 6%
SEAT BELTS 3 · 5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 5%
SEATS 2 · 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 2%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 65.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 11.

12 9 6 3
10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2010 to 2025.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2010 BMW 528I. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)

17V683000 · October 30, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 740,561 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

13V407000 · September 11, 2013

The defect
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
The risk
Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 134,100 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

i was in a rear end crash accident my fault fast airbag didn’t deploy significant damage to my face car was totaled

NHTSA complaint 11518174. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

fire · towed · 168,000 miles

The contact owned a 2010 BMW 528i. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle started to shake and vibrate, additionally smoke began to issue from under the hood. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to safely pull of the highway and shut off the vehicle, the smoke emission increased and the vehicle caught fire. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire using water. The police were also on scene. The contact is not aware if any reports were written by police or fire department. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot due to being consumed completely by the fire. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The

NHTSA complaint 11460031, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 120,000 miles

RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.: 17V683: PCV VALVE HEATER ON JANUARY 22, 2018, WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON THE 10 FREEWAY, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I PULLED OVER, TURNED MY CAR OFF, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS. I OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH TURNED INTO FIRE BURNING THE ENTIRE FRONT END INTO THE SEATING AREA OF THE CAR. THE PCV VALVE HEATER MELTED CAUSING THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED WHO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TOW YARD. RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED FROM BMW, HOWEVER, NO INSTRUCTION PROVIDED ON HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON THIS LOSS. WAS INFORMED "REMEDY UNAVAILABLE".

NHTSA complaint 11064540. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)

fire · 180,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (TOWNE BMW, 8215 MAIN ST, WILLIAMSVILLE, NY 14221) THREE TIMES, BUT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RETURN CALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA complaint 11104656. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 145,000 miles

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 528I. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the repair failed to prevent a failure. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormally loud rattling sound coming from under the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in Manual Mode, the vehicle independently shifted to neutral(N), the steering wheel became firm, and the transmission failed to shift out of neutral. In addition, the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle hesitated while

NHTSA complaint 11706489, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
insulation on wiring is deteriorated leading to possible fire and or shorting out of electrical system

NHTSA complaint 11675067. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed · 124,000 miles

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 528I. The contact stated while making a left turn and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The brake and transmission warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle, and then attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended and was towed back to the residence. The vehicle was next towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the camshaft and timing belt chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V707000 (ENGINE

NHTSA complaint 11655886, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
They lied to me made me buy a bad car and then didn't even give me a license plate of anything they stole my money

NHTSA complaint 11646404. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
I brought the car into BMW Manhattan after receiving the recall letter. They have refused to perfom the correction based on the fact that I had to replace the engine dues to a engine defect that cracked the number 6 cylinder in the original engine. I am confident BMW has the abilty to check the engine number and see that it requires the recall. They only stated it wasnt the original engine so they did not perform the work required by ther recall.

NHTSA complaint 11626683. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The car smells like gas by the rear wheels. In speaking with other owners of this vehicle this is a defective flaw in the vehicle it is a known problem in this vehicle and there has been no recall. This is a serious concern as gasoline is highly flammable. I have had to spend thousands of dollars fixing problems with this car and I cannot afford to fix this issue. This is a major concern. Please advise a fix ASAP

NHTSA complaint 11623122. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW 528I

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2016 59 4 —
2015 65 1 —
2014 57 3 —
2013 73 4 —
2012 90 4 —
2011 117 4 —

Other 2010 BMW models

328I 155 X5 124 535I 58 335I 41 X3 32 3 Series 30 750LI 30 X3 SAV 23

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every BMW on this site — 257 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst