CSR

BMW · NHTSA safety record

2014 BMW 528I

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

56

Complaints

0

Crashes

5

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 BMW 528I have filed 56 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2014 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 25 of them (45%). The typical failure was reported at 75,000 miles, the median across the 27 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints fell 47% year on year: 10 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 19 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (3)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP

24V608000 · August 13, 2024

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
The risk
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 720,796 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

24V527000 · July 11, 2024

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The remedy
The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 1,145 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

15V188000 · March 31, 2015

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 13,443 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 56.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25 45%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 19 34%
ENGINE 14 25%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 9%
POWER TRAIN 5 9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 7%
AIR BAGS 2 4%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 2 4%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 4%
SEATS 2 4%
STEERING 2 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 21.

2014 2025 2026
2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 injured · fire · towed · 54,283 miles

The contact owned a 2014 BMW 528i. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electrical discharge warning light illuminated and the contact noticed fire coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss. The manufacturer was scheduled to perform an inspection of the vehicle. The contact was taken to the local medical center in a family member's vehicle. The contact sustained second-degree burns to his right ankle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. There was an open recall NHTSA Campaign Number:

NHTSA complaint 11664013, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 injured

while driving on highway at 65 mph the vehicle electrical system began to go haywire and the power steering and brakes both stopped functioning making it impossible to control vehicle. I was nearly struck by several vehicles because of the suddenness of the shutdown. I was able to subsequently stop vehicle in the left lane without incident. Vehicle towed to BMW of Turnersville where diagnosis was faulty fuel pump !! Cost of repair $2,000..

NHTSA complaint 11464623. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

fire · towed · 150,000 miles

The contact owned a 2014 BMW 528i. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact stated that a neighbor knocked on the door and informed the contact that the vehicle was on fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned to total loss. The fire caused damage to the asphalt where the vehicle was parked on the street. The contact stated that the HOA charged him an excessive fee for the damages. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated

NHTSA complaint 11643746, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

fire · 1,950 miles

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND A FEW MINUTES LATER SAW SMOKE FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT AND A HOLE BURNT IN THE SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY REPAIRED A CONNECTOR AND GIVES NO FURTHER DESCRIPTION. THIS REPAIR IS NOT DOCUMENTED ON THE RECEIPT AND THE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE SEAT COVER IS NOT AVAILABLE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT POSSIBLY SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE REPAIR TO BE COMPLETE. NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE HEATED SEATS WERE NOT TURNED ON, HOWEVER, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY HARM. *JS

NHTSA complaint 10592185. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
car was brought in for a recall could erupt fire from engine and electrical brought car to bmw 8/2025 have checked list when brought in car was in perfect condition per bmw .pick up car checked engine light was on brought back immediately manager took to shop and cleared light immediately came back on i called them then i drive screen was saying low coolant oil low drivetrain overheating oil leaks burning smell coolant smell etc called bmw na service manager etc waited for appointment 1/26 bmw had for 8 days only to say it had nothing to do with recall car now has no power excessive smoke smell undriveable been in garage for 3 months if ran would catch on fire 🔥

NHTSA complaint 11745013. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint. Greetings: I am writing pursuant to recalls No. 24V‑608, both remedy unavailable and remedy available, ten months later. During the intervening ten months, I experienced hardship, expense and loss of use of my vehicle. The attached documents represent my correspondence to BMW Customer relations. The docs were submitted on September 22, 2025 and October 14, 2025, by email. I have received no response, to date; not even acknowledgement of receipt. I hereby submit my belief that BMW has some responsibility for failure to cure the smoke condition they knew about for ten months. Please note the BMW service inspection of August 14, 2025 in which it was stated

NHTSA complaint 11708800, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Description: This complaint concerns both the lack of navigation system support and the unresolved recall status for my 2014 BMW 5 Series. 1.Navigation System: BMW no longer supports map or system updates for this vehicle, and no hardware or retrofit upgrade is available. The outdated GPS system results in inaccurate directions, missing roads, and potentially unsafe routes. BMW dealerships confirm there are no solutions, creating a long-term safety hazard for owners who rely on navigation systems. 2.Recall Incomplete: I have an open recall on this vehicle, but BMW dealerships have only responded with vague statements such as, “it should be coming soon.” There has been no formal

NHTSA complaint 11668430, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
While on [XXX] the car suddenly shows low engine oil. The car was driving from Fremont, CA to Los Angeles on Friday [XXX]. Then, coming back to Fremont, CA from LA on Sat. [XXX] It happened after [XXX] to [XXX] , warning light showed low engine oil. Stopped the car at safe place. Then, contacted the insurance to tow the car as well as my son to bring engine oil. After filled engine oil, then, warning light showed low coolant. Filled 3 gallons of water, but sooner later need to fill coolant again due to disappear. The car has been serviced by BMW Fremont, CA on Nov 30, 2024 with 87751 odometer. At the time of engine break down, odometer is about ~91,500 miles. Less than 4,000 miles driving,

NHTSA complaint 11667779, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

Electrical water pump cause car to catch fire. Car was on fire.

NHTSA complaint 11664247. 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 63 1
2013 73 4
2012 89 4
2011 117 4
2010 65 2

Other 2014 BMW models

Every BMW on this site — 249 vehicles, 484 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

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.

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