1997 Bmw 528I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
108,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 33 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 6 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut: 6; Suspension:Front: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl): 2; Suspension: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10203864 · 2007-09-23 (September 23, 2007)
I HAVE A 1997 BMW 528I WHEN IT RAINS MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM GEAR TO GEAR. I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY. ON 8/3/07 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THE 1998 528I HAD A RECALL ON THE GEAR SELECTOR MODULE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT AND LET ME KNOW. WHEN I WENT BACK FOR THE CAR THEY CHARGED ME A $124.00 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE TO TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY KNEW. I ALREADY KNEW THE PROBLEM AND HAD STATED THAT. I WANTED TO KNOW IF MY CAR WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL! THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 157,059 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325000 · 2010-04-12 (April 12, 2010)
VEHICLE STARTED RANDOM SHIFT SELECTIONS AFTER RAIN OCCURS. DISPLAY OFTEN SHOWED INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION AND INCORRECT GEAR POSITION ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. GEAR POSITION INDICATOR ON TRANSMISSION HAS DEGRADED SEALANT ALLOWING WATER INTO WIRING AND SWITCH CAUSING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND INCORRECT INDICATIONS FROM TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE SPEED CONTROL. HAS PROGRESSED NOW TO COMPLETE DEGRADATION OF ALL TRANSMISSION FUNCTION AND INDICATION REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224013 · 2008-04-08 (April 8, 2008)
1997 BMW 528I WAS RUNNING HOT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT, MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR. SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING HOT AND THE BRAKES WERE SCREECHING AND SQUEAKING. ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10224013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10574038 · 2014-03-21 (March 21, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON HIS VEHICLE HAD NOT OPERATED NORMALLY SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW SPECIALIST, WHO STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR THIS MODEL BMW HAD NEVER WORKED PROPERLY . THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026782 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING A SPACE THE FLEXIBLE BALL JOINT HOUSING CAME APART. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND. *AK THE FLEX JOINT HOUSING BOLT WENT OUT. THE FLEX JOINT HOUSING BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE SLIP RING WAS DAMAGED TO THE WHEEL SPRING. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 88,055 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254282 · 2009-01-08 (January 8, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE BADLY. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE DENTED INWARDS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SPRING STRUT PLATE FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 205,730 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260678 · 2009-03-04 (March 4, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2006, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. SOMETIME LATER, THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATING. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EITHER A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, TENSIONER, CONTROL MODULE, OR WIRING HAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134716 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)
ON 8/23/05 MY BMW 528I VIN#[XXX] BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIRS. ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS THAT DAY WAS THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND SOME TIMES STALL. MY CAR WAS CONNECTED TO A "CHECK ENGINE COMPUTER SYSTEM" TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE PROBLEM WAS A "CRANK SENSOR" WHICH HE INFORMED ME WAS RECALLED. HE MADE A CALL TO TULLEY BMW (LOCATED IN NASHUA, NH) IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL BUT THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE COULD FIX IT HOWEVER HE FELT IT WAS WORTH MY EFFORTS TO PERSUE THE ISSUE FURTHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,469 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 874473 · 2000-11-06 (November 6, 2000)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874473 at NHTSA ↗