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2011 Bmw 528I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

117 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

74,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 117 complaints (28.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation2218.8%
Electrical and battery issues54.3%
Transmission and shifting43.4%
Fuel system concerns43.4%
Braking behavior32.6%
Steering behavior32.6%

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.

Engine
33
Engine And Engine Cooling
31
Power Train
25
Fuel/Propulsion System
17
Unknown Or Other
10
Electrical System
7
Fuel System, Gasoline
7
Steering
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine33
Engine And Engine Cooling31
Power Train25
Fuel/Propulsion System17
Unknown Or Other10
Electrical System7
Fuel System, Gasoline7
Steering6

Engine: 33; Engine And Engine Cooling: 31; Power Train: 25; Fuel/Propulsion System: 17; Unknown Or Other: 10; Electrical System: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Steering: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
17
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
16
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,99917
50,000 to 74,9999
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99916
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 6

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 49 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.

2012
1
2013
7
2014
7
2015
11
2016
15
2017
13
2018
8
2019
4
2020
3
2021
4
2022
3
2023
3
2024
30
2025
8
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20137
20147
201511
201615
201713
20188
20194
20203
20214
20223
20233
202430
20258

2012: 1; 2013: 7; 2014: 7; 2015: 11; 2016: 15; 2017: 13; 2018: 8; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 30; 2025: 8

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 22 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10594058 · 2014-05-21 (May 21, 2014)

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 528I BMW AND WITHIN MONTHS I HAD A COOLANT SIGNAL INDICATING LOW COOLANT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE COOLANT SIGNAL CAME ON EVERY SIX WEEKS, DESPITE HAVING IT TOPPED OFF AT DEALERSHIP. CAR HAD INADEQUATE POWER AND FELT LIKE IT DRAGGED. BMW SERVICE CENTER REPEATEDLY FAILED TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY, THE SIGNAL CAME ON AND AN INTOLERABLE FUEL ODOR EMERGED UPON TURNING ON THE CAR. FUEL AND CHEMICAL ODORS REMAIN. I HAVE READ OF OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT MAKES THE CAR …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10594058 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10609019 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609019 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10715571 · 2015-05-11 (May 11, 2015)

I AM EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM. AFTER GETTING NOWHERE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, I ESCALATED THE MATTER TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, BUT THEY DECLINED TO ASSIST. I FEEL THEY ARE NOT TAKING THE MATTER SERIOUSLY AND MY SAFETY IS AT RISK. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE REPEATEDLY RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM: I DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND LEAVE IT PARKED. WHEN I COME BACK TO LEAVE FOR LUNCH, THE CAR WON'T START ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CRANKS AND THE BATTERY IS FINE. THE ONBOARD SYSTEM DISPLAYS THE SAME FUE…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,573 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715571 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10908011 · 2016-09-19 (September 19, 2016)

I JUST HAD FUEL SUPPLY PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 BMW 528I. MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND LEFT IT PARKED IN THE MORNING. WHEN SHE WANTED TO GO FOR LUNCH, THE CAR WOULD NOT START ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CRANKED AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE ONBOARD SYSTEM DISPLAYED THE FUEL SUPPLY WARNINGS MESSAGE. TRYING TO START THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WITHOUT ANY LUCK, WE HAD TO CALL IN AAA TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIR. AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS STRUGGLING TO SET THE TRANSMISSION TO NETURAL, WE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER SHOP. RIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10618966 · 2014-08-05 (August 5, 2014)

THIS VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION OF THROTTLE ACCELERATION FROM IDLE AND SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS.PRESENTS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE FROM IDLE POSITION TO ACCELERATION. A 1-2 SECOND DELAY CONSISTENTLY HAPPENS. THE BMW DEALER REPORTED TO ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION BUT DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION YET. IF ENOUGH REPORTS OF THIS INCIDENT WERE HANDED IN THEN IT MAY NECESSITATE A CURE FROM BMW. APPARENTLY NOT ENOUGH SQUEAKY WHEELS PER SAY FOR BMW TO ACT.HOPEFULLY THIS ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ALREADY ON YOUR WEB SITE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME …

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618966 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10854995 · 2016-04-12 (April 12, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND REDUCING SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854995 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11601328 · 2024-07-11 (July 11, 2024)

Again I write about 2011 bmw 528i, the vanos bolts were recalled and when bmw was fixing them they showed a video , there was belt and metal pieces in the engine oil. Whoever had this car before me did fix the belt and other issues but they said they didn't take off the bottom of the engine pan for the oil to get out .. the vanos bolt recall when I looked it up was June 1st . I had bmw fix the missing bolts 🔩 June 7th it had to be towed there and back to my house. They said they made a decision that it did not happen because of the recall …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11601328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10594998 · 2014-05-29 (May 29, 2014)

IN JULY OF 2013 WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES STEERING. IT WOULD PULL VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER, CAUSING CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING OFF OF THE ROAD. WE TOOK IT TO OUR BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. WE WERE CHARGED $1773.14 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THAT WE MUST HAVE HIT A "PO…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,336 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11058049 · 2018-01-02 (January 2, 2018)

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING, NOISE, ETC. AT SHOP NOW BEING INVESTIGATED.

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11058049 at NHTSA ↗