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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Bmw 528I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

73 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

89,560 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 73 complaints (50.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1419.2%
Engine operation68.2%
Braking behavior68.2%
Steering behavior56.8%
Transmission and shifting34.1%
Fuel system concerns22.7%

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
37
Air Bags
14
Electrical System
14
Power Train
13
Engine And Engine Cooling
11
Unknown Or Other
6
Seat Belts
4
Steering
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine37
Air Bags14
Electrical System14
Power Train13
Engine And Engine Cooling11
Unknown Or Other6
Seat Belts4
Steering4

Engine: 37; Air Bags: 14; Electrical System: 14; Power Train: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Unknown Or Other: 6; Seat Belts: 4; Steering: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
11
75,000 to 99,999
18
100,000 to 149,999
18
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,99911
75,000 to 99,99918
100,000 to 149,99918
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 0

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 21 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.

2015
1
2016
3
2017
7
2018
11
2019
12
2020
9
2021
6
2022
3
2023
3
2024
11
2025
7
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20151
20163
20177
201811
201912
20209
20216
20223
20233
202411
20257

2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 7; 2018: 11; 2019: 12; 2020: 9; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 11; 2025: 7

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 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 10965855 · 2017-03-14 (March 14, 2017)

MY 2013 BMW HORN WENT OUT A WEEK AGO, I PAID ALMOST 300 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIX AND MY BRAKE FLUID CHANGED. A WEEK LATER MY HORN WENT OUT AGAIN ONCE MY DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE THIS LIGHT CAME ON MY CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AS MY HORN. WHICH IS EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL THIS COULD BE AN AIRBAG PROBLEM BMW HAS CALLED CERTAIN MODELS OF THESE CARS ON RECALL WHICH MINE DOESN'T FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG BMW 5 SERIES MODELS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THESE ARE IMPORTANT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10965855 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11348574 · 2020-08-11 (August 11, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW COUNTRY BMW (1 WESTON PARK RD, HARTFORD, CT 06120, [phone removed]) WHERE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN HEADLIGHTS AND MAY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT WATER ENTERING THE HEADLIGHTS COULD LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OR FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVI…

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11348574 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11092691 · 2018-05-09 (May 9, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SERVICE ROAD, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO BMW OF DALLAS (6200 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092691 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11233680 · 2019-07-21 (July 21, 2019)

THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON APRIL 19TH. WHILST CLIMBING AN UPHILL ON A MULTI LANE ROAD, I FELT I WAS LOSING POWER, CONFUSED AND WORRIED, I PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL HARDER AND HARDER ONLY TO REALIZE I WAS RAPIDLY SLOWING DOWN, AND THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED REVVING! LOOKING AT THE DASH, THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY HAD SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WAS COASTING UPHILL STEADILY LOSING SPEED. WAS IN THE CENTER LANE, HIT THE HAZARD LAMPS AND TRIED TO CHANGE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER FOR SAFELY. CAR IN THE ADJACE…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233680 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10887855 · 2016-07-22 (July 22, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISES TO BOTH ARMS AND LEGS. THERE WAS ALSO UPPER ABDOMINAL BRUISING AND STOMACH SWELLING THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILAB…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10887855 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10955118 · 2017-02-16 (February 16, 2017)

VEHICLE PART # BMW 61319354047 WILL FAIL CAUSING ABS AND ALL AIRBAG SYSTEMS TO BE DISABLED. VEHICLES MANUFACTURED USING THIS ASSEMBLY OF POOR QUALITY CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, FAILURE OF AIRBAGS,SEAT BELTS RESTRAIN & ABS SAFETY SYSTEMS, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE FOR OPERATION UNDER ANY FEDERAL ROAD OR CONDITION. COMPLETE AIR BAG SYSTEM DISABLING

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10955118 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11176038 · 2019-02-10 (February 10, 2019)

WHEN MAKING TURNS I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE. GOING INTO TURN AND COMING OUT OF TURN NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN MAKING TURNS ANYWHERE. AFTER INVESTIGATING COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CLOCK SPRING JUST FOR NO REASON BREAKS CONNECTION WHICH MAKE THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT LIGHT COM ON AND YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF ANY FUNCTIONS ON STEERING WHEEL. FUNCTIONS LIKE CRUISE CONTROL,RADIO CONTROL...ETC. CONNECTIONS INSIDE A STEERING WHEEL SHOULDN'T BE SNAPPING OFF IF THEY WERE DESIGNED CORRECTLY IN A 2013 VEHICLE. I B…

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11176038 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11044432 · 2017-11-08 (November 8, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A PUNGENT ODOR WAS PERCEIVED IN THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY SECONDS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION KICKED OUT OF GEAR AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO THE CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11044432 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11611867 · 2024-08-30 (August 30, 2024)

The contact owns a 2013 BMV 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred…

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11611867 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11664465 · 2025-06-02 (June 2, 2025)

Hello my name is [XXX] and I am (was) the owner of a 2013 BMW 528i VIN [XXX] . It was a secondary vehicle for me for until I sustained an injury and it being my primary vehicle. I took it through emissions, updated the registration, and I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I had driven it without a problem then in Juneit did not run at all. At that time there was a recall on the computer system and supposedly it needed a new key programmed to start. That was a 700 expense out of pocket and the car still did not even turn over. I authori…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11664465 at NHTSA ↗