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U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Bmw 528I: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

46 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

84,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 46 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1737.0%
Transmission and shifting24.3%
Steering behavior24.3%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
6
Air Bags
5
Air Bags:Side/Window
3
Electrical System
3
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
3
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
3
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control6
Air Bags5
Air Bags:Side/Window3
Electrical System3
Power Train:Automatic Transmission3
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module3
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)2

Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Air Bags: 5; Air Bags:Side/Window: 3; Electrical System: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9999
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 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.

2000
5
2001
4
2002
5
2003
2
2004
8
2005
6
2006
3
2007
1
2008
3
2010
1
2011
2
2015
1
2016
1
2019
3
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20005
20014
20025
20032
20048
20056
20063
20071
20083
20101
20112
20151
20161
20193
20231

2000: 5; 2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 2; 2004: 8; 2005: 6; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 3; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10017622 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017622 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023767 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)

1999 BMW 528I A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURE AT 51,300 MILES. REQUESTED FACTORY ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED. BMW WAS WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS AS THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WITH FAILURES AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE WHICH MAY INDICATE A DEFECTIVE PART. BMW APPARENT WILL NOT FIX COMPRESSORS MAKING NOISE EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. IF TRUE, THIS IS POOR PERFORMANCE FROM THIS AUTOMOBILE MAKER. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 51,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023767 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10054383 · 2004-01-18 (January 18, 2004)

DOOR HANDLE '99 528I BMW BROKE OFF (MADE OF PLASTIC) = IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN A CRASH NECESSITATING RAPID EXIT FROM VEHICLE. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054383 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057045 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)

ENGINE SURGES WHEN COLD IN COLD WEATHER (<45 DEG). SURGING CAUSES VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD IF AT A STOP. COULD INJUR PEDESTRIAN IF BRAKE NOT PRESSED WITH FORCE. BMW APPARENTLY AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057045 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10072461 · 2004-05-12 (May 12, 2004)

1999 BMW 528IT - ASC/ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. LOSS OF ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND SPEEDOMETER.COMMON ON 99 MODEL YEAR/55K MILES .NOTED WIDELY ON BMW WEB FORUMS.$1200 REPAIR ALWAYS OUT OF WARRANTY. NO ACKNOWLAGEMENT , RECALL OR HELP FROM BMWNA.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078774 · 2004-06-24 (June 24, 2004)

I HAVE HAD FAILURES OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 1999 BMW WHERE THE SYSTEM LOCKS UP AND CAUSES THE CAR TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. BASED ON NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS THESE MODELS SEEM VERY PRONE TO THIS PROBLEM. BMW DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 57,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078774 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083681 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND BECAME STUCK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083681 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089700 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE 1999 BMW 528I. *MR IN RE TO LATE PAYMENTS ON THE BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089700 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.