2000 Bmw 528I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,378 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 42 complaints (9.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
Air Bags: 4; Tires: 4; Air Bags:Side/Window: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 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 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 3; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 6; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2020: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003039 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE CAR BECAME 'FREE SPIN' WITH NO CONTROL ON THE WHEELS WHILE THE CAR WAS MAKE A TURN. APPARENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL ROD BROKE. THE CAR IS BMW 538I YEAR 2000 PURCHASED BRAND NEW. WIN NUMBER: [XXX]. IT HAS 34,900 FILES ON IT AND IS UNDER WARRANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043722 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
CAR STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE ROAD AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE ABILITY TO ACCERLATE DECREASED ALSO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044706 · 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE SPUTTERED PRIOR TO IT DYING OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ` *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056914 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
2000 BMW 528 IDLES ROUGH IN COLD CLIMATES (2002/2003). THIS PRODUCES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP OR IN WARMER CLIMATES. DEALER CONSTANTLY STATES "PROBLEM UNREPRODUCABLE". AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT DEALERSHIP AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING WENT BACK, GRABBED A TECHNICIAN AND HAD HIM SIT IN THE CAR WITH ME. AFTERWARDS TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S PROBABLY A PART CALLED THE VANOS UNIT. HAD PART REPLACED THEN PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THIS WINTER (2003/2004), PROBLEM RESURFACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093246 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
RADIATOR NECK FAILURE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102273 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
ENGINE OVERHEATED/RADIATOR FAILED (AFTER ONLY 53000 MILES), CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD. NO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATION OF OVERHEATING. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9400. MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY ENDED AT 50000 MILES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 53,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116945 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
A BUBBLE IN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE CAUSED A BLOW OUT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PIRELLI P245/451794. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 82,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147785 · 2006-01-14 (January 14, 2006)
THE DESIGN OF THE ABS CONTROLLER ON A 2000 BMW 528I IS PRONE TO FAILURE AND WILL RENDER THE ABS FUNCTIONS INOPERABLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS SERIES OF BMW AUTOMOBILES. THE FAILURE STARTS WITH VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS THAT INDICATE THE ABS SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. THESE FAILURES CAN BE INTERMITTENT AND IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO HEAT AS THE CONTROLLER IS MOUNTED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT VERY NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. ONCE FAILED THE FAULTY ABS COMPUTER CAN CAUSE AND DOES CAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE SPEED SENSORS MOUNTED ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147785 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V048000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2000-02-17 (February 17, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗