2009 Bmw 528I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
93,827 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 22 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 13.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Electrical System: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Air Bags: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2022: 7; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10548293 · 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT ABLE TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10549866 · 2013-10-28 (October 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607868 · 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT SYSTEM INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862829 · 2016-05-03 (May 3, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD CYLINDER BULLET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876435 · 2016-06-24 (June 24, 2016)
ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR FAILS SUDDENLY AND THEIR ISSUE OF VECHILE STALLING WHILE DRIVING I GOT JERKING MOTION WHEN DRIVING , IT HAD STALLED @ TRAFFIC SIGNAL IT MAY LEAD TO IMPACT
Owner-reported narrative. 93,827 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10937663 · 2016-12-27 (December 27, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE VIEW MIRROR WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE DRIVER NOT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO VIEW VEHICLES OUT OF THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10937663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966413 · 2017-03-16 (March 16, 2017)
THIS CAR DOES HAVE SYSTEMS ISSUES INVOLVING FUEL PRESSURE UNDER HWY SPEEDS AND DURING HARD ACCELERATION. THERE IS A ORANGE WARNING LIGHT THAT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHY THE CAR IS TRYING TO PULL VACUUME AND GET UP TO PROPER SPEEDS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS BUT NOT ALL MODELS ARE INVOLVED. I WOULD SUGGEST REPLACING THE O RINGS AND OR INJECTORS AS PREVENTABLE MEASURE AND FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY. IF THE DEALER CAN'T HELP YOU THEN REACH OUT TO THE AREA REP IN YOUR SALES CITY.
Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001191 · 2017-06-25 (June 25, 2017)
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR - WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "HAZARD LIGHTS CAME ON - THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED OVER 100 MORE GALLOONS IN THE TANK THAN IT HAD PREVIOUSLY - TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER AND WAS STALLING AS I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE FURTHEST LEFT LANE IN ORDER TO GET TO SAFETY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD - I WAS WITH MY PARENTS AND MY HANDICAPPED NEPHEW AND SCARED FOR ALL OF OUR LIVES. THE ENGINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 122,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001191 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V407000 · Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 2013-09-11 (September 11, 2013)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
Reported: 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗