2012 BMW 528I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2012 BMW 528I, and owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2012 BMW 528I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Connectors/plugs/receptacles (electrical system) and pump (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW…
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Fuel pump (fuel system)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Vacuum (service brakes) and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes) and vacuum (service brakes)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at…
90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 BMW 528I have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 75,716 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 17 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“car engine timing chain guides are faulty and there have been lawsuits that were settled and no recall on the actual part with drivers still having issues with the N20 engine now getting quotes for ov”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 21, 2026 · Engine
“The failure involved the breaking of the oil chain, which resulted in catastrophic engine damage. Consequently, the timing chain and splash shield were also compromised due to the initial failure. The”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 4, 2025 · Unknown or other
Compare BMW 528I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 528I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 BMW 528I | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 BMW 528I | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 BMW 528I | 0 | 41 |
| 1998 BMW 528I | 0 | 33 |
| 1999 BMW 528I | 0 | 46 |
| 2000 BMW 528I | 1 | 42 |
| 2001 BMW 528I | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 BMW 528I | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 BMW 528I | 2 | 118 |
| 2009 BMW 528I | 2 | 23 |
| 2010 BMW 528I | 2 | 65 |
| 2011 BMW 528I | 4 | 117 |
| 2012 BMW 528I | 4 | 90 |
| 2013 BMW 528I | 4 | 73 |
| 2014 BMW 528I | 3 | 57 |
| 2015 BMW 528I | 1 | 65 |
| 2016 BMW 528I | 4 | 59 |
Checking a specific 2012 BMW 528I
How do I know if my 2012 BMW 528I has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2012 BMW 528I; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V454000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.