1997 BMW 528I problems
The 1997 BMW 528I has 49 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (27%) concerns suspension. Next are air bags (10%) and brakes (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 49 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 109,000 miles 24 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 24 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 109,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 13 model years of the BMW 528I with enough data (15 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving 20MPH had head-on collision with another vehicle, and airbags did not deploy. Driver injured. Dealer contacted.
I'd like to request an inspector to check on my vehicle. This is the second time I had an accident likt this but the airbag did not deploy.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 BMW 528I. While driving 60 MPH, the contact heard a clunking noise and noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle dropped to the ground and the steering wheel began to vibrate badly. He pulled to the side of the road and could not control the vehicle. He crashed into the guardrail and the front and rear passenger side doors were dented inwards. There were no injuries.
While driving at night on interstate 5, southbound north of los angeles in vicinity of sun valley, my 1997 BMW 528I struck a large (30 gallon) plastic barrel in the roadway, impacting the lower front center/right of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. Damage was extensive enough that the insurance company considers it a total loss (exceeding $12,000). They were only able to confirm two other recall services that had been performed.
A rattling noise can be heard while driving at any speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the front struts needed to be replaced. The front right strut collapsed and caused damage to the tire.