2011 BMW 528I engine problems
66 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2011 BMW 528I, which is 40% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 66 40% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 93,000 miles 38 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When engine problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 38 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 93,000 miles, and 34% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 1 fire, 2 injuries.
What owners wrote
Purchased a brand new 528I BMW and within months I had a coolant signal indicating low coolant. Subsequently, the coolant signal came on every six weeks, despite having it topped off at dealership. Car had inadequate power and felt like it dragged. BMW service center repeatedly failed to identify a problem. Eventually, the signal came on and an intolerable fuel odor emerged upon turning on the car. Fuel and chemical odors remain.
The vehicle has an acceleration problem and hesitates and pauses when starting from a stop or while in low speed conditions. It is dangerous to, for example, pull out in traffic when one does not know if your vehicle is going to accelerate properly. There is a definite lag and pause that is a problem when accelerating.
Other problems reported for the 2011 BMW 528I
- Drivetrain & axles 25 complaints
- Fuel system 24 complaints