2012 BMW 528i: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2012 / bmw / 528i
known issues	6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-09)
complaints	99 on file (2012-09-06 → 2026-01-15)
recalls	4
investigations	1
fars	25 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Water pump connector failure and engine overheatingENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4 complaints2024-11 → 2025-08bmw-528i-2012-water-pump-overheat

11678095 On [XXX], the water pump's electrical plug connector became defective, ultimately putting myself and [XXX] son in a dangerous situation. While on the highway coming home from work/daycare, the car overheated rapidly, my car started slowing down in the middle of the highway
11646791 The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was condensation underneath the vehicle
11628884 The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started, however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated the vehicle eventually started

Tire sidewall bubble and rapid deflationTIRES3 complaints2012-10 → 2013-08bmw-528i-2012-tire-sidewall-bubble

10534315 BMW 550XI, NORMAL DRIVING, TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR CAME ON, CAR BECAME UNSTABLE. PARKED VEHICLE AND OBSERVED LARGE BUBBLE IN FRONT RIGHT TIRE SIDEWALL HAD SPLIT, CAUSING RAPID DEFLATION
10520720 THREE TIRE BUBBLES, FIRST AT 11,000 MILES, TWO MORE AT 12,000. ORIGINAL TIRES ON BMW 535XI SPORT. "GOODYEAR EAGLE LS-2 RUNONFLAT" 245/40R19 BMW QUICKLY REPLACED FOUR TIRES WITH MICHELIN, AT PRORATED COST, SO THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM
10482194 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550IX EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE P245/40/R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AN ALERT ON HIS DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED INSTRUCTING HIM THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THAN 50 MILES AS THE TIRE WAS GOING FLAT

Timing chain guide and oil pump chain failureENGINE28 complaints2016-04 → 2025-09bmw-528i-2012-timing-chain-oil-pump-failure

11474223 Picked up from a stop light no aggressive but normally and a few seconds after going around 20-30ish mph the car stalls and goes into neutral. I was really confused and panicking of what happened, the cars behind me almost crashed into me and I was trying to manage to pull the
11451630 I own bmw 528i 2012. These engines are straight up bad. Timing chain failed at 149K miles with no signs of failure. Just driving down the road when suddenly the car just turns off and goes into neutral on its own
11302908 MY 2012 BMW 528I STALLED TWICE 2 WKS AGO WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE DISPLAY SHOWED EITHER "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" OR "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION". IMMEDIATELY I TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, SLOWLY CHANGED LANES SLOWLY AND COME TO A HALT, BY WHICH THE WARNING

Fuel pump failure causing loss of propulsionFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM24 complaints2014-01 → 2020-10bmw-528i-2012-fuel-pump-stall

11316953 MY VEHICLE JUST KILLED AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I GOT AN FUEL SYSTEM ERROR CODE AS WELL AS A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR WHEN ACCELERATING. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2012 528I FUEL PUMP THAT WAS DEEMED TO BE THE CULPRIT OF THIS PROBLEM, BMW IS SAYING MY CAR WASN'T A PART OF
11130296 WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED AND COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE ABILITY TO USE MY BREAKS. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I CAME TO A STOP IN THE INTERSECTION OF TWO STREETS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH
10627123 DRIVING IN THE HOV AT APPROXIMATELY 9PM WHEN AN ALERT MESSAGE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY" DISPLAYS. CAR ENGINE IMMEDIATELY CUTS OUT AND WE HAVE NO PROPULSION. WE ARE UNABLE TO MOVE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND WIND UP ON A NARROW SHOULDER OF THE LIE IN NY

Oil filter housing failure and oil leaking into coolantENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8 complaints2014-12 → 2026-01bmw-528i-2012-oil-filter-housing-leak

10917502 WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND THE ENGINE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. UPON STOPPING AND CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING FRACTURED AND SPILLED ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND INTO THE
10662405 LAST MONTH MY CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,200 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY) AND LEAKING OIL ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY AND UNDER THE HOOD. IT COST ME $1570 TO FIX BY REPLACING THE FITER CASING
11624225 While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire

Passenger seat occupancy sensor and airbag warning faultAIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS4 complaints2018-05 → 2021-11bmw-528i-2012-passenger-seat-sensor

11097681 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. WHENEVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CENTER BMW, 5201 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT SENSOR
11208241 THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE/NOT WORKING EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS ONLY 25,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE ARE SO MANY OWNERS HAS SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THIS DESIGN
11441192 I had been having problems with my seatbelt alarm coming on for a while with nothing in the seat of the passenger and then as I was trying to turn in to park I heard a click from my steering wheel as if it didn’t want to turn and the driver seat restraint malfunction error

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
99	2012-09-06	2026-01-15	0	3	ENGINE:45; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:26; POWER TRAIN:23; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:13; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
16V746000	17/10/2016	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP	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, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.	The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.	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.
14V627000	07/10/2014	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS	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, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.	A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.	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 customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
13V454000	26/09/2013	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM	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 insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.	A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.	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 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
24V608000	13/08/2024	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP	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 sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.	An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.	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 customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Investigations all years →

action_number	status	subject	components	opened	closed	recall_campaign	summary
PE13030	closed	Loss of power assist braking	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM	2013-09-06	2013-10-25	13V454000	In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in improper pump operation and loss of power assist braking.On July 11, 2013, BMW initiated a change to the ca

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	25	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 BMW 528i vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/bmw/528i

@misc{wrenchpro_2012_bmw_528i_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 BMW 528i},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/bmw/528i}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

hub · known-issues · methodology · license · research (interpretation)