2012 Bmw 528xi problems and recalls

50% of owner complaints on the 2012 Bmw 528xi related to the Engine (32 of 64).

64
Complaints
0
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
46.9
Severity index

Severity index 46.9 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 46.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 105 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 19% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 32 complaints (50.0%)32 50%Power TrainPower Train: 21 complaints (32.8%)21 33%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 8 complaints (12.5%)8 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 6 complaints (9.4%)6 9%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 6 complaints (9.4%)6 9%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (9.4%)6 9%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 5 complaints (7.8%)5 8%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 complaints (6.2%)4 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE3250.0%
POWER TRAIN2132.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM812.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER69.4%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM69.4%
AIR BAGS69.4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING57.8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING46.2%

Complaints filed per year

06122012: 12013: 22014: 22016: 32017: 72018: 42019: 82020: 122021: 52022: 52023: 42024: 42025: 32026: 4 (partial year)121314161718192012212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20121
20132
20142
20163
20177
20184
20198
202012
20215
20225
20234
20244
20253
2026 (year to date)4
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (11 against 22).

Other Bmw 528xi model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 2 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-24. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.