YearToAvoid

2010 BMW 528i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#5 most-complained of 7 528i years

The 2010 BMW 528i has 65 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 33, and ranks 5th worst out of 7 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other 528i years. Engine problems dominate at 52% of complaints, with 2 recalls issued.

Complaints
65
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 4
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2010 BMW 528i problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine34 (52%)
  2. Electrical System12 (18%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain9 (14%)
  4. Airbags7 (11%)
  5. Fuel System7 (11%)
  6. Brakes3 (5%)
  7. Other3 (5%)
  8. Seat Belts3 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  10. Steering1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Engine compartments produce a burning plastic smell and visible smoke, sometimes escalating to fire while driving on the highway.
  • Owners tied to the PCV valve heater recall report smoke entering the cabin through air vents and delayed dealer response for repairs.
  • Vehicles jerk or vibrate at highway speed just before smoke or fire appears under the hood.
  • Tail light electrical connectors melt at the ground wire junction, triggering rear lamp malfunction warnings.
  • Transmission jerks forward at a stop or shifts abruptly with sudden downshifts between 40 and 65 mph.
  • Passenger airbag occupancy sensors illuminate warning lights without being diagnosed or repaired, and one owner reported the airbag failing to deploy in a rear-end crash.
2010 BMW 528i complaints: complaints filed per quarter62010 Q22014 Q32016 Q32018 Q22020 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
82 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q2 to 2025 Q4; peak 2022 Q4 (6).

2010 BMW 528i recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V683000Oct 30, 2017Engine740,561 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

    Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 13V407000Sep 11, 2013Electrical System134,100 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:tail lights

    BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).

    Risk: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

2010 BMW 528i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,900
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other 528i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Good3365220.5
2011Avoid100117425
2012Avoid8390426.5

All BMW 528i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 BMW 528i reliable?
Compared to other 528i model years, the 2010 ranks 5th worst out of 7 with a complaint index of 33 and a "Good" verdict. It has fewer complaints (65) than the 2011 (117) and 2012 (90) model years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 BMW 528i?
Engine problems are the top complaint area, making up 52% of all complaints (34 of 65), including reports of smoke and fire, with a median failure mileage of 132,000 miles.
Does the 2010 BMW 528i have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2010 528i: campaign 17V683000 for a PCV valve heater replacement and campaign 13V407000 for a rear lamp bulb carrier replacement due to overheating tail light connectors.
How does the 2010 528i compare to other years?
The 2010 528i has a complaint index of 33, lower than the 2011 (100), 2012 (83), and 2013 (67) model years, but higher than the 2014 (0) and 2016 (17) model years, which are rated "Best."
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 BMW 528i?
The 2010 528i gets 20.5 mpg combined (17.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 according to EPA data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.