2011 BMW 528i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 7 528i years
The 2011 BMW 528i ranks worst of the 7 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 117 NHTSA complaints. Engine issues dominate at 57% of complaints, with 4 recalls covering the engine, airbags, and fuel system.
- Complaints
- 117
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 21 city / 31 hwy
Top 2011 BMW 528i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine67 (57%)
- Transmission & Powertrain25 (21%)
- Fuel System23 (20%)
- Electrical System10 (9%)
- Other10 (9%)
- Steering6 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
- Airbags4 (3%)
- Structure & Body3 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report a hesitation or lag of one to two seconds before the vehicle accelerates from a stop or low speed.
- After the delay, the car sometimes lunges or jerks hard forward once throttle response kicks in.
- Some drivers describe the transmission picking and choosing when to shift smoothly, with intermittent hard jerks at stoplights or in reverse-to-drive transitions.
- One owner reported the vehicle stalling at 75 mph with no fix found by the dealer.
- An owner reported an abnormal burning odor at various speeds tied to a delayed recall repair (NHTSA campaign 17V683000) with parts unavailable.
- Acceleration delays are most noticeable between 18 and 24 mph and when pulling into traffic, which owners describe as a safety concern.
2011 BMW 528i recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 16V832000Nov 17, 2016Airbags91 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit. These SCUs have an acceleration sensor that may have been incorrectly programmed and, as a result, the SCU may not accurately determine if activation and deployment of the air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and head restraints is necessary in the event of a crash.
Risk: Depending on the severity of the crash, inadequate activation of the driver and/or passenger air bags, safety belt pre-tensioners and active head restraints may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- NHTSA 16V746000Oct 17, 2016Fuel System136,188 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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.
2011 BMW 528i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 31 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,200
- 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.
2011 compared with other 528i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 BMW 528i reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 528i ranks worst among the 7 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 117 complaints, mostly tied to the engine.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 528i?
- Engine problems account for 57% of complaints (67 of 117), followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 21% and fuel system issues at 20%. Median mileage at failure for engine complaints was 91,500.
- Does the 2011 BMW 528i have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2011 528i, covering the engine (PCV valve heater and VANOS bolts), airbags (SCU replacement), and fuel system (fuel pump module). None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2011 528i compare to other years?
- The 2011 528i has the highest Complaint Index (100) of the 7 years tracked, while 2014 and 2016 have Complaint Index scores of 0 and 17 and are rated Best.
- Was there a fire risk with the 2011 BMW 528i?
- NHTSA data lists 1 fire report and 1 crash out of 117 complaints for the 2011 528i, with the fire tied to an engine complaint involving a burning odor.