YearToAvoid

2016 BMW 528i Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2016 BMW 528i ranks 6th of 10 model years with a complaint index of 44 and earns a Good verdict relative to other 528i years. NHTSA lists 59 complaints, 4 recalls, and 4 fires, with Engine issues (75% share) the top concern at a median 88,000 miles.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
44/100
#6 of 10 528i years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
59
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
4
Injuries
2
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26.5
22.5 city / 33.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2016 BMW 528i problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine44 (75%)
  2. Electrical System35 (59%)
  3. Airbags5 (8%)
  4. Fuel System5 (8%)
  5. Other5 (8%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (7%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
  8. Brakes1 (2%)
  9. Steering1 (2%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Engine compartment fires reported while driving, with smoke and flames originating near the engine bay before the driver could pull over.
  • Water pump and PCV valve failures leading to coolant leaks and engine overheating.
  • Stretched timing chain guides causing a rattling sound at startup, sometimes tied to an original recall part later replaced with a different-colored guide.
  • Fuel injectors, coils, and spark plugs failing together at relatively low mileage, triggering misfire codes and a check engine light.
  • Front suspension tapping noise that dealers had trouble diagnosing without the noise present during inspection.
  • CV joint wear causing the steering wheel to resist turning at times while driving.
2016 BMW 528i complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2018Jun 2023Mar 2024Nov 2024Mar 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026
59 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2018 to Jul 2026; peak Oct 2024 (4).

2016 BMW 528i recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V608000Aug 13, 2024Electrical System720,796 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles

    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.

    Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 16V914000Dec 20, 2016Airbags3,506 vehicles

    Air bags

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

    Risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  3. NHTSA 16V747000Oct 17, 2016Seat Belts15,455 vehicles

    Seat belts:front:retractor

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

    Risk: In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

See all 4 recalls for the 2016 BMW 528i →

2016 BMW 528i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
33.5 MPG
Combined
26.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,000
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.

2016 compared with other 528i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Best2257326
2015Caution5665126
2016Good4459426.5

All BMW 528i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 BMW 528i reliable?
Compared with other 528i model years, 2016 ranks 6th out of 10 with a complaint index of 44 and a Good verdict. It has fewer reported problems than years like 2008, 2011, and 2012, which are rated Avoid.
What problems does the 2016 BMW 528i have?
NHTSA complaints point mainly to the Engine (75% of complaints) and Electrical System (59%), including reports of engine fires, water pump failures, and timing chain guide wear, typically surfacing around a median of 88,000 miles.
Does the 2016 BMW 528i have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 528i, covering the water pump and electrical connector, airbag modules, a driver's seat belt assembly, and a child seat anchor inspection. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How many fires have been reported for the 2016 BMW 528i?
NHTSA lists 4 fire reports for the 2016 528i, with 2 associated injuries and no reported deaths.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 BMW 528i?
EPA rates the 2016 528i at 26.5 mpg combined (22.5 city / 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,000.

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.