YearToAvoid

2016 BMW 528i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

17/100

#6 most-complained of 7 528i years

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

The 2016 BMW 528i ranks Best among 528i model years, with a Complaint Index of 17 and 59 complaints, well below years like 2011 (100) and 2012 (83). Engine issues dominate at 75% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 88,000.

Complaints
59
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
1 / 4
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26.5
22.5 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2016 BMW 528i problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Owners report engine compartment fires starting with a smoke odor while driving, sometimes escalating to flames and total loss of the vehicle.
  • Timing chain guides reportedly stretch, causing a rattling noise at startup and requiring timing chain replacement; some owners note BMW had earlier replaced original orange guides with white ones on related engines.
  • A leaking water pump and failed PCV component reportedly caused coolant overheating and total loss of power, with owners describing unanswered dealer follow-up despite an open recall.
  • Fuel injectors, coils, and spark plugs reportedly failed together around 35,000 miles, triggering a check engine light and misfire codes with a rich mixture fault.
  • Front suspension reportedly produces a tapping noise that dealers struggled to reproduce and diagnose across multiple visits.
  • Owners report CV joint failures causing the steering wheel to resist turning while driving, described as an ongoing issue since a documented 2013 recall pattern.
2016 BMW 528i complaints: complaints filed per month9Apr 2018Jun 2023Mar 2024Nov 2024Mar 2025Jul 2025Jan 2026
104 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2018 to Jul 2026; peak Dec 2024 (9).

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)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Best057326
2015Caution5065126
2016Best1759426.5

All BMW 528i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 BMW 528i reliable?
Among 528i model years, 2016 ranks Best with a Complaint Index of 17, the lowest along with 2014's index of 0. It has fewer complaints (59) than most other years in the dataset.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 BMW 528i?
Engine problems make up 75% of complaints (44 of 59), including reports of timing chain guide wear and engine fires. Electrical system issues follow at 59% (35 complaints), often tied to water pump and coolant leaks.
Does the 2016 BMW 528i have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 528i, covering the electrical system (water pump/plug connector), airbags, seat belts, and a child seat anchor issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
At what mileage do 2016 BMW 528i problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 77,000 at failure overall, with engine complaints specifically clustering around a median of 88,000 miles.
How does the 2016 528i compare to other 528i years?
The 2016 528i has a Complaint Index of 17 and ranks 6th worst (meaning it's near the best end) among the 7 model years with data, compared to 2011's index of 100, the worst year.

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.