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2012 bmw 528i engine problems

moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100

Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$3,100

What owners are reporting 9 most recent

engine · filed 12/31/2019

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE 95 HIGHWAY MY CAR SHOWED A FUEL SUPPLY ERROR THEN POWERED DOWN AND STOPED AND WOULDN'T RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO A HOTEL AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING IT STARTED WHILE THE TOW TRUCK LOADED IT TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS AT THE TIME. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WITH MY KIDS. TOWED IT TO BMW AND ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS TO REPLACE MY BATTERY EVEN THOUGH I HAD A PER…

engine · filed 12/04/2024

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started, however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated the vehicle eventually started. In addition, the contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the veh…

engine · filed 12/01/2017

VEHICLE WAS STARVED OF OIL. NO WARNING SHOWED UP IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VECHLE DIED ON A HIGH SPEED ROADWAY AND COULD NOT BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO A SAFE LOCATION OFF THE ROAD. THE TOW OPERATORS COULD NOT MOVE IT EITHER. CARS WERE SWERVING AND BRAKING TO AVOID HITTING MY VEHICLE. BMW TOLD ME TH OIL ISSUE WAS MY FAULT. COME TO FIND OUT THERE ARE 2 LETTERS SENT FOR WARRANTY EXTENSIONS …

engine · filed 11/22/2019

WHILE DRIVING MY CERTIFIED 2012 BMW 528I, WHICH HAS AN N20 ENGINE, THE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, MAXIMUM OUTPUT NO LONGER AVAILABLE, DRIVE MODERATELY" WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASH AND ALERTED ME THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE ALERT SIGNALING MY ATTENTION, I WAS DRIVING ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY WITH SPEED LIMITS RANGING FROM 35 MPH TO 60 MPH. I DROVE APPRO…

engine · filed 11/17/2018

ON A RAINY OCTOBER 13, 2018, WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY(RTE. 422) WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON MY BMW 528I STOPPED RUNNING; WITHOUT WARNING. MIRACULOUSLY, WE COASTED ON THE HIGHWAY RAMP INTO THE DEALERSHIP DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH REQUIRED $12,000+ TO REBUILD/REPAIR. CURRENTLY, THE PAYOFF IS $13,895.32 TILL 11/25/18. THE MONTHLY PAYMENT IS $42…

engine · filed 11/08/2024

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact stated that there was water leaking from the vehicle. There was an undisclosed electrical failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, t…

engine · filed 10/27/2020

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, WHILE IN MOTION, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AFTER ACCELERATING. THE CAR GAVE AN ERROR CODE OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. MY CAR LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AND IT COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. POSSIBLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

engine · filed 10/22/2013

THE CAR WAS LEASED NEW. A HEAVY 'CHEMICAL ' SMELL OCCURED WHENEVER THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. DRIVER SUFFERED HEADACHES AND SINUS PROBLEMS. AT 14 MONTHS INTO THE LEASE, DRIVER HAD AN AIR QUALITY TEST DONE ON INSIDE OF THE CAR. RESULTS CAME BACK WITH ELEVATED UNSAFE LEVELS OF BENZINE. OTHER PERSONS RIDING IN THE CAR EXPERIENCED VISION PROBLEMS. BENZINE IS A KNOWN CARCINOGEN AND SO…

engine · filed 10/20/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND THE ENGINE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. UPON STOPPING AND CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC OIL FILTER HOUSING FRACTURED AND SPILLED ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE…

Common questions

How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 bmw 528i?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the engine typically fail?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to engine?

No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Other problem areas on this vehicle

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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