KnownCarProblems2016 BMW 528i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW 528i, most often about the engine (73% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles). It is 7th of 12 528i model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2016 BMW 528i problems
Engine
43 complaints · 73%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact stated that when he started the vehicle, he heard an unusual rattling sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a stretched timing chain guide. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The…
The contact's wife owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The low coolant warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while his wife was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the driver noticed that there was steamy smoke coming out from…
Electrical
33 complaints · 56%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.
The contact's wife owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The low coolant warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while his wife was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the driver noticed that there was steamy smoke coming out from…
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact stated while driving 50-60 MPH, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood and out of the exhaust pipes. The coolant temperature warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle sputtered and stalled. The contact was able to pull to…
Air bags
5 complaints · 9%Takata recall,, 12-20-2017 I was in a collision. My vehicle rear ended a vehicle while trying to stop. I was alone in my vehicle. The driver side steering wheel and knee airbags deployed. The passenger front and rear side curtain airbags deployed. The driver side front and rear side curtain airbags failed to deploy.…
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 9%BMW 528i 2016 car that is little over 4 years less just hit 35k mileage lost all its fuel injectors, coils and plugs. Below is the summary of diagnosis. 35146 fuel injectors faulty. Confirmed ses light is on. Dme stored sourced from the vehicle misfire faults on multiple cylinders. Dme also stored fault 118002…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 9%Car caught on fire when the engine was off for 2.5 hours. It happened while parked, in my apartment complex parking lot and no one was inside the car at the time.
Suspension
3 complaints · 5%My people is making a tapping noise from the front suspension area I have taken the car to the dealership on four different occasions and the last time was on 6 9 2011 I was told to bring the car back when the noise is actually happening so the lead mechanic asked you roll with me and heard the noise and confirmed…
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle while at a stop. The contact detected fumes underneath the hood and there was oil on the alternator. The contact stated that the tires were replaced, but the vehicle was not aligned. The contact stated…
Transmission
3 complaints · 5%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 BMW 528i recalls
Electrical: connectors/plugs/receptacles
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
Risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: retractor
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Child Seat
Risk: If the child seat is not properly attached to the lower anchors, it can increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the inboard lower anchor on the left rear seat, free of charge. The recall began on december 28, 2015. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2016 528i, 528i xdrive, 535i, 535i xdrive, 535d xdrive, m5, 550i, 550i xdrive, and 535d sedans. The affected vehicles have an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 225, "child restraint anchorage systems."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2016 BMW 528i
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 BMW 528i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (43 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles); electrical (33 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles); air bags (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2016 BMW 528i have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 13, 2024 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the BMW 528i?
- It is 7th of 12 528i model years by number of complaints, with 59 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.