BMW 528I · model year

2001 BMW 528I

3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001BMW528I carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 528I is air bags:side/window with 2 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2001 528I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

3 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20150309FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME SYMPTOMS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,920. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 85,920

20020514AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER STATES FRONT SEAT SIDE AIRBAGS (4) DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY COLLISION AND CAUSED INJURY, AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER ADJUSTING CD PLAYER BUTTON (CLAIM # 13-7535-667). *YD

20020426AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

CONSUMER STATES FRONT SEAT SIDE AIRBAGS (4) DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY COLLISION AND CAUSED INJURY, AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER ADJUSTING CD PLAYER BUTTON (CLAIM # 13-7535-667). *YD

Compare 2001BMW528I to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 BMW 528I have?
The 2001 BMW 528I has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW 528I?
The most-complained component for the 2001 BMW 528I is AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2001 BMW 528I safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.