2012 BMW 528i reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 528i over 15 years — 4 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 5 528i years on this site. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Pump, Fuel pump, and Hoses and fittings.

Complaints

100

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (46 of 100), then Fuel and propulsion system (26) and Powertrain (23). Those filings include 3 that report a fire and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 528i has 73 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 BMW 528i. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (4)

Recall engine and cooling, cooling system, pump 2024-08-13 · NHTSA campaign 24V608000

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.

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.

Recall Fuel pump 2016-10-17 · NHTSA campaign 16V746000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall hydraulic brakes, power assist, vacuum, hoses and fittings 2014-10-07 · NHTSA campaign 14V627000

Summary BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall hydraulic brakes, power assist, vacuum 2013-09-26 · NHTSA campaign 13V454000

Summary BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Complaints by component (100 total)

Engine

Fuel and propulsion system

Powertrain

Electrical system

Engine and engine cooling

Air bags

Fuel system, gasoline

Service brakes

Speed control

Steering

Structure

Tires

Wheels

Seat belts

Visibility and wipers

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Exterior lighting

Hydraulic brakes

Seats

Show 11 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"car engine timing chain guides are faulty and there have been lawsuits that were settled and no recall on the actual part with drivers still having issues with the N20 engine now getting quotes for over 15,000. is this…"
Engine · filed 2026-09-21
"Vehicle has oil leak bad"
Engine · filed 2026-01-15
"The failure involved the breaking of the oil chain, which resulted in catastrophic engine damage. Consequently, the timing chain and splash shield were also compromised due to the initial failure. The incident appears…"
Unknown or other · filed 2025-09-04
"On [XXX], the water pump's electrical plug connector became defective, ultimately putting myself and [XXX] son in a dangerous situation. While on the highway coming home from work/daycare, the car overheated rapidly, my…"
Unknown or other · filed 2025-08-03
"I had just purchased a car but a month ago I was driving to lunch and I was at a stop sign when the light turned green I started to go the car started shaking and smoke was coming out of the front under the hood I had…"
Powertrain, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-04-18

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 BMW 528 I 4 DR RWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
528i	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic 8-speed	Rear-wheel drive	23	34	27 MPG	$2950
528i xDrive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic 8-speed	All-wheel drive	22	32	26 MPG	$3050

Specs and fitment

F10 generation, 2012–2016

Body styles Sedan

Oil 0W-20 , 5.3 qt capacity

Tire size 225/55R17, 245/45R18; M Sport staggered 245/45R18 front / 275/40R18 rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 24V-608 covers certain 2012-2016 BMW 528i and 528i xDrive vehicles among many other BMW models: dealers inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield. Recall 24V-527 covers certain 2014 5 Series Sedan vehicles among other BMW models: the driver front air bag will be replaced.

Compare

Next year 2013 BMW 528i See every BMW 528i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 BMW 528i reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 BMW 528i?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (46 of 100), then Fuel and propulsion system (26) and Powertrain (23). Those filings include 3 that report a fire and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2012 BMW 528i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 528i has 73 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 BMW 528i been recalled?

The 2012 BMW 528i has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 BMW 528i?

Owners have filed 100 complaints about the 2012 BMW 528i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 BMW 528i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 BMW 528i is 26.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a BMW 528i take?

F10 528i models use 0W-20; capacity is about 5.3 quarts with filter.

What does recall 24V-608 cover on the 528i?

Certain 2012-2016 528i and 528i xDrive vehicles among many other BMW models: dealers inspect and replace an inflator as described in the NHTSA campaign.

What tire sizes did the F10 528i use?

225/55R17 or 245/45R18; M Sport may use staggered 245/45R18 front / 275/40R18 rear.