Reliable Auto DB

2013 BMW 528i reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 BMW 528i holds 73 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most 528i years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Pump, Exterior lighting, and Hoses and fittings.

2012 BMW 528i
Photo by Charles from Port Chester, New York, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0
Complaints

73

Per year

0

Recalls

4

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (37 of 73), then Air bags (14) and Electrical system (14). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 528i has 100 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2014 has 57 complaints, 1 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

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 2013 BMW 528i. How we count. Data as of .

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 Exterior lighting 2015-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 15V188000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 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 (73 total)

Engine
37
Air bags
14
Electrical system
14
Powertrain
13
Engine and engine cooling
11
Exterior lighting
4
Seat belts
4
Steering
4
Service brakes
3
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Speed control
1
Structure
1
Tires
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

1201532016720171120181220199202062021320223202311202472025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "On [XXX], Century West BMW in North Hollywood, CA performed recall 20E-A01 B120921 (DME reprogram/connector update) on my 2013 BMW 528i. Within 30 minutes of leaving the dealership, the car displayed a red “engine…"
    Engine · filed 2025-09-13
  • "The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. The contact stated that after driving and parking the vehicle, the contact smelled an abnormal burning odor. The contact stated the burning odor occurred frequently. The contact stated…"
    Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system · filed 2025-08-14
  • "Hello my name is [XXX] and I am (was) the owner of a 2013 BMW 528i VIN [XXX] . It was a secondary vehicle for me for until I sustained an injury and it being my primary vehicle. I took it through emissions, updated the…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-06-02
  • "Unrepaired recall. No remedy available for over 8 months, with manufacturer acknowledging that there could a vehicle fire in some cases."
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-04-22

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 BMW 528 I 4 DR RWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2013 BMW 528 Xdrive I 4 DR AWD 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 24 33 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

Previous year 2012 BMW 528i Next year 2014 BMW 528i See every BMW 528i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 BMW 528i reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 BMW 528i holds 73 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most 528i years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Pump, Exterior lighting, and Hoses and fittings.

What are common problems with a 2013 BMW 528i?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (37 of 73), then Air bags (14) and Electrical system (14). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 BMW 528i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 528i has 100 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2014 has 57 complaints, 1 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 BMW 528i been recalled?

The 2013 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 2013 BMW 528i?

Owners have filed 73 complaints about the 2013 BMW 528i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 BMW 528i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 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.