1997 Bmw 528I: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 49 complaints
49
Total Complaints
109,234mi
Median Mileage
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
Top Issue
8
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

72,500 25th Percentile
109,234 Median Mileage
142,165 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
AIR BAGS
3
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
SUSPENSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2

Severity Assessment

8
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION."
"WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL TANK IMPLODED AND COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP INSTANTLY. DEALER HAS SEEN 4 TIMES. NO SOLUTION. *AK"
"DOOR HANDLES ARE MADE OF POOR GRADE PLASTIC. HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY. WITH THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ENGAGED, I WOULD NOT HAVE SAFELY GOTTEN OUT IF HAZARDOUS CONDITION HAD OCURRED (E.G. FIRE, DROWNING IN WATER, DITCHING...ETC.). SHOULD T..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28