Home · 2012 BMW 528i · Complaints

What 99 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 528i

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (99)Crash / fire / injury (5)Engine (45)Fuel system (29)Transmission & drivetrain (23)Electrical system (12)Engine & cooling (5)Airbags (4)Brakes (4)Body & structure (3)Speed control (3)Steering (3)

29 of 99 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Apr 18, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

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 just an oil change so I took it back to the oil change shop. They could not figure out why the engine blew and I had to take it to a different BMW shop where I have to purchase a rebuilt motor and pay for the repairs. I can request all records from the automotive shop if needed.

NHTSA ODI 11655338

May 13, 2024EngineFuel system

N20 引擎 汽油泵浦故障

NHTSA ODI 11588383

Jul 14, 2022EngineFuel systemFire

Car engine caught on fire while driving today and stopped. No smoke or other issues prior. Worried this is related to the recall issued by BMW recently, however my car is not covered under the recall yet. The car is currently located in Vancouver Canada. It was purchased in Tulsa, OK

NHTSA ODI 11473963

Oct 27, 2020EngineFuel system

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, WHILE IN MOTION, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AFTER ACCELERATING. THE CAR GAVE AN ERROR CODE OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. MY CAR LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AND IT COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. POSSIBLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11366619

Aug 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND I ACCELERATED A LIL BIT FASTER TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN MY CAR LOSS POWER AND STALLED OUT AND I GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE AND I WAS CAUSING TRAFFIC THE POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE FUEL SUPPLY LIGHT CAM ON AND THE CHARGE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON I TRY STARTING IT BUT IT WOULDN'T START AND THE FUEL SUPPLY LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND SOME WIRING PROBLEM WAS GOING ON WHEN TRYING TO START IT MY TV SCREEN WOULD TURN ORANGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER WHERE THE MPH/GAS/TEMPERATURE/AND RPM WOULD TWITCH LIKE SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11348491

Jul 9, 2020Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE FUEL SUPPLY ERROR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11338348

May 29, 2020Speed controlEngineFuel system

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AND SHUT DOWN ON ME MID FREEWAY! I STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING! IT TURNED OFF ON ME AND WOULDN'T TURN ON! NOW IT TURNS BUT GAS WON'T WORK! I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PUMP OF SOMETHING REGARDING GAS FUEL! I HAD TO CALL MY CAR INSURANCE TO TOW MY CAR WHEN I BECAME STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326433

Mar 26, 2020Fuel system

I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY FROM ANOTHER HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR DECELERATED OUT IF NOWHERE AND A ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON MY DASHBOARD FUEL SYSTEM ERROR/ DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ENGINE SPEED WILL BE REDUCED. THE CAR ACTED AS THOUGH I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO POWER AS I COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE OFF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11319293

Mar 9, 2020Fuel system

MY VEHICLE JUST KILLED AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I GOT AN FUEL SYSTEM ERROR CODE AS WELL AS A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR WHEN ACCELERATING. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2012 528I FUEL PUMP THAT WAS DEEMED TO BE THE CULPRIT OF THIS PROBLEM, BMW IS SAYING MY CAR WASN'T A PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11316953

Feb 22, 2020Fuel system

WAS DRIVING DOING 30 MPH ON A NO TRAFFIC CITY STREET..AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PUT THE SCANNER AND CODE P0087 IS WHAT IT READ

NHTSA ODI 11310759

Dec 31, 2019EngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE 95 HIGHWAY MY CAR SHOWED A FUEL SUPPLY ERROR THEN POWERED DOWN AND STOPED AND WOULDN'T RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO A HOTEL AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING IT STARTED WHILE THE TOW TRUCK LOADED IT TO TAKE TO THE DEALER. I HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS AT THE TIME. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WITH MY KIDS. TOWED IT TO BMW AND ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS TO REPLACE MY BATTERY EVEN THOUGH I HAD A PERFECTLY GOOD BATTERY AND THE AND EVERYTHING REQUIRING A BATTERY WORKED LIKE RADIO, LIGHTS ETC. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FROM THEM AND THE TECH DROVE THE CAR FOR 30 MILES. WITHIN 2 HOURS AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP MY CAR DID THE SAME THING WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT. A DIAGRAM FLASHES ON THE CONSOLE AND THEN A MESSAGE ABOUT THE FUEL SUPPLY. I WAS ASSISTED BY CALLING 911 TO GET MY KIDS AND I TO SAFETY AND MY CAR OUT THE WAY. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL MODULE OR PUMP FOR MY YEAR AND MAKE BUT BMW CLAIMS MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS DANGEROUS, PEOPLE CAN GET KILLED IF THE CARS ARE STALLING WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11292369

Jun 27, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. AFTER THE WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW OF TULSA (9702 S MEMORIAL DR, TULSA, OK 74133, (918) 663-4444) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,038.

NHTSA ODI 11223046

Apr 23, 2019Fuel system

WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT GIVING ME A PRIOR WARNING. IT PUT ME IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. BMW DIAGNOSED IT: FAILURE IN THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM. THIS MUST BE INVESTIGATED. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO SEEN IN OTHER BMW MODELS. I HAVE 80000 MILES ON MY CAR. THE CAR IS ALWAYS SERVICED BY BMW DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11203082

Mar 28, 2019Fuel system

GOT FUEL SUPPLY ERROR ON THE VEHICLE, AFTER DIAGNOSE WAS THE FUEL PUMP. BOUGHT NEW FUEL PUMP AND MODULE AT BOSTON BMW IN ALLSTON MA. AFTER 3 MILES FUEL PUMP FAILS AGAIN. NOW AFTER ANOTHER 5,000 MILES FUEL PUMP FAILING AGAIN, GOT ERROR MESSAGE AND CAR TURNED OFF. SMH, 3 NEW FUEL PUMPS IN LESS THAN A YEAR! THIS IS INSANE! BMW KEEP SAYING MY CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL OF FUEL PUMP WHEN IT SHOULD BE! WORST PART IS THAT IS THAT BOTH TIMES I BEEN DRIVING 40+ MILES AND VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!

NHTSA ODI 11192310

Sep 28, 2018Fuel system

CAR SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING , IT WILL CAUSE A MAJOR AND SERIOUS DAMAGE, HAPPENED WITH ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER OWN A SAME CAR

NHTSA ODI 11132116

Sep 21, 2018Fuel system

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MESSAGE POPS UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING 'FUEL SUPPLY FULL DRIVE PERFORMANCE NOT AVAILABLE,DRIVE MODERATELY AND CAR SHUTDOWN AND WON'T START. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO IT WILL START BACK UP . TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWICE BUT NO CODES . THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11130540

Sep 20, 2018Fuel system

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED AND COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE ABILITY TO USE MY BREAKS. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I CAME TO A STOP IN THE INTERSECTION OF TWO STREETS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 45 MPH. UNITED BMW - ROSWELL, GA SAID THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND IT SHORTED THE EKPS MODULE. $1900 IN TOTAL. BMW HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE FOR YEARS 2007 TO 2012. BMW RECALLS VARIOUS VEHICLES WITH FUEL PUMP ISSUE THE FUEL PUMP MAY STOP WORKING, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ENGINE STALL HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS/BMW-RECALLS-VARIOUS-VEHICLES-WITH-FUEL-PUMP-ISSUE-102816.HTML

NHTSA ODI 11130296

May 7, 2018Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME AS INDICATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MONITOR WAS BURNED AND THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,420. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11092285

Apr 25, 2018Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FUEL SUPPLY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF MONROVIA (1425 MOUNTAIN AVE, MONROVIA, CA 91016) WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,500.

NHTSA ODI 11090058

Mar 15, 2018Fuel system

I HAVE A OCT 2011 BMW 528I AND IT STALLED OUT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A VERY BUSY STREET ON 03/13/2018. THE SERVICE INDICATOR FOR THE FUEL PUMP ILLUMINATED. IT WOULD NOT RESTART, SO IT WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE WAS A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T CRASH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP WON'T ACCEPT MY CAR AS THE RECALL BECAUSE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCT 2011, BUT IT HAS THE SAME FAILURE AS THE OTHER CAR THAT WAS RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11079602

Mar 15, 2018Fuel system

I OWN A 2012 BMW 528I (OCT 2011). WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN BMW WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63000. THIS IS ILLEGAL AND UNFAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11079619

Feb 8, 2018Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED AND BECAME INOPERABLE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CALLED (BOB SMICH BMW, 818-346-3144) AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11071687

Jan 28, 2018Fuel system

MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE RECALL OF A FUEL PUMP MODULE BUT THE VIN IS NOT LISTED SO RECALL DOES NOT EFFECT MY CAR. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE AND DANGEROUS LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11065507

Jan 14, 2018Electrical systemFuel system

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR STARTED TO HESITATE, DIDN'T ACCELERATE, AND SHUT DOWN. WHILE TURNING OUT OF THE GAS STATION ONTO THE MAJOR ROAD, IT STALLED. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART IT. AFTER THE THIRD TRY IT RESTARTED. ONCE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND A MESSAGE CAME UP ABOUT THE POWERTRAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11062693

Mar 16, 2017Fuel system

CAR WAS ON WHILE PARKED AND JUST SHUT OFF WOULD NOT START BACK UP . TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUND OUT THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 10966417

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Working with the data? Download all 99 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 BMW 528i verdict →