This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Had 100,000M warranty. Around 110K notice "engine oil pressure" light for first time. Added a bit of oil and light went away. Came on again, took it into dealer. They replaced an oil gasket and another gasket. Light came back on within 5 blocks of dealer. They kept my car for 3 weeks, said engineers at headquarters said I need a new engine. Now, I drive cars until 260K miles and then someone else drives them after me. Needing a new engine at 110K miles is awful. They want to put in a new 'short engine", cam shaft position sensor, cam follower, and turbocharger. I've had my oil changed as often as I should, now tell me, how is this needing all of that my fault?? I still owe 2.5 years on car. This is a landfill problem right here and needs to be corrected by BMW.
Transmission total failure and was replaced around around 55,00 oil chain pump & timing chain resulting in a total motor failure at 72000 car has been non op for a year
I have got the vehicle around December and I only had the car for two days thene I start experiencing problems. I contacted the dealer immediately they told me they had no problems with the car before which is hard to believe. The car purchase was a guy that worked at the dealership. After I started calling for questions the guy ended up disappearing and nobody would help me. They also false advertise the vehicle saying it was a 528 X dr, gave me the incorrect mileage and I was supposed to give me a warranty but I didn't receive any help. So I contacted the BMW dealership got it towed there and they told me I need a new engine. I will be driving in the car would just shut off sometimes then the dashboard tells me drivetrain malfunction. So I had to continuously crank the car and in about 3 to 5 minutes it would start. One day on the way to work I was driving in the whole car just shut off it was saying low oil pressure and drivetrain malfunction try crack the car wouldn't crank. Let it shut for a while one day I sprayed some starting fluid in a air flow sensor it crunk but still has a hard knock and noise it says low or pressure and drivetrain malfunctions.
I was driving my vehicle on the highway and a drive train malfunction indicator showed up, then I lost all power and had to pull on the side of the road. I eventually got it towed to BMW of vista, ca. They told me I needed a new engine because it had locked up. For no apparent reason. I wasn't due for an oil change not was it low on oil. They quoted me at $13,500 for a new engine when seemingly it wasn't me neglecting the vehicle. It seems that BMW should fix something like that if it just happened out of nowhere. My car currently has approximately 107000 miles and has been well taken care of.
Engine immediately lost power on highway at approximately 70 mph with no warning. The car went into neutral stating to get to a safe area, which I was able to drift to. Once the car stopped it switched to park. I tried to restart the engine but it would not turn. Because the engine was not running you can not put the car into neutral. This caused difficulty in getting the car towed from the highway shoulder. The BMW N20 engine has a known flaw with the oil and timing chain. The vehicle was towed to a BMW service center where it was confirmed that the engine is damaged from the chain and the engine will need to be replaced at a value of $18,000. The vehicle has 102,000 miles on it. BMW na states that the can not assist in cost since it is outside of the warranty period, although they have already extended the warranty for this fault once. All maintenance had been completed based on the service intervals. The chain service check is not until 150,000 miles. It is hard to believe that a once reputable car manufacturer would let their customers stranded on the road and then again in the service center with a repair bill worth more than the vehicle itself. I look forward to the resolution of the current class action lawsuit in this matter as my car sits unusable.
- Avondale, PA, USA
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We bought a 2013 BMW 528xi new. After approximately 120K miles, oil pressure light came on. We put oil in and it was fine for a week. Then the light came on again so we had it towed. The oil was replaced and a new oil level and temp sensor added. After a couple days the light and drive train failure light came on. Had it towed to the dealer and they found shards of metal in the oil filer. Luckly, my wife was able to maneuver the car off the highway without incident.
My 2013 528I has some problems with the motor. I purchased the car around December 18 some time with about 76000 miles and only had it for 2 days an problem's came. First it was saying I drivetrains malfunction so I turn the car off an tried to crank it about 4 times an it finally crunk. About 3 days later same problem occurred so I contacted the dealer but they couldn't help me. So I left the car sit for a day an came to crank it an everything was fine. About a week later on the way to work my car just shut off an the, dashboard symbol came on saying low oil pressure to the motor. I read on this on others complaints an seen some similar problems. Took my car to the BMW dealership in raleigh early in January they said I may need a new motor an it would cost to just go inside the motor to actually see the problem car dosnt crank but tries to turn over
A vehicle(SUV) ended my car in the rear in a pretty good speed when I was in the slow traffic almost stationary(5 mph). Crash impact was high. Had to call in an ambulance as my friend sitting in passenger seat was hurt badly. As we realize after the crash, engine got stopped & airbags failed to deploy due to fault in airbag. Engine did not start later & the car was towed to a facility in prospects heights. This happened on a city highway when driving in a straight lane. Very light snow showers at that time around 6pm on 02/26.
Last week my almost five year old 528I sedan with 97,000 miles died on a major expressway with almost no warning. The first warning of low oil pressure came on and I called the dealer who said probably because I am due for my 10,000 mile check up and it is a quirk. Four days later the same message came on again while driving a major highway at high speed followed almost immediately with a message of 'drive train malfunction with maximum drivetrain output not available.' I was able to get to an emergency pull off when the car died. The dealer tells me my engine needs to be replaced and said there were shards of metal in my oil thus indicating the engine seized.
Timing chain failure causing catastrophic engine failure. Car displayed "low oil pressure" warning immediately followed by "drivetrain malfunction" error and shut down on 4 lane highway unable to move. Dangerous situation and could have been killed if a car hit me as it was dark outside in early morning hours. Car had 88K miles and is always dealer serviced as per manufacturer specifications. The car was also in the shop 1 week prior for a vehicle check and no issues were identified, told the timing chain sub assembly for oil pump failed and metal shards found in engine,
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle decelerated and the "drive train malfunction" and "drive slowly" warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and later towed to open road BMW (732-201-6579, located at 731 us-1, Edison, NJ 08817) where it was diagnosed that the drive train needed to be replaced. The dealer made the manufacturer aware of the failure and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was being repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Car with only 69518 miles on it experienced catastrophic engine failure in moving traffic. Vehicle owner had to navigate car out of moving traffic while trying to turn. Dangerous situation for owner and other drivers on the road. Fortunately this happened on a city street and not the freeway. Car gave "drivetrain malfunction" and "low engine oil pressure error" when it abruptly shut down. Car has N20 engine with known defects. BMW na has extended the warranty on some of said defects, but dealership refuses to repair under extended warranty until consumer proves the defect. Dealership refuses to do full diagnostic. Consumer is asked to pay $3000 plus to prove defect at dealership. Consumer is offered a $11000 engine replacement as solution.
118,000 miles had to replace both front drive axles and turbo charger. No recourse to BMW ? my last 2000 BMW 528 went 450,000 miles and never had these problems.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528xi. While driving approximately 70 mph, the message "drive train malfunction" displayed as the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (reeves BMW tampa, 109 East fowler ave, tampa, fl) where it was diagnosed that the engine timing chain was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was also notified and did not assist. The failure mileage was 86,000.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. While driving 45 mph approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond. The contact stated that the emergency mode warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed that the timing chain and engine needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000. The VIN was not available.
The car had 73,000 miles on it. I was driving home from work in stop and go city traffic when suddenly, the engine went into limp mode (as it is designed to do after it detects engine problems) and indicators lit up saying that I needed to pull over as the car was inoperable. I was in the left lane about to merge onto a toll road, but now found myself trying to get the car safety over three lanes of rush hour traffic to a gas station. This I managed to do while the car was making load noises and not providing adequate acceleration. After having it towed to a BMW specialist I was told the engine's timing system was off. I was also told the timing belt fails often with this particular BMW engine. The common cause seems to be a (unknown at least to me) plastic part within that warps from stress and then causes said part to break apart within the engine. I was told after the engine was disassembled that plastic parts were found inside the engine. After replacement of that belt, I'm now told that the engine still has major problems. It now might require a new engine altogether. If after 73,000 miles a BMW needs a new engine, it suggests to me that NHTSA should do further research into this major engine problem and issue a recall to make these cars safe.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. While driving 65 mph, the check engine indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the service road, but the vehicle was unable to restart. The vehicle was first towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was then towed to BMW of dallas (6200 lemmon ave, dallas, tx 75209) where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to metal shavings in the engine oil. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.
My BMW 2013 528I M sport failed on the high way heavy traffic shows error message "low oil pressure" stop immediately. Full power not available" "drivetrain malfunction" engine failed to start. Towed to nearby BMW dealer. Dealer technician inspected the timing chain and engine. They concluded that the engine damaged due to timing chain failure. Timing chain failure is a known issue and BMW extended warranty to 7 years /70000 miles. My car has 70150 miles. I submitted a claim with BMW na and they don't want to fix the car. After lots of phone call they agreed 50% of the cost, that is up to 10K. I searched internet and talk to other BMW owners. There are several cases of engine failure due to timing chain issue at 70K miles. BMW knows this issue but trying to avoid recall. This is very harmful for the BMW car owners. Very dangerous risk. Please help. Class action law suit is the only way to get justice and issue resolution.
I bought a 2013 BMW 528 I a year ago with no warranty but I've been having problems with it. Right now its in the shop. I've taken it too two shop (BMW) both shops say I have to replace the engine along with the other problems am having. The first shop says it will cost me $10000 the $7000. I believe that dealer that sold me the was a bad car. Cany prove it. I was on my way to the shop when the vehicle stopped working. What legal action can I take an can I stop paying on the vehicle. Because its not working an I'm not driving it.
Per the mechanic, the timing chain malfunctioned in the engine causing damage to other engine components and loss of engine compression in the cylinders. The complete engine, with 116,000 miles, will have to be replaced. The car is a 2013 model. The vehicle was being driven at the time this occurred. The engine cut off and would not restart. The mechanic stated BMW has experienced problems with particular in the past.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lees Summit, MO, USA