The 2000 BMW 528i has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 17,700 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.
Consequence
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
7
4injuries
TIRES
4
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
3
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2
Total complaints53
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owned a 2000 bmw 528i. The contact stated that shortly after arriving home and with the vehicle parked in his garage, he observed first white smoke and then brown smoke emanating from the engine compartment. While waiting for emergency services, the contact stated that he then observed…”
“The shifter on the console will hang up get stuck often when I put it in reverse then from reverse to drive it won't shift all the way to drive it keeps stopping in neutral now while it's in neutral I can pull back on the shifter and hold it it will catch drive partially but u have to keep pulling…”
“As I was driving my beloved 2000 bmw 528i on 11/9/2018 at 2:15 pm, on route 12 south in duck, nc, traveling at approximately 35 mph, smoke began pouring from the underside of the driver's seat. The heated seats were not turned on. No dashboard warning lights were on, except for a rear tail light…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 528i. The contact was driving and came to a stop, when smoke was seen coming from the passenger side of the hood. There was a cracking sound then flames was seen coming from under the hood. The contact and the passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 528i. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the high intensity discharge headlights malfunctioned. The contact stated that there was a complete loss of functionality with the headlights. Bmw of dallas (6200 lemmon ave, dallas, texas…”
“My car was parked in front of my house stationary I was changing the battery when I put the battery in and connected it the airbags blew up destroyed the dash steering wheel and cracked the front windshield this car is off and parked”
“New tires eagle f1 asymmetric bought and installed in may 2011 ( unknowingly rec'd 2007 production tires ) and then removed my tires for winter tires in november 2011. When reinstalling the summer tires this spring / april 2012, multiple bubbles were apparent on 3 of the tires and the 4th tire had…”
“Abs module fail at 127,000 k. This stops my speedometer from working along with my (dcs) traction control, gas gauge and the brake go into emergency mode.. *tr”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 BMW 528i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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