Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 BMW 528i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while his vehicle was parked, the coolant pump connector caught on fire, which was connected to a after market Coolant pump. The failure experienced was a localized electrical fire that originated at the coolant pump connector and aftermarket coolant pump while the vehicle was parked. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) but was told by the dealer they could not repair the recall due to the vehicle having an aftermarket coolant pump. The contact stated he originally replaced the coolant pump with an aftermarket one due to a failure, as advised in the recall notice. The vehicle was occupied during the failure. There was grey smoke coming from the engine and inside the vehicle, with flames that were coming from the hood and under the engine. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while idling, there was smoke emerging from under the hood, and the contact discovered that the electrical connection for the water pump caught fire. No warning light illuminated. The contact extinguished the fire using a fire extinguisher. No injury was reported, and no police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump and other damaged components needed replacement. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The dealer submitted a claim to the manufacturer, but the manufacturer denied coverage because the water pump was previously replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not directly contacted the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the diagnostic test showed that the fuel rail system was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact had the vehicle repaired; however, several days later, the failure returned while traveling at highway speeds; the drivetrain maintenance message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a defective fuel pump. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, and it was discovered that the vehicle was leaking oil and the valve cover gasket needed to be repaired. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that after driving approximately 2 hours or more, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle and entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact would pull over to a safe location and park for approximately an hour before continuing to drive. The failure was persistent and recurred after driving for approximately 2 hours or more. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump. The mechanic replaced the ignition coils twice. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528i. The contact that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed that an unusual amount of smoke would leak from under the hood. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery may need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the next day the contact noticed that the battery was depleted. The vehicle was towed to another local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure remained present. The vehicle was diagnosed by the same local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a significant amount of smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil pan gasket and other unknown parts were leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the oil pan gasket, the oil pan, and other unknown parts were leaking. The mechanic replaced the oil pan gasket; however, the failure persisted. The contact had noticed a strong oil odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, a RED message that "Engine Overheating" was displayed and to pull over to prevent engine damage. The contact immediately pulled to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon resuming driving, a yellow message advising to proceed with caution was displayed and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The contact stated that upon approaching the residence, the initial RED message was displayed. The contact drove to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer the following day. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
the vehicle was driven for approximately 30 minutes, operating with zero dashboard warnings or performance indicators. The vehicle was then parked on my property and turned off completely. Approximately two hours and thirty minutes later, the vehicle spontaneously ignited while stationary and unoccupied. The local fire department responded and successfully extinguished the blaze. Both physical observations and my home security camera footage confirm that the point of origin was the front right passenger side of the engine compartment. This exact location houses the factory electric water pump and its electrical plug connector, directly matching the failure mechanism detailed in NHTSA Campaign 24V608000, wherein fluid intrusion causes a severe, persistent electrical short circuit capable of igniting a fire hours after the vehicle is parked. The car is completely totaled because of this.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was inadvertently shaking and there was smoke coming from the engine. The contact was unable to confirm if a warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the remedy was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a second notice would be mailed when the part was available. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528I. The contact previously received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical Systems). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was only inspected for the plug connector, and a protective shield was installed. The contact stated that the vehicle was not inspected for the water pump as part of the recall. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated, with several unknown messages displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.
Engine complaints in other 528i years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 BMW 528i?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 BMW 528i, 72% of the model year's 65 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2015 BMW 528i engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2015 BMW 528i, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2015 BMW 528i engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 4 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.