Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
126,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 7 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 14.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 1; Tires: 1
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 4 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1999: 4; 2001: 1; 2004: 1; 2014: 1
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND MANY WIRES WERE MELTED DUE TO ENGINE REACHING HIGH TEMPERATURES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060936 at NHTSA ↗
RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10659091 at NHTSA ↗
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 606533 at NHTSA ↗
POWER SEAT POSITION MEMORY COMPUTER FAILED. *YC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 607752 at NHTSA ↗
WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. *YC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 608100 at NHTSA ↗
BATTERY FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 609511 at NHTSA ↗
WHILE SWITCHING ON VEHICLE SIDE AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON; VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895209 at NHTSA ↗
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
7 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10188102 · 120,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528. WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHTS, AND THEY BEGAN BLINKING ,AND THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE LIFTED THE HOOD, AND ATTEMPTED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLE, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, BUT BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IWAS 121,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.*AK | 120.0%ODI 10970148 · 124,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 BMW 528. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE AND FLAMES AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE HOOD ALSO INDEPENDENTLY OPENED AND REVEALED FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 215.4%ODI 738190WHILE GETTING ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK THE SEVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THE CAR HAD RUN HOT. I HAD NOTICED NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY SUGGESTED A WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. I TEST DROVE THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUGGESTED THE THERMOSTAT BE REPLACED FIRST. IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TEMPATURE PROBLEMS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 215.4%ODI 738190WHILE GETTING ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK THE SEVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THE CAR HAD RUN HOT. I HAD NOTICED NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THEY SUGGESTED A WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. I TEST DROVE THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUGGESTED THE THERMOSTAT BE REPLACED FIRST. IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY TEMPATURE PROBLEMS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 806467THE ABS BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN APPLIED UPON SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN A 6 TO 8 FOOT HILL, HITTING A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 735834BMW STATES IT IS NORMAL OPERATION TO GET A ROCK STUCK IN THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO STATED TO GET USE TO IT BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ON THIS CAR ALL THE TIME. *AK |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 10745657 · 48,000 miI BOUGHT THE 1997 BMW 528I OFF LEASE. IT WAS MY SECOND BMW. THE PRIOR BMW HAD VIRTUALLY NO PROBLEMS. I GUESS THE SECOND ONE HAD TO MAKE UP FOR THE FIRST ONE. IF I ONLY HAD A NICKLE FOR EVERY TIME I WISHED I HADN'T TRADED FOR THE SECOND ONE. 1. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS TO HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF. WHENEVER I DROVE THE CAR I HAD TO KEEP ONE EYE ON THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE AT ALL TIMES (IT WOULD HEAT UP VERY FAST). THE BMW DEALERS… | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Tires | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 706351IN JUST 32,000 MILES WE ARE NOW HAVING TO REPLACE ANOTHER SET OF TIRES. THE FIRST 2 WENT AT JUST 11.000 MILES AND EVERY 11,000 MILES LATER. IS THIS STANDARD? BMW SAYS YES! *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2256015 ) | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 806467THE ABS BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN APPLIED UPON SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN A 6 TO 8 FOOT HILL, HITTING A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | Too few reports for a range | 126,000 mi | 1 (sparse) |
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1999: 0 complaints · 2000: 3 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags | Air Bags:Side/Window | Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | Electrical System:Wiring | Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | Steering | Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
1 mentions · 14.3% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF THE ROAD, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND MANY WIRES WERE MELTED DUE TO ENGINE REACHING HIGH TEMPERATURES. *AK
\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b