1997 BMW 528I
WBADD21050BH52474
Vehicle record for the 1997 BMW 528I (VIN WBADD21050BH52474). Red, sedan, gasoline / lpg. Registered in Odesa. No NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year. Free specifications, registration region and recall data.
Full vehicle history report
Everything below is in the paid report for VIN WBADD21050BH52474, compiled live from NMVTIS and licensed providers the moment you unlock it. Not every vehicle has every record type — the report shows what is on file, and says so when nothing is. No recall campaigns are on record for this model year.
📜 Title & ownership
- Title statusClean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon — from the national title database (NMVTIS)🔒
- Title brand historyEvery brand ever applied, by state, with what each one means🔒
- Title & registration recordsHow many times it has been titled, where, and the years-per-owner pace🔒
- Decode consistency checkThe provider's decode cross-checked against ours — a mismatch is a cloned-VIN warning sign🔒
🛞 Odometer
- Odometer timelineEvery reported reading with its date and state, drawn as a timeline🔒
- Rollback checkFlags any reading that goes backwards🔒
- Miles per yearThis car's pace against the US average🔒
💥 Damage, loss & theft
- Total-loss recordsInsurance total-loss declarations, with the reporting insurer type and date🔒
- Salvage & junk-yard recordsSalvage, junk and auction dispositions, including export flags🔒
- Theft screenActive and recovered theft records🔒
- Accident indicatorsDamage events reflected in title data (NMVTIS does not carry police crash reports)🔒
- Flood-exposure checkTitle activity in a disaster area soon after a major flood or hurricane🔒
💰 Liens & value
- Liens, impounds & exportOpen liens with the lender, tow/impound and export records🔒
- Market value for this exact carRetail adjusted for its mileage and state, trade-in, loan value, auction low/avg/high and retail by condition🔒
- DepreciationDrop from original MSRP, yearly rate and a one-year projection🔒
- Sticker vs dealer invoiceWhat it cost new, and what the dealer paid🔒
🧰 Factory warranty & equipment
- Remaining warrantyBasic, powertrain and rust coverage left, estimated from the first title date and odometer🔒
- Standard equipment & coloursWhat this trim came with from the factory, and the colours it was offered in🔒
🚨 Recalls on this VIN
- Per-VIN recall statusWhether each campaign has been repaired on THIS car, remedy availability, do-not-drive and stop-sale flags, dealer labour time🔒
History reports cover US-titled vehicles only. This car is registered in Ukraine, so title, salvage and odometer records from the US national title database (NMVTIS) don't apply to it. The registration record, specifications and recall data on this page are free.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
MPG & running costs
U.S. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 1997 BMW 528I.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages. Actual mileage varies with trim and driving conditions.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1997 BMW 528I costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Safety recall campaigns None on record
NHTSA lists no safety-recall campaigns for the 1997 BMW 528I.
Note: recall data comes from the U.S. NHTSA and covers the US-market version of this model. A car registered in Ukraine may have different campaigns — check with the manufacturer's local importer.
These are NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year, last checked 8 Oct 2026. They don't show whether this particular car has had the repair done — check this VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.
We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Common problems & what to inspect
Based on all 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 BMW 528I, here are the most-reported problem areas — and what to check before you buy.
💥 5 involved a crash 🔥 1 involved a fire 🚑 4 reported injuries
🔍 Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
🔍 Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 41
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1997 BMW 528I.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON HIS VEHICLE HAD NOT OPERATED NORMALLY SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW SPECIALIST, WHO STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR THIS MODEL BMW HAD NEVER WORKED PROPERLY . THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN R…
NHTSA ODI #10574038SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE RELEASED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE STRUTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT INQUIRED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V183000 (SUSPENSION) BUT HE WAS ADVISED …
NHTSA ODI #10500018TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I EQUIPPED WITH NANKANG SPORT NS-1 (255/40/17) DOT U8UY1264906 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE REAR TIRES, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BUBBLES LOCATED ON THE THREAD OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 4,800.
NHTSA ODI #10411550STEERING
AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THE CAR SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY THE STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM WAS STUCK. FINALLY MANAGED TO GET IT UNLOCKED ONLY TO HAVE IT LOCK AGAIN WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS REALLY SCARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. I DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE AND DECIDED TO GET RID OF IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10376928POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TWO THINGS SPECIFICALLY WHICH APPEARS TO BE A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE. FIRST, THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOST ITS REVERSE FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE GOES IN DRIVE WITHOUT A SINGLE PROBLEM AT ALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THE DRUM ON THE VEHICLE. (A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU AND UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM) ALSO, THE RIGH…
NHTSA ODI #10359550POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE STARTED RANDOM SHIFT SELECTIONS AFTER RAIN OCCURS. DISPLAY OFTEN SHOWED INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION AND INCORRECT GEAR POSITION ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. GEAR POSITION INDICATOR ON TRANSMISSION HAS DEGRADED SEALANT ALLOWING WATER INTO WIRING AND SWITCH CAUSING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND INCORRECT INDICATIONS FROM TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE SPEED CONTROL. …
NHTSA ODI #10325000AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2006, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. SOMETIME LATER, THE SRS AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WI…
NHTSA ODI #10260678SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE BADLY. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND THE FRONT AND REAR PAS…
Crash · Fire · NHTSA ODI #10254282+ 33 more complaints on record.
