BMW 328i problems and recalls by year
2,284 owner complaints since 2005, most for the 2011 (577); 18 recalls, 2 investigations.
By model year
Years with 100+ complaints
2015 328i: 125 complaints
6 crashes, 8 fires, 2 injuries · 24V608000, 24V527000, 24V288000, 15V520000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 55 | 100,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 41 | 100,000 |
| Engine | 23 | 82,000 |
| Unknown or other | 19 | 22,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 85,000 |
| Power train | 13 | 15,900 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 43,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 50,000 |
2014 328i: 152 complaints
19 crashes, 2 fires, 18 injuries · 25V871000, 24V608000, 24V527000, 24V288000, 15V520000, 15V189000, 14V627000, 13V454000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 51 | 89,400 |
| Engine | 29 | 61,533 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 29 | 96,000 |
| Service brakes | 20 | 56,200 |
| Air bags | 15 | 58,000 |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 34,400 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 54,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 68,000 |
2013 328i: 257 complaints
24 crashes, 8 fires, 17 injuries · 24V608000, 20V017000, 15V520000, 14V627000, 13V454000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 92 | 79,000 |
| Electrical system | 60 | 98,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 41 | 110,000 |
| Air bags | 39 | 48,000 |
| Service brakes | 31 | 7,200 |
| Power train | 20 | 70,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 64,523 |
| Unknown or other | 18 | 64,523 |
2012 328i: 130 complaints
4 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury · 24V608000, 24V513000, 20V017000, 15V520000, 14V627000, 13V454000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 55 | 92,000 |
| Air bags | 26 | 69,000 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 84,000 |
| Power train | 20 | 68,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 125,000 |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 60,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 63,595 |
| Seats | 8 | 36,000 |
2011 328i: 577 complaints
18 crashes, 25 fires, 19 injuries · 24V513000, 20V017000, 17V683000, 17V676000, 14V176000, 13V044000, 11V476000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 194 | 90,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 161 | 119,000 |
| Electrical system | 123 | 92,000 |
| Air bags | 90 | 72,000 |
| Unknown or other | 43 | 70,000 |
| Power train | 24 | 53,500 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 86,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 17 | 119,000 |
2010 328i: 155 complaints
3 crashes, 6 fires, 3 injuries · 24V513000, 20V017000, 17V683000, 17V676000, 14V176000, 13V044000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 48 | 96,000 |
| Air bags | 42 | 89,500 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 38 | 111,000 |
| Electrical system | 35 | 106,800 |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 150,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 100,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 105,000 |
| Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification | 5 | 90,000 |
2009 328i: 193 complaints
6 crashes, 10 fires, 3 injuries · 24V513000, 20V017000, 19V472000, 17V683000, 17V676000, 13V044000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 63 | 75,450 |
| Electrical system | 61 | 77,000 |
| Engine | 47 | 100,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 21 | 107,000 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 91,000 |
| Seat belts | 14 | 99,000 |
| Steering | 9 | 87,000 |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 60,000 |
2008 328i: 239 complaints
7 crashes, 22 fires, 9 injuries · 24V513000, 20V017000, 17V683000, 17V676000, 13V044000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 83 | 76,000 |
| Electrical system | 79 | 97,000 |
| Engine | 54 | 102,000 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 27 | 100,000 |
| Unknown or other | 19 | 104,602 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 80,476 |
| Seats | 12 | 76,000 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 70,000 |
2007 328i: 399 complaints
11 crashes, 28 fires, 14 injuries · 24V513000, 20V017000, 17V683000, 17V676000, 13V564000, 13V044000
| Component | Complaints | Median miles |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 123 | 97,000 |
| Air bags | 103 | 83,850 |
| Engine | 65 | 96,000 |
| Steering | 55 | 90,000 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 36 | 48,300 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 28 | 90,000 |
| Seat belts | 15 | 78,000 |
| Unknown or other | 15 | 105,000 |
18 recall campaigns since 2005
December 17, 2025 · 25V871000 · 2014 · Air bags › Side/window › Head
The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge.
August 13, 2024 · 24V608000 · 2012–2016 · Electrical system › Wiring › Connectors/plugs/receptacles; Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Pump
An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge.
July 11, 2024 · 24V527000 · 2014–2015 · Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Please see the recall report for the complete list of models.
Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge.
July 3, 2024 · 24V513000 · 2006–2012 · Air bags › Frontal; Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge.
April 24, 2024 · 24V288000 · 2014–2015 · Air bags › Side/window
The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge.
January 15, 2020 · 20V017000 · 2006–2013 · Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag.
January 15, 2020 · 20V018000 · 2005 · Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module · do not drive
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge.
June 19, 2019 · 19V472000 · 2009 · Electrical system; Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables; Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
The connection of the positive battery cable at the fuse box terminal may degrade, resulting in an intermittent loss of electrical power.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and secure the positive battery cable connector, free of charge.
October 30, 2017 · 17V683000 · 2007–2011 · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge.
October 25, 2017 · 17V676000 · 2006–2011 · Electrical system › Wiring
The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge.
August 17, 2015 · 15V520000 · 2012–2015 · Exterior lighting
The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge.
March 31, 2015 · 15V189000 · 2014 · Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge.
October 7, 2014 · 14V627000 · 2012–2014 · Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum; Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge.
April 10, 2014 · 14V176000 · 2010–2011 · Engine and engine cooling › Engine
In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge.
November 12, 2013 · 13V564000 · 2007 · Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available.
September 26, 2013 · 13V454000 · 2012–2014 · Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum; Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge.
February 7, 2013 · 13V044000 · 2007–2011 · Electrical system; Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables; Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
In February 2013, BMW recalled 504,545 vehicles.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge.
September 15, 2011 · 11V476000 · 2011 · Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT ATTACHMENT BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE.
Defect investigations
1 of 2 open.
| Investigation | Years | Opened | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA21002 | 2013–2016 | September 17, 2021 | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture | Open |
| PE13030 | 2012–2014 | September 6, 2013 | Loss of power assist braking | Closed |
Complaints are unverified owner reports, and a recall names a model year, not a car: for one car, decode its VIN here or look it up at NHTSA. BMW models.
Data: NHTSA, October 17, 2026.