BMW 328i Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank BMW 328i model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2001 drew the fewest (4) and the 2011 the most (577).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 1997 Among the fewest complaints |
25 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
26 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 19–20 |
| 1996 | 31 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 20–21 |
| 2016 | 57 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 26–27 |
| 1999 | 98 | 7 | Air bags | — | 20–21 |
| 2000 | 112 | 7 | Air bags | — | 19–21 |
| 2015 | 125 | 4 | Electrical system | 5★ | 26–27 |
| 2012 | 130 | 6 | Engine | 5★ | 21–27 |
| 2014 | 151 | 8 | Electrical system | 5★ | 26–27 |
| 2010 | 155 | 6 | Engine | — | 22 |
| 2009 | 193 | 6 | Air bags | — | 21–22 |
| 2008 | 239 | 5 | Electrical system | — | 21–22 |
| 2013 Among the most complaints |
257 | 5 | Engine | 5★ | 20–26 |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
398 | 6 | Electrical system | — | 21–22 |
| 2011 Among the most complaints |
577 | 7 | Engine | — | 22 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the BMW 328i years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2011 BMW 328i: 577 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 194 (34%); Engine and engine cooling 175 (30%); Electrical system 129 (22%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 25 fires, 19 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 92,000 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
2007 BMW 328i: 398 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 128 (32%); Air bags 105 (26%); Engine 65 (16%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 28 fires, 14 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 80,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
2013 BMW 328i: 257 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 92 (36%); Electrical system 61 (24%); Engine and engine cooling 44 (17%).
Reports mention 24 crashes, 8 fires, 17 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 63,373 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The BMW 328i years with the fewest complaints
2001 BMW 328i: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 2 (50%); Power train 1 (25%); Tires 1 (25%).
3 recall campaigns listed.
1997 BMW 328i: 25 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 7 (28%); Structure 4 (16%); Air bags 3 (12%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 injury, 1 death. 0 recall campaigns listed.
1998 BMW 328i: 26 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 5 (19%); Air bags 4 (15%); Service brakes 4 (15%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 5 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in BMW 328i owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 57 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 29,000 |
| 2015 | 125 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 68,000 |
| 2014 | 151 | 19 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 58,000 |
| 2013 | 257 | 24 | 8 | 17 | 0 | 63,373 |
| 2012 | 130 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81,000 |
| 2011 | 577 | 18 | 25 | 19 | 0 | 92,000 |
| 2010 | 155 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 97,500 |
| 2009 | 193 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 77,000 |
| 2008 | 239 | 7 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 89,000 |
| 2007 | 398 | 11 | 28 | 14 | 0 | 80,000 |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 112 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 112,000 |
| 1999 | 98 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 107,800 |
| 1998 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1996 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest BMW 328i recalls
- PCV Heater may Short Circuit (2007–2011 model years; 740,561 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2017; 17V683000)
- Water Pump Connector May Short Circuit (2012–2016 model years; 720,796 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2024; 24V608000)
- Blower Motor Wiring may Overheat (2006–2011 model years; 702,965 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2017; 17V676000)
- Passenger Side Air Bag Inflator may Rupture (2000 model year; 574,007 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2018; 14V428000)
- Loss of Electrical Power/Stalling (2007–2011 model years; 516,791 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2013; 13V044000)
All 27 BMW 328i recall campaigns · BMW 328i problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
BMW 328i years FAQ
Which BMW 328i year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2001 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (4). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there BMW 328i years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2011, 2007 and 2013 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common BMW 328i problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (682 of 2,578 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the BMW 328i have?
NHTSA lists 27 recall campaigns covering the BMW 328i. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the BMW 328i recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.