YearToAvoid

2016 BMW 328d Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#5 most-complained of 6 328d years

The 2016 BMW 328d has 10 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 20, and 4 recalls, ranking it best (5th of 5 ranked years) among 328d model years. Engine and fuel system issues are the top reported problem areas.

Complaints
10
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
34
30 city / 40 hwy

Top 2016 BMW 328d problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine5 (50%)
  2. Fuel System4 (40%)
  3. Brakes2 (20%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the high-pressure fuel pump failing suddenly, causing complete loss of power and the vehicle shifting into park while driving.
  • Some drivers describe the car going into a limp mode at highway speed, displaying a powertrain failure warning and losing power.
  • Owners with the EGR cooler recall report long waits for replacement parts, with dealers sometimes unable to complete the repair.
  • Some owners say the active cruise control and collision warning system triggers automatic braking or false collision alerts when no obstacle is present.
  • One owner reported the EGR cooler was inspected and called fine despite being subject to an open recall for potential failure.
2016 BMW 328d complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2017May 2019Nov 2021Jul 2022Apr 2024
12 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2017 to Apr 2024; peak Nov 2017 (3).

2016 BMW 328d recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V907000Nov 19, 2021Fuel System50,404 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.

    Risk: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 21V586000Jul 29, 2021Fuel System11,216 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.

    Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  3. NHTSA 20V185000Mar 26, 2020Transmission & Powertrain8,536 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:constant velocity joint

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2016 328d xDrive sedans and 2013-2015 328d xDrive station wagon vehicles. The constant-velocity joint which transfers power between the transfer case and the rear drive shaft, may become damaged, possibly resulting in loss of power to the rear wheels.

    Risk: A loss of power to the rear wheels can affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the vehicle is parked after a loss of power to the rear wheels and the parking brake is not engaged, unintended rollaway can occur, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the constant-velocity joint and inspect the transfer case, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

See all 4 recalls for the 2016 BMW 328d →

2016 BMW 328d fuel economy and fuel cost

City
30 MPG
Highway
40 MPG
Combined
34 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Diesel
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other 328d years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201320142015201620172018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid100152734
2015Avoid8027634
2016Best2010434
2017Caution6012334
2018Good4010434

All BMW 328d years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 BMW 328d reliable?
Among 328d model years, 2016 has a Complaint Index of 20, the lowest of the ranked years, and NHTSA lists 10 complaints. It carries a 'Best' verdict relative to other 328d years.
What problems does the 2016 BMW 328d have?
NHTSA data shows the top problem area is the engine, with 5 complaints (50% share), followed by the fuel system with 4 complaints (40% share) and brakes with 2 complaints (20% share).
Does the 2016 BMW 328d have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 328d, covering the fuel system (EGR cooler and high-pressure fuel pump) and the transmission/powertrain constant-velocity joint. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2016 328d compare to other years?
The 2016 328d has a Complaint Index of 20, lower than 2014 (100, Avoid), 2015 (80, Avoid), 2017 (60, Caution), and 2018 (40, Good), making 2016 the best-ranked year among these.
What is the median mileage for 2016 328d failures?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 14,169 miles, with engine complaints at a median of 10,000 miles and fuel system complaints at a median of 18,338 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.