BMW 328i Best and Worst Years (2005–2016)
Across the BMW 328i (2005-2016), 2007, 2011, and 2013 stand out as Avoid years, with complaint indexes of 91, 100, and 82 and heavy engine, electrical, and airbag complaints. 2016 is the Best year with an index of just 18, while 2010, 2012, and 2015 are rated Good.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- Model years
- 12
- 2005–2016
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,281
- Recall campaigns
- 18
- Crashes reported
- 106
- Fires reported
- 114
- Top problem area
- Engine
328i Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
BMW 328i problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | No verdict | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 ! | — | — | — |
| 2006 | No verdict | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 2007 | Avoid | 91 | 398 | 11 | 28 | 6 | Electrical System | 21 | — |
| 2008 | Caution | 64 | 239 | 7 | 22 | 5 | Engine | 21 | — |
| 2009 | Caution | 73 | 193 | 6 | 10 | 6 | Engine | 20 | — |
| 2010 | Good | 45 | 155 | 3 | 6 | 6 | Engine | 20 | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 100 | 577 | 18 | 25 | 7 | Engine | 20 | — |
| 2012 | Good | 27 | 130 | 4 | 1 | 6 | Engine | 20.5 | — |
| 2013 | Avoid | 82 | 257 | 24 | 8 | 5 | Engine | 21 | 5★ |
| 2014 | Caution | 55 | 151 | 19 | 2 | 8 | Engine | 26 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Good | 36 | 124 | 6 | 8 | 4 | Engine | 26 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Best | 18 | 57 | 8 | 4 | 1 | Engine | 26 | — |
328i years to avoid: what went wrong
2011 BMW 328i Index 100 · 577 complaints · 7 recalls
The 2011 328i has the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100, driven by 577 complaints. Engine problems dominate at 64% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 100,500. Electrical System issues follow at 23% (92,000 miles) and Airbags at 16% (71,000 miles). Owners described airbags not deploying in collisions, unexpected forward surging while braking at low speed, and one report of a rear-end crash. This year also recorded 18 crashes and 19 injuries, the highest of any 328i year, alongside seven recall campaigns covering airbags and engine components.
2011 engine problems →2011 electrical system problems →2011 airbags problems →
2007 BMW 328i Index 91 · 398 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2007 328i carries a complaint index of 91, the second-highest in the lineup, with 398 complaints. Electrical System issues lead at 34% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 97,250, followed by Airbags at 26% (83,000 miles) and Engine problems at 26% (91,000 miles). Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in crashes and an electrical fire starting near a headlight. NHTSA lists six recalls for this year, including airbag module replacement and a PCV valve heater fix. Crashes (11) and fires (28) were both notable for this model year.
2007 electrical system problems →2007 airbags problems →2007 engine problems →
2013 BMW 328i Index 82 · 257 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2013 328i posts a complaint index of 82 across 257 complaints. Engine issues account for 53% of complaints (median 79,500 miles), Electrical System 25% (88,782.5 miles), and Airbags 15% (48,000 miles). Owners reported sudden brake failure shortly after purchase, including one case within the first week of ownership and another after roughly three months, plus a rear-end collision where airbags did not deploy and the car caught fire. This year also logged 24 crashes and 17 injuries, and NHTSA lists five recalls, including a water pump/electrical fix and a software update recall.
2013 engine problems →2013 electrical system problems →2013 airbags problems →
Most common BMW 328i problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Engine1,086 (48%)
- Electrical System689 (30%)
- Airbags469 (21%)
- Other185 (8%)
- Structure & Body156 (7%)
- Fuel System141 (6%)
- Brakes135 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain123 (5%)
- Steering101 (4%)
- Seat Belts80 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What years of the BMW 328i should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2007, 2011, and 2013 are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes of 91, 100, and 82 respectively, well above other model years.
- What is the best year for the BMW 328i?
- The 2016 328i is rated Best with a complaint index of just 18, the lowest across all 12 model years covered.
- Are there other good BMW 328i years besides 2016?
- Yes, 2010, 2012, and 2015 are all rated Good, with complaint indexes of 45, 27, and 36.
- What is the most common problem area for the BMW 328i?
- Engine complaints are the largest category across all years, totaling 1,086 complaints, or 48% of all complaints filed for the model.
- How many recalls does the BMW 328i have overall?
- Across all model years from 2005 to 2016, NHTSA lists 18 recall campaigns for the BMW 328i.