2009 BMW 328i Engine Problems
Engine complaints make up 70 of the 193 total complaints filed for the 2009 BMW 328i (36 percent), with a median failure mileage of 98,500 and 8 reported fires. A related recall, campaign 17V683000, addresses PCV valve heater replacement.
- Engine complaints
- 70
- 36% of 193 complaints
- All complaints this year
- 193
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 8
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 98,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners describe engine bay fires, including smoke and flames emerging from the hood while idling or shortly after parking, sometimes with the fire originating from an electrical fault on the driver's side.
- Several owners report smoke entering the cabin through the vents along with the check engine light illuminating while driving at various speeds, prompting them to pull over and let the car cool down.
- Multiple complaints describe sudden loss of engine power or complete engine shutdown while driving, including a case where the car rolled backward down a hill after stalling at a stop light.
- Owners tied to the PCV valve heater recall report continued smoke, plastic smells, and fires even after the recall repair was performed, or after waiting extended periods for recall parts to become available.
- One complaint describes a broken bolt securing the serpentine belt tensioner assembly, causing the belt to come off and leaving the vehicle undrivable.
- Another owner reported the dashboard lighting up with a 'service engine soon' warning along with power steering loss while accelerating on the interstate, followed by the car failing to restart.
When 2009 BMW 328i engine complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 7, 2011, latest Mar 13, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2009 BMW 328i
- NHTSA 17V683000Oct 30, 2017Engine740,561 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine complaints by 328i model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are engine problems on the 2009 BMW 328i?
- Engine complaints account for 70 of the 193 total complaints filed for this model year, or 36 percent of all complaints.
- Is there a recall for engine problems on the 2009 BMW 328i?
- Yes. Campaign 17V683000 covers replacement of the PCV valve heater, filed for several BMW models including the 2009 328i.
- At what mileage do engine problems typically appear on the 2009 328i?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 98,500 miles for engine-related complaints.
- Did the 2009 BMW 328i engine problems cause fires?
- NHTSA complaint data lists 8 fires and 1 injury tied to engine-area complaints for this model year.