YearToAvoid

2009 BMW 328i Engine Problems

NHTSA has 70 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2009 BMW 328i, 36% of all 193 complaints for this model year. That is #7 highest engine complaint count among 12 328i model years. These complaints report 1 crash, 8 fires, and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 98,500 miles.

Engine complaints
70
36% of 193
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
98,500 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2009 BMW 328i engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 7, 2011, latest Mar 13, 2025.

2009 BMW 328i engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2011Apr 2017Jan 2018Jun 2018Jul 2019Mar 2022Aug 2022May 2023
70 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2011 to Mar 2025; peak Jan 2018 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2009 BMW 328i

  1. 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.

  1. 20050 (0%)
  2. 20060 (0%)
  3. 2007102 (26%)
  4. 200888 (37%)
  5. 200970 (36%)
  6. 201086 (55%)
  7. 2011370 (64%)
  8. 201275 (58%)
  9. 2013137 (53%)
  10. 201463 (42%)
  11. 201565 (52%)
  12. 201630 (53%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 BMW 328i have engine problems?
NHTSA has 70 owner complaints about the engine in the 2009 BMW 328i, 36% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 98,500 miles.
Which BMW 328i year has the most engine complaints?
The 2011 BMW 328i has the most engine complaints (370), compared with 70 for the 2009.
Is there a engine recall for the 2009 BMW 328i?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 BMW 328i concerns the engine: 17V683000.

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.