YearToAvoid

2011 BMW 328i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 7 328i years

The 2011 BMW 328i ranks worst among 7 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 577 complaints, mostly engine (64%) and electrical (23%) issues. It carries 7 recalls, including airbag, wiring, and engine PCV valve campaigns, making it the year to avoid most.

Complaints
577
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
18 / 25
Injuries / deaths
19 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2011 BMW 328i problems

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

  1. Engine370 (64%)
  2. Electrical System131 (23%)
  3. Airbags91 (16%)
  4. Other44 (8%)
  5. Structure & Body24 (4%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain24 (4%)
  7. Fuel System20 (3%)
  8. Brakes17 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts12 (2%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers12 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed collisions, sometimes leading to injuries.
  • Owners describe unexpected acceleration or RPM rise at low speeds with no throttle input.
  • Vehicles catch fire near the dash or engine area, in some cases fully burning after the driver pulls over.
  • Electrical wiring issues cause burning odors and smoke, tied to unresolved recall parts shortages.
  • Transmission seems to shift into a higher gear unexpectedly while braking at low speed, causing forward surge.
  • Owners report long delays getting recall parts for airbag and electrical wiring campaigns while continuing to drive affected cars.
2011 BMW 328i complaints: complaints filed per quarter582011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42017 Q42019 Q42021 Q42023 Q42025 Q4
769 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q1 (58).

2011 BMW 328i recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V513000Jul 3, 2024Airbags394,029 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 20V017000Jan 15, 2020Airbags59,965 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  3. 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.

See all 7 recalls for the 2011 BMW 328i →

2011 BMW 328i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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.

2011 compared with other 328i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution50155620
2011Avoid100577720
2012Best17130620.5
2013Avoid83257521

All BMW 328i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 BMW 328i reliable?
Among the 7 model years of the 328i with data, 2011 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst, with 577 complaints logged with NHTSA. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other 328i years.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 328i?
Engine problems make up 64% of complaints (370 of 577), with a median failure mileage of 92,000 for the year overall and 100,500 for engine issues specifically. Electrical system complaints follow at 23%.
Does the 2011 BMW 328i have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2011 328i, covering airbags, engine PCV valve heaters, VANOS housing bolts, wiring/electrical connectors, and front driveshaft attachment bolts. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2011 328i compare to other years?
The 2011 328i has a complaint index of 100, the highest of all 7 years tracked, compared to 17 for 2012 and 0 for 2016, both rated Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 BMW 328i?
EPA rates the 2011 328i at 20 mpg combined (18 city / 25.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,000.

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.