2011 BMW 328i Airbags Problems
Airbags account for 91 complaints on the 2011 BMW 328i, 16% of all complaints for the year, with 13 crashes and 14 injuries reported. Two related recalls exist, including a Takata-linked driver air bag campaign (24V513000).
- Airbags complaints
- 91
- 16% of 577
- Crashes reported
- 13
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 14
- Median mileage
- 71,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed collisions, including rear-end and T-bone impacts, leaving occupants with injuries owners believe could have been prevented.
- Takata-related front driver air bags reportedly inflate late or rupture, sending metal fragments into the cabin and causing hand injuries during deployment.
- Side curtain and side-impact air bags on the driver or passenger side do not deploy even when the door area is struck and damaged.
- Owners with open Takata recalls report long waits for replacement parts, sometimes over a year, before the recall repair could be completed.
- Some owners who had airbags replaced after a prior crash report uncertainty about whether the replacement parts are genuine, safe Takata units.
- Passenger airbag warning lights and seatbelt chimes activate incorrectly, showing the airbag as off or on regardless of actual seat occupancy.
When 2011 BMW 328i airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 19, 2014, latest Apr 30, 2025.
Airbags recalls for the 2011 BMW 328i
- 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.
- 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.
Airbags complaints by 328i model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does the 2011 BMW 328i have?
- NHTSA lists 91 airbag complaints for the 2011 BMW 328i, which is 16% of all 577 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall on the 2011 BMW 328i?
- Yes. NHTSA lists two related airbag recalls, campaign 24V513000 covering driver air bag module inspection/replacement, and campaign 20V017000 covering driver air bag replacement on related BMW models.
- Have airbag problems caused crashes or injuries on the 2011 328i?
- NHTSA data tied to these airbag complaints shows 13 crashes and 14 injuries, with no fires reported.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2011 328i?
- The median mileage at failure among these airbag complaints is 71,000 miles.