YearToAvoid

2014 BMW 328i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#3 most-complained of 7 328i years

The 2014 BMW 328i has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 3rd worst out of 7 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 151 complaints, 8 recalls, and a top problem area of Engine (63 complaints, 42% share).

Complaints
151
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
19 / 2
Injuries / deaths
18 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
22 city / 32 hwy

Top 2014 BMW 328i problems

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

  1. Engine63 (42%)
  2. Electrical System59 (39%)
  3. Brakes23 (15%)
  4. Fuel System17 (11%)
  5. Airbags15 (10%)
  6. Other15 (10%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain9 (6%)
  8. Structure & Body8 (5%)
  9. Seat Belts6 (4%)
  10. Steering4 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during multiple front and rear collisions, even with significant structural damage.
  • Brakes are described as unresponsive or delayed when the pedal was pressed, leading to low-speed collisions.
  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while attempting to park at low speed.
  • The gear shifter allegedly slipped out of Park into Neutral on its own, causing the vehicle to roll unattended.
  • One owner reported the driver's seat belt unbuckled automatically during a rear-end collision.
  • A vehicle mode switched from Sport to Economy by itself shortly before a brake failure incident.
2014 BMW 328i complaints: complaints filed per quarter262013 Q42015 Q32017 Q22019 Q12020 Q42022 Q32024 Q32026 Q2
226 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q4 (26).

2014 BMW 328i recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V871000Dec 17, 2025Airbags851 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window:head

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.

    Risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 24V608000Aug 13, 2024Electrical System720,796 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles

    BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

    Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  3. NHTSA 24V527000Jul 11, 2024Airbags1,145 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

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

    Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

See all 8 recalls for the 2014 BMW 328i →

2014 BMW 328i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
32 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,050
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.

2014 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
2012Best17130620.5
2013Avoid83257521
2014Caution67151826
2015Good33124426
2016Best057126

All BMW 328i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 BMW 328i reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2014 BMW 328i a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 3rd worst among 7 model years of the 328i. Engine and Electrical System complaints are the largest problem areas, at 42% and 39% share respectively.
What problems does the 2014 BMW 328i have?
NHTSA lists 151 complaints for the 2014 328i, led by Engine (63 complaints, median mileage 69,321) and Electrical System (59 complaints, median mileage 76,000) issues. Brakes and Airbags also show notable complaint counts with several linked crashes.
Does the 2014 BMW 328i have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2014 BMW 328i, covering Airbags, Electrical System, Fuel System, and Brakes components. None of these recalls are marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2014 BMW 328i compare to other 328i years?
The 2014 model's Complaint Index of 67 is worse than 2012 (17, Best verdict) and 2015 (33, Good), but better than 2011 (100, Avoid) and 2013 (83, Avoid). Among the 7 years with data, 2014 ranks 3rd worst.
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 BMW 328i?
EPA rates the 2014 BMW 328i at 26 mpg combined (22 city / 32 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050.

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.