2011 Bmw 328I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
576 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
92,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 268 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 193 of 576 complaints (33.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 87 | 15.1% |
| Engine operation | 76 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 1.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 193 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 161 |
| Electrical System | 123 |
| Air Bags | 90 |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 |
| Power Train | 24 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 |
Engine: 193; Engine And Engine Cooling: 161; Electrical System: 123; Air Bags: 90; Unknown Or Other: 43; Power Train: 24; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20; Exterior Lighting: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 57 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 87 |
| 150,000 and above | 36 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 57; 100,000 to 149,999: 87; 150,000 and above: 36
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (87). 308 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 59 |
| 2018 | 93 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 82 |
| 2023 | 50 |
| 2024 | 121 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 16; 2015: 7; 2016: 24; 2017: 59; 2018: 93; 2019: 32; 2020: 32; 2021: 18; 2022: 82; 2023: 50; 2024: 121; 2025: 16; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 87 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 76 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10434400 · 2011-11-06 (November 6, 2011)
VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED ON 2/3/2011 AND HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING & UNRESOLVED ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BATTERY DISCHARGE, FAILURES TO START, ERRONEOUS DOOR AJAR MESSAGES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON & ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION MESSAGES LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP(S) 2 TIMES. DATES/MILEAGE OF FAILURE(S): 19FEB2011 / 377 MILES, 18APR2011 / 2,336, 01JUN2011 / 3,816, 12 AUG 2011 / 4,690, 24OCT2011 / 6,867, 21OCT2011 / 6,943. FORMAL NOTICES SERVED TO BRAMAN BMW / MIAMI, SOUTH MOTORS / MIAMI & BMW CORPORATE / NJ TO REPAIR OR REPLACE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,336 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515083 · 2013-06-04 (June 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES WITH THE POWER LOCKS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL LOCK SYSTEM IN BOTH THE FRONT DOORS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE LOCK SYSTEM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428886 · 2011-10-06 (October 6, 2011)
1.) VEHICLE HAD VERY ROUGH IDLE WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHT (0 MPH). TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY BETWEEN 500 AND 900 RPM AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP, WHO FOUND NO FAULT CODES AND MADE NO REPAIRS. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY AFTERWARDS. ODOMETER APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES. 2.) VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL AT A STOP LIGHT (0 MPH). ENGINE DIED WITH NO SHUDDER OR ANY ABNORMAL NOISES. VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY AND DROVE NORMALLY AFTERWARDS. ODOMETER APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES. 3.)…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605385 · 2014-06-23 (June 23, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO NOTICED THAT THE VANOS ASSEMBLY BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564110 · 2014-02-19 (February 19, 2014)
2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, SHE NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MPH OR LOWER, APPLYING THE BRAKE, OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME SURGING FOR A SECOND TIME, AS SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND INTO SOME BUSHES. AS A RESULT, SHE RECEIVED WHIP-LASH TO HER NECK AND SLIGHTLY BRUISED HER ELBOWS, KNEES AND HURT HER CHEST ON THE STEERI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10564110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10572732 · 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)
MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ON I-95 SOUTH IN ST AUGUSTINE FL , WHEN SEVERAL CARS CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. MY DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIT A SUV, SHE WAS APPLYING HER BRAKES . THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG BECAUSE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND FELT THE NEED TO REPORT IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428889 · 2011-10-06 (October 6, 2011)
VEHICLE DRIVES TO THE RIGHT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS POSITIONED IN THE CENTER POSITION. STRAIGHT-LINE DRIVING POSITION IS SEVERAL DEGREES TO THE LEFT. PULL TO THE RIGHT WAS AMPLIFIED WITH SPEED; HIGHWAY DRIVING WAS VERY NOTICEABLE. DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AT 1600 MILES AND FOUND REAR CAMBER, REAR TOE, AND FRONT LEFT TOE OUT OF SPEC. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THE PROBLEM REMAINED. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AT 2200 MILES FOR ANOTHER ALIGNMENT. VEHICLE STILL HAS SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT BUT THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINS OFF-CENTER. AGAIN, …
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451018 · 2012-03-09 (March 9, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND THE LOCK ACTUATOR WAS NOT LOCKING COMPLETELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE GPS SYSTEM DIDN'T ALLOW HER TO PUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034058 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION MESSAGE ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11082705 · 2018-04-03 (April 3, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "CAR ON THE ROCK" ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11082705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455684 · 2012-04-18 (April 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MOVE AS IF THE CONTACT HAD NOT SECURED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10924033 · 2016-11-03 (November 3, 2016)
SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER, 2014, I NOTICED A SHUTTER WHILE ACCELERATING IN THE 35-45 MPH RANGE, HOWEVER NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED BMW MECHANIC, AND, INITIALLY, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON OCTOBER 27, 2016, I RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC FOR SOME MINOR REPAIRS, AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE SHUTTER PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION (TORQUE) CONVERTER. HE SAID THAT HE IS SEEING THIS PROBLEM ARISE WITH MORE AND MORE FREQUE…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924033 at NHTSA ↗