vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Bmw 328XI problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

67 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

79,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 67 complaints (35.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1116.4%
Fuel system concerns710.4%
Engine operation57.5%
Braking behavior46.0%
Steering behavior34.5%

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.

Engine
24
Electrical System
17
Air Bags
12
Engine And Engine Cooling
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
7
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Unknown Or Other
5
Power Train
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine24
Electrical System17
Air Bags12
Engine And Engine Cooling9
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Vehicle Speed Control6
Unknown Or Other5
Power Train4

Engine: 24; Electrical System: 17; Air Bags: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Power Train: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
19
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,99919
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 20 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.

2012
2
2013
1
2014
6
2015
3
2016
6
2017
9
2018
19
2019
6
2020
2
2021
3
2022
3
2024
7
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20131
20146
20153
20166
20179
201819
20196
20202
20213
20223
20247

2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2017: 9; 2018: 19; 2019: 6; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2024: 7

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10725553 · 2015-06-16 (June 16, 2015)

I REMEMBER DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. LATER, THE CAR'S HVAC BLOWER FAN STOPPED WORKING. DURING REPAIR, THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND THE HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO IT WERE FOUND TO BE BADLY BURNED. THE HARNESS WIRES FOR GROUND AND POWER WERE MISSING INSULATION (BURNED AWAY) AND THE COPPER WAS BADLY CORRODED. THE TRIM PANEL DIRECTLY UNDER THE AFFECTED AREA HAS WATER STAINING AND SCORCH MARKS. BMW NA REFUSED TO PAY TO FIX DUE TO MILEAGE …

Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725553 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11047802 · 2017-11-21 (November 21, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY ELECTRICAL FAILURE THAT PROGRESSED WITH THE VEHICLE PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FIELDS BMW OF DAYTONA, 1050 N TOMOKA FARMS RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124, [phone removed]). THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX AND WIRING WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM AN ELECTRICAL RECALL AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11047802 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10733011 · 2015-07-09 (July 9, 2015)

TODAY I WAS ALMOST KILLED, AND CAUSED MANY OTHER MOTORIST A GREAT DEAL OF PANIC. DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH MY 2011 328XI SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOOSE POWER. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET ACROSS FIVE LANES TO THE SHOULDER, I WAS NEARLY HIT NUMEROUS TIMES AS DRIVERS AROUND ME HAD BRAKE HARD OR MAKE RAPID MOVES AROUND ME. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS THAT THIS OCCURRED. I HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT PLAZA MOTORS. TODAY MY CAR WAS TOWED THERE AGAIN AND I AM ASSUMING IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM

Owner-reported narrative. 49,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10733011 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10905125 · 2016-09-09 (September 9, 2016)

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AUTO SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT CONSIDERING HEAVILY TRAVEL ROAD AUTO WOULDN'T START AGAIN HAD AUTO TOWED OFF ROAD TO NEAREST GARAGE SAFETY HAZARD.BMW HAS SPECIAL WARRANTY FOR SUPER LOW EMISSION VEHICLES 15YRS OR 150000 MILES THIS AUTO FITS THAT DESCRIPTION IN CERTAIN STATES PA IS ONE OF THESE STATES IF YOU READ THE WHOLE WARRANITY NOT JUST THE FIRST LIST OF STATES. THE AUTO WAS REGISTRED IN PA FOR 6YRS AND IN NORTH CAROLINA ONE MONTH.BMWNA SAID THE AUTO DOESN'T QUALIFY THEY DIDN T BOTHER TO READ THEIR WH…

Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10905125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10619284 · 2014-08-06 (August 6, 2014)

A LETTER FROM BMW CAME IN JUNE 2014 STATING THAT MY VEHICLE IS EFFECTED FOR IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL AND THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE RECALL WAS FOR VANOS ASSEMBLY BOLTS. THE LETTER STATES THAT I MAY HEAR INCREASED NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY COME ON LEADING TO REDUCED POWER LEADING TO ENGINE STALL. I NOTICED ON THIS WEBSITE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND LEADING TO STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND ENGINE TO SHUT OFF WHICH CAN LEAD TO INJURY AND DEATH OF ANYONE ON THE ROADS. I HAVE CALLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619284 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11122787 · 2018-08-27 (August 27, 2018)

CAM BOLTS SHEAR OFF AND FALL INTO ENGINE RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE FREEWAY WHILE IN DRIVE, EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD FIX THIS HOWEVER ALL THEY DID AT BMW TRI CITIES WAS PUT NEW BOLTS ON AND THERE ARE MASSIVE ISSUES HAPPENING RELATED TO BOLTS FAILING, THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122787 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10472452 · 2012-08-25 (August 25, 2012)

I WAS BACKING MY CAR INTO A GARAGE - CAR WAS IN REVERSE - I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR - THE CAR LUNGED BACKWARD AT TOP SPEED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR WALL OF GARAGE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472452 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10610928 · 2014-07-16 (July 16, 2014)

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON MONDAY 07/14/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW IN JUNE 2014 STATING THEY WOULD BE RECALLING MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED THEM AS SOON AS I RECEIVED THE LETTER BUT WAS TOLD THE PARTS HAD NOT COME IN YET AND I SHOULD RECEIVE A 2ND NOTICE SH…

Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10610928 at NHTSA ↗