2016 Bmw 320I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
57,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 25 complaints (28.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 28.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.0% |
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 | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Engine: 7; Service Brakes: 7; Air Bags: 5; Structure:Body: 5; Power Train: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 1; 2025: 5; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10930071 · 2016-12-05 (December 5, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING IN A 25 MPH ZONE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, DRY ROADS DURING DAYLIGHT AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SLIDE TOWARDS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO QUICKLY TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR HEAD ON. I HIT THE CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE AND DAMAGE TO MY CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,243 miles reported. Look up ODI 10930071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10966258 · 2017-03-16 (March 16, 2017)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ABOUT 40 MPH, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT OR A LOUD POP OVERHEAD. I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND THE SUNROOF HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE AND THE GLASS WAS BOWING UPWARDS. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS PASSING ME AT THE TIME AND I DID NOT SEE ANY PROJECTILES COMING TOWARD THE CAR THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THE SUNROOF JUST SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10966258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11046601 · 2017-11-16 (November 16, 2017)
CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION AND INDICATOR WARNING COMES ON SAYING 'DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION' THE GAGE INDICATES THERE IS AT LEAST 42 MILES OF FUEL BEFORE EMPTY. LUCKILY THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET. THE CAR SHAKES AND MAKES A LOUD SOUND BEFORE PUTTING ITSELF IN NEUTRAL. ALSO THE BRAKES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED BY BMW BUT THEY DO NOT STOP PROPERLY AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH. ALSO THE SUNROOF OPENS INDEPENDENTLY WHEN IT RAINS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11046601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11065295 · 2018-01-26 (January 26, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 (NA) BMW 320I. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE DROVE STRAIGHT THROUGH SOME SHRUBS AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE LAWN OF A BANK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ISSUED A CHECK FOR THE BODY REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE INSURANCE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11166339 · 2019-01-10 (January 10, 2019)
TAKATA RECALL - A SAFETY RECALL HAS NOT YET BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE AND/OR ITS TAKATA AIRBAG SYSTEM. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY ATTEMPTING TO TAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN SHE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. AFTER IMPACT, HER VEHICLE TRAVELED ACROSS THE YELLOW LINE, ACROSS A SOUTHBOUND LANE AND OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A 4 FOOT DITCH. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY BOTH WHEN STRUCK BY THE OTHER VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE IMPACT WITH THE DITCH. DRIVER WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO EMERGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,873 miles reported. Look up ODI 11166339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277528 · 2019-11-01 (November 1, 2019)
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A HIT AND RUN VEHICLE AND RESULTING IN THE ACCIDENT, MY STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN THE PROCESS HITTING ME IN MY PELVIC AREA AND NOW I AM HAVING TROUBLE URINATING AND I HAVE BLEEDING. THE AIR BAGS ALSO BURNED THROUGH MY CLOTHES AND ONTO MY SKIN. I SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO MY ARM, STOMACH AND THIGH.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289981 · 2019-12-18 (December 18, 2019)
TO NHTSA: NOT TOO LONG AGO THE TIMING CHAIN AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION BEARING WENT OUT ON MY 2016 BMW 320I ([XXX]) TIMING CHAIN ISSUE SHOULDN'T OCCUR ON A MOTOR WHICH ONLY PRODUCES 180 HORSEPOWER WITH NO MODS OR TUNES. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD DEFINITELY NEVER GIVE OUT UNLESS YOU'RE PUSHING OVER 700 HORSEPOWER ON A STOCK DIFF. AGAIN MY CAR HAS 180 HORSEPOWER AND HAS NEVER BEEN MODDED. THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318561 · 2020-03-18 (March 18, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW 320I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THE VEHICLE WENT UP ON THE SIDE WALK AND THE CONTACT QUICKLY ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OFF LEASE ONLY LOCATED AT (5580 NW 145TH ST, MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33054), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE REPL…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318561 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.