2011 Bmw 328: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 37 complaints (35.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 18.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Air Bags: 13; Electrical System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 5; Engine: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Exterior Lighting: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 18 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 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2011: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 7; 2017: 9; 2018: 10; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10396289 · 2011-04-12 (April 12, 2011)
2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE RAIL ON WHICH THE FRONT SEATS ARE MOUNTED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED EACH SEAT HAS TWO RAILS ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR. THE RAILS, ATTACH TO THE SEATS MOVE TO ALLOW ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT IS PROPERLY ADJUSTED, THE TOP RAILS MOUNTED ON THE SEATS, PROJECT SEVERAL INCHES INTO FOOT WELL OF THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE RAILS ARE BARE METAL AND HAVE SHARP EDGES ON THE END AND THEY PROJECT 2 1/2 INCHES AND ARE NOT FLUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS AMPLE SPACE FOR HIS FEE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10396289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399895 · 2011-05-10 (May 10, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOWLY SURGE FORWARD AUTONOMOUSLY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING INTO A GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PILLAR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10403270 · 2011-05-22 (May 22, 2011)
I LEASED A VEHICLE FROM BMW ENCINITAS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN USED BY THEM AS A LOANER VEHICLE ON 3/24/11. ON 4/20/11, I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT MY HOME AFTER A SHORT 20 MINUTE FREEWAY DRIVE AND WITHIN 20-30 MINUTES, FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT THE TOP OF THE HOOD AND OVER THE TOPS OF THE FRONT TIRES. THE FLAMES WERE BLUE AND BURNED SO HOT WATER WAS UNABLE TO DOUSE THEM. THE FIRE BURNED FOR APPROX 15 MORE MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT. UPON INSPECTION, THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY CHARRED, ENGINE MOUNTS GONE AND THE BUMPER AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10403270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405863 · 2011-06-10 (June 10, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS VERY EASY TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, FROM REVERSE, DUE TO THE WAY THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, FROM FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT FIRST GEAR AND REVERSE WERE POSITIONED VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ON THE GEAR SHIFTER, MAKING IT VERY EASY TO SLIP INTO THE WRONG GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415015 · 2011-07-25 (July 25, 2011)
BMW 328/2011- POOR RAIN HANDLING & LACK OF AIRBAG(S) DEPLOYING IN CRASH WHERE CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND VISIBILITY WAS FINE. MY CAR STARTED TO HYDROPLANE AND STARTED FISHTAILING, THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND INTO A GUARD RAIL ON I-95. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED A "TOTAL LOSS." I HAVE HAD 5 CARS AND 2 OF THEM WERE BMW 3 SERIES. MY 2007 BMW NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS ONE AND AM CONFIDENT DRIVING IN THE RAIN. I DO NOT FEEL THAT MY BMW PERFORMED LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10506054 · 2013-04-12 (April 12, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER WAITING SOMETIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL RIBBON AND PERFORMED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE EXACT RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREE…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10506054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644161 · 2014-10-12 (October 12, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, MY 2011 328I SHUT OFF. DUE TO MY GIVEN RELATIVELY LOW SPEED AND LOCATION (BACK ROAD) I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. ONCE STOPPED, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE. THE CAR WOULD START. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW SERVICE FACILITY. THE BMW REPAIR TECHNICIAN ADVISED AN INTERNAL FUEL LINK CRACKED, THUS THE CAR HAD EFFECTIVELY RUN OUT OF GAS. THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK AND PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "2011 BMW 328I SWOLLEN FUEL PUMP" REVEALS OTHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692301 · 2015-03-05 (March 5, 2015)
02/25/15 I LEFT MY BMW AT THE DEALER FOR MANY OF THE CONSTANT ISSUES MY CAR HAS HAD BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. ONE OF THE MANY THINGS WAS THAT ALL DOORS WILL CLOSE BUT THE FRONT PASSENGER. THEY ALWAYS SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. BUT WHEN I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALER IT WAS JUST NOT CLOSING AT ALL. ON 02/27/15. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER AND HE SAID TO ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO EXPLAIN ABOUT THE ESTIMATES TO FIX MY CAR. I ASKED HIM WHY THEY WILL CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING THEY NEVER COULD DUPLICATE WHEN MY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10692301 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V071000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-05 (February 5, 2016)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with 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's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗