1996 Bmw 328I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
88,605 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Clutch Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 15 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 26.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 13.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Clutch Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10020180 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020182 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
FOR THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE PLATE LIGHTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021514 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
I HAVE A 328I BMW, AND THE INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT YOU NEVER NEED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID YET ON THE DAY IN QUESTION MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO STALL AND JERK. I THAN CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO I INFORMED OF THIS TROUBLE, HE THEN INFORMED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO HIM TO CHECK. I NEED TO ALSO TELL THAT THIS AUTOMOBILE DOES NOT HAVE A DIP STICK SO THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS GOING BAD PRIOR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME. WHEN I CALL BMW THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY ONLY WARRANTY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066535 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
POWER LOCK ACTUATORS ON VEHICLE FAIL REPEATEDLY. BETWEEN 2000 AND 2003, THREE POWER LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON VEHICLE (BOTH REAR DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR). SOMETIMES THE ACTUATORS GET STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, SOMETIMES UNLOCKED. WALKED AWAY FROM VEHICLE WITH AN UNLOCKED DOOR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE DISCOVERING PROBLEM. IN ONE CASE (FRONT PASS. DOOR), DOOR LOCK WAS EVEN DIFFICULT (BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE) TO OPERATE MANUALLY: THIS WAS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, MAKING ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199955 · 2007-08-17 (August 17, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW 328I. HE STATED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE CUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. HE STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE CLOCKSPRING, BUT IT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,120 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96720.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 556836 · 2000-11-03 (November 3, 2000)
CONVERTIBLE TOP IS DEFECTIVE AND CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR DEALER TO REPLY, IT'S BEEN OVER ONE MONTH AND THE CONSUMER HAS HEARD NOTHING. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558603 · 2000-12-14 (December 14, 2000)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS WITH THE ENGINE RECING AT 40 TO 50 MILES PER HOUR AND HIT A TREE, PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURY. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742063 · 2001-03-07 (March 7, 2001)
IS THERE A SAFETY ISSUE OR RECOMMENDATION FOR RECALL, OR MANY COMPLAINTS? I HAVE A 1996 328I CONV. WITH 56,000 MILES. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AS OF 8 MONTHS AGO. PURCHASED FROM A LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER WHERE IT WAS TAKEN ON TRADE. WE HAD A FEW OIL LEAKS REPAIRED WITH THE LATEST BEING THE OIL FILTER HOUSING ITSELF. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE HOUSING IS NOW BEING MANUFACTURED DIFFERENTLY. ORIGINALLY THE PLUGS IN THE HOUSING WERE PRESSED IN. APPARENTLY MANY LEAKED AND NOW THE HOUSING PLUGS ARE THE SCREW IN TYPE. I HAD A LEAK AT THE PLUG A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742063 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.