2014 Bmw 328I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
151 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 51 of 151 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 42 | 27.8% |
| Braking behavior | 30 | 19.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 7.3% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 51 |
| Engine | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 20 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
Electrical System: 51; Engine: 29; Engine And Engine Cooling: 29; Service Brakes: 20; Air Bags: 15; Unknown Or Other: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Exterior Lighting: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 68 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2013: 1; 2014: 9; 2015: 9; 2016: 4; 2017: 7; 2018: 15; 2019: 7; 2020: 17; 2021: 7; 2022: 10; 2023: 8; 2024: 21; 2025: 32; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 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 10550798 · 2013-11-04 (November 4, 2013)
I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND GOT INTO THE PASSING LANE. I THEN SHIFTED FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND LOSE POWER (LIMP HOME MODE). THE DISPLAY SAID DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY, ETC. AND THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP CAME ON. I SHIFTED TO 5TH GEAR TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP AND HAD THE SAME LOW POWER ISSUE. I THEN CHANGED TWO LANES TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED BRIEFLY AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE LAMPS WERE OFF AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE. I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEY GET TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568732 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
ONE OF THE REAR RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS CONTROLLING THE ADAPTIVE XENON HEADLIGHTS FAILED (BOLT BROKE). THIS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO AIM DOWN AT THE LIMIT OF THEIR ADJUSTMENT, EFFECTIVELY GIVING THE DRIVER ONLY 20 OR SO FEET OF VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. WE HAD TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS TO GET ANY REASONABLY VISIBILITY TO DRIVE SAFELY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10579413 · 2014-04-13 (April 13, 2014)
I WAS ABOUT TO PARK IN A CUL-DE-SAC GOING ABOUT 5 MPH, WHILE I WAS HALF WAY THROUGH THE CUL-DE-SAC THE BMW 328D HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND IN A VERY HIGH SPEED CRASHED INTO A TREE. I DO NOT RECALL THE EXACT SPEED WHEN IT CRASHED BUT IT WAS VERY HIGH, IT FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE A RACE CAR. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK RIGHT WHEN IT ACCELERATED. IT SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. CALLED BMW HQ TO REPORT THE ISSUE. A CASE MANAGER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED BUT NO ONE CONTACTED ME YET. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10584790 · 2014-04-25 (April 25, 2014)
SLIGHT KNOCKING SOUND WHEN CAR IS IDLING. CAR SHAKES, WHEN IT IS AT IDLE, DURING TRAFFIC, THE COMPLETE CAR SHAKES, EVEN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATE! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 145 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10586482 · 2014-05-05 (May 5, 2014)
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR REPORTED AN ERROR "CHASSIS: DRIVE MODERATELY. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER." THERE WERE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPRODUCIBLE AT THE SERVICE CENTER AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THE SERVICE CENTER THE ACCELERATION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE DAY I RECEIVED THE CAR, I GOT THE SAME ERROR, THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 20 MPH. ON STOPPING AND RESTARTING, THE ERROR WAS NOT REPRODUCIBLE. 500 OR SO MILES LATER, I GOT THE ERROR ONCE AGAIN, TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10618132 · 2014-08-01 (August 1, 2014)
JUST AFTER GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, I GOT AN WARNING MESSAGE THAT READ - "CHASSIS: DRIVE MODERATELY. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER." THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I GOT THIS WARNING. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE THE PAST 2 TIMES. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A GOOD ANSWER FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHAT PROBLEMS THIS MIGHT CAUSE. I DO NOTICE THE SUSPENSION DOESN'T WORK AS WELL WHEN IT THROWS THIS ERROR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631073 · 2014-09-05 (September 5, 2014)
ON AUG, 7TH I WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE 1ST VEHICLE APPLIED THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER 2 CAR ACCIDENT, I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS WELL HOWEVER I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID THE 1ST VEHICLE AND I REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES HAD SLIGHT DAMAGED TO THEIR BUMPERS. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DURING THE TIME OF ME APPLYING MY BRAKES I HAD ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL TO A. HIT THE CALL IN FRONT OF ME OR B. HIT THE CONCRETE WALL MEDIUM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SAYING 'WOW' I AM R…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650556 · 2014-10-28 (October 28, 2014)
ON INTERSTATE 10, DURING THE ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST ITS POWER. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER BEFORE I LOST THE MOMENTUM.THE CA HIGHWAY PATROL PUSHED ME TO A SAFE PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS ALMOST 20 DAYS AFTER AGAIN DURING THE ACCELERATION ON FREEWAY AT THE SPEED OF 70, THE ENGINE LOST ITS POWER IN A WAY THAT THE CAR DID NOT PROCEED FOR A WHILE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ENGINE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT READ ANY ERROR IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650556 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
8 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V454000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 2013-09-26 (September 26, 2013)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V627000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 2014-10-07 (October 7, 2014)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2015-03-31 (March 31, 2015)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i Coupe, M235i Coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, ActiveHybrid 3, 328xi Sports Wagon, 428i Coupe, 428xi Coupe, 435i Coupe, 435xi Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428xi Convertible, 435i Convertible, 328xi Gran Turismo, 335xi Gran Turismo, and 2015 428i Gran Coupe, 428xi Gran Coupe, and 435i Gran Coupe vehicles. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V520000 · Exterior Lighting
Reported: 2015-08-17 (August 17, 2015)
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V288000 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 2024-04-24 (April 24, 2024)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V527000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2024-07-11 (July 11, 2024)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V608000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Connectors/Plugs/Receptacles | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Pump
Reported: 2024-08-13 (August 13, 2024)
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V871000 · Air Bags:Side/Window:Head
Reported: 2025-12-17 (December 17, 2025)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗