2011 Bmw 328
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Bmw 328 has 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: 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 . ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
51
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.6x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
13 complaints- • 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
- • TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE; CONTACTED CAR DEALER IMMEDIATELY; PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AS OF 4/8/16; NOT ACCEPTABLE - MILLIONS DRIVING UNSAFE CARS - DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING OUT RENTALS OR LOANERS......
- • TAKATA RECALL - I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY TIMELY CORRESPONDENCE SINCE THE INITIAL ONE IN MARCH 2016. LOCAL DEALER HAS NO ETA FOR REPAIR
“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 ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
9 complaints- • 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.
- • 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 MA
- • 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
“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. ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
6 complaints- • 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,
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR DETECTED AN OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN IT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE HEAT FROM THE LEATHER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- • GETTING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" ERROR FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT ALL. I'M AFRAID THE AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.
“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,”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
5 complaints- • FUMES COMING INTO CABIN, BMW SERVICE CENTER STATES THAT IT IS THE INITIAL BURNING OFF OF THE FUEL WHEN CAR IS STARTED, YET IT CAN BE DETECTED AN HOUR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING, ESPECIALLY IF THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON
- • HAVE A RECALL ON BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND VALVE HEATER. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALER COUPLE OF TIME, THEY CHECKED AND NOTIFIED THAT SOME WIRES ARE BURNING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT UNABLE TO DO SO DUE TO PART NOT AVAILABLE. IT'S BEEN COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE DEALER.
- • SOMETIMES WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR USING THE MECHANICAL HANDLE, DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK. I HAVE TO USE MY KEY FOB TO REMOTELY UNLOCK THE CAR BEFORE THE DOOR HANDLE WILL WORK TO OPEN THE DOOR.
“FUMES COMING INTO CABIN, BMW SERVICE CENTER STATES THAT IT IS THE INITIAL BURNING OFF OF THE FUEL WHEN CAR IS STARTED, YET IT CAN BE DETECTED AN HOUR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING, ESPECIALLY IF THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
4 complaints- • ALUMINUM HEADBOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE RESULTING IN CAR LOSING POWER AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROADWAY. THIS IS AN N52 ENGINE AND COMPLAINTS ARE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SOLELY CAUSED BY AN OVER TORQUE OF THE BOLT DURING MANUFACTURING.
- • BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE HEATER. CAR FEELS HOT SOMETIMES I WENT TO THE DEALER ALREADY AND WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK IS BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS ALREADY
- • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. BMW DEALER SHIP NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE DEFECTS, THE SPARKS PLUGS KEEP BURNING OUT DUE TO THE CAR OVERHEATING.
“ALUMINUM HEADBOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE RESULTING IN CAR LOSING POWER AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROADWAY. THIS IS AN N52 ENGINE AND COMPLAINTS ARE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SOLELY CAUSED BY AN OVER TORQUE OF THE BOLT DURING MANUFACTURING.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 51 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SEATS/RESTRAINTS: 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,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: FUMES COMING INTO CABIN, BMW SERVICE CENTER STATES THAT IT IS THE INITIAL BURNING OFF OF THE FUEL WHEN CAR IS STARTED, YET IT CAN BE DETECTED AN HOUR AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING, ESPECIALLY IF THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw 328 — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 51
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Bmw 328