2011 Bmw 328I
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Bmw 328I has 797 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 10.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (46% of all complaints), specifically: 1.) vehicle had very rough idle while idling in neutral at stop light (0 mph). tachometer was fluctuating rapidly between 500 and 900 rpm and the vehicle was shaking violently. drove immediately to dealership, who found no fault codes and made no repairs. vehicle drove normally afterwards. odometer . ⚠️ 31 fire reports filed.
797
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
10.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
365 complaints- • 1.) VEHICLE HAD VERY ROUGH IDLE WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHT (0 MPH). TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY BETWEEN 500 AND 900 RPM AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP, WHO FOUND NO FAULT CODES AND MADE NO REPAIRS. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY AFTERWARDS. ODOMETER
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK WHEN HER LEG WAS BURNED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,037.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND THE LOCK
“1.) VEHICLE HAD VERY ROUGH IDLE WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHT (0 MPH). TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY BETWEEN 500 AND 900 RPM AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP, WHO FOUND NO FAULT CODES AND MADE NO REPAIRS. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY AFTERWARDS. ODOMETER ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
128 complaints- • VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED ON 2/3/2011 AND HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING & UNRESOLVED ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BATTERY DISCHARGE, FAILURES TO START, ERRONEOUS DOOR AJAR MESSAGES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON & ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION MESSAGES LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP(S) 2 TIMES. DATES/MILEAGE
- • 2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ODOMETER BEING OFF BY A COUPLE OF MILES. *TGW
- • THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED AND BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER'S 50,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. SINCE 1/2013, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SERVICE SHOP FOR IGNITION COIL ISSUES. SINCE JANUARY 2013, THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 IGNITION COILS REPLACED, ONE DURING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, ONE T
“VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED ON 2/3/2011 AND HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING & UNRESOLVED ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BATTERY DISCHARGE, FAILURES TO START, ERRONEOUS DOOR AJAR MESSAGES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON & ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION MESSAGES LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP(S) 2 TIMES. DATES/MILEAGE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
98 complaints- • 2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, SHE NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MPH OR LOWER, APPLYING THE BRAKE, OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER EXPE
- • MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ON I-95 SOUTH IN ST AUGUSTINE FL , WHEN SEVERAL CARS CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. MY DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO STOP AND HIT A SUV, SHE WAS APPLYING HER BRAKES . THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG BECAUSE THE AIR BAG DID NO
- • I WAS FOLLOWING MY HUSBAND HOME FROM WORKING AROUND 5PM ON JULY 28TH AND AS HE PRECEDED TO TURN LEFT, I OBSERVED TRAFFIC AND SAW IT WAS SAFE TO FOLLOW THROUGH AS WELL. AS I WAS TURNING ANOTHER GENTLEMAN CAME THROUGH THE LIGHT GOING APPROXIMATELY 45-50MPH AND WE HAD A COLLISION. MY DAMAGE TO MY VEHI
“2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, SHE NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MPH OR LOWER, APPLYING THE BRAKE, OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER EXPE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
44 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND THE LOCK
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CONSTANT CHEMICAL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE ODOR ORIGINATED FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
- • I DROVE FROM MY GARAGE TO THE HIGHWAY (ABOUT 5 MINUTES) I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND GAINED SPEED UP TO ABOUT 55 MPH, I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT ONE OR TWO MINUTES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE SUNROOF IN MY CAR HAD BLOWN OUT. THERE WAS NOT TRAFFIC IN MY LOCAL HIGHWAY SINCE IT WAS ABOUT 1:3
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND THE LOCK”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
24 complaints- • 1.) VEHICLE HAD VERY ROUGH IDLE WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHT (0 MPH). TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY BETWEEN 500 AND 900 RPM AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP, WHO FOUND NO FAULT CODES AND MADE NO REPAIRS. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY AFTERWARDS. ODOMETER
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MOVE AS IF THE CONTACT HAD NOT SECURED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE W
- • I WAS DRIVING ON FREE WAY AROUND 65-70 MPH, SUDDENLY THE CAR LOST CONTROL, VEERING,JERKING, STEERING WHEEL LOST CONTROL. *TR
“1.) VEHICLE HAD VERY ROUGH IDLE WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHT (0 MPH). TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY BETWEEN 500 AND 900 RPM AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP, WHO FOUND NO FAULT CODES AND MADE NO REPAIRS. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY AFTERWARDS. ODOMETER ”
— 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 797 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: 1.) VEHICLE HAD VERY ROUGH IDLE WHILE IDLING IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHT (0 MPH). TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY BETWEEN 500 AND 900 RPM AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP, WHO FOUND NO FAULT CODES AND MADE NO REPAIRS. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY AFTERWARDS. ODOMETER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED ON 2/3/2011 AND HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING & UNRESOLVED ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BATTERY DISCHARGE, FAILURES TO START, ERRONEOUS DOOR AJAR MESSAGES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON & ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION MESSAGES LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP(S) 2 TIMES. DATES/MILEAGE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: 2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, SHE NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MPH OR LOWER, APPLYING THE BRAKE, OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER EXPE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND THE LOCK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw 328I — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 797
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 31
- Crash reports
- 20
- Injury reports
- 25
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Bmw 328I