2015 Bmw 328I
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2015 Bmw 328I has 197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: while attempting to pass at approx 50 mph on a two lane mountain highway, the car suddenly lost power, warning lights and buzzer sounded. the message on screen reported 'drivetrain malfunction, drive moderately'. the car continued to operate, vibrating badly whenever i gave it gas. we limped home. ⚠️ 16 fire reports filed.
197
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
63 complaints- • WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS AT APPROX 50 MPH ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZER SOUNDED. THE MESSAGE ON SCREEN REPORTED 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY'. THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE, VIBRATING BADLY WHENEVER I GAVE IT GAS. WE LIMPED HOME
- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR OVER 50 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO GIVE IT GAS AND A "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" COMES ON. THE CAR THEN GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND THE ENGINE SHAKES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO GIVE IT GAS AND BEFORE THE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" COMES ON YOU CAN FEEL THE
- • THERMOSTAT IS REPEATEDLY STICKING IN OPEN POSITION. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 75,000 MILES. *TR
“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS AT APPROX 50 MPH ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZER SOUNDED. THE MESSAGE ON SCREEN REPORTED 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY'. THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE, VIBRATING BADLY WHENEVER I GAVE IT GAS. WE LIMPED HOME”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
55 complaints- • GRAN TURISMO TAILGATE CRASHED UPON MY HEAD WITHOUT TAIL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING OR ALARM. NO FOOT KICKING TO ACTIVATE THE FEATURE WAS INVOKED. WHILE PARKED WITH THE HATCH OPEN, I WAS SIMPLY PLACING GROCERIES INTO MY TRUNK. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND CAN NOT BE REPEATED UPON DEMAND. I HAV
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND LOST ACCELERATION INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO T
- • TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN. THE FOB, BUTTONS, LATCH...NOTHING WORKS TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THE ONLY WAY IT WILL OPEN IS IF I REACH INTO THE TRUNK FROM BEHIND THE REAR SEAT AND PULL THE EMERGENCY LATCH RELEASE.
“GRAN TURISMO TAILGATE CRASHED UPON MY HEAD WITHOUT TAIL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING OR ALARM. NO FOOT KICKING TO ACTIVATE THE FEATURE WAS INVOKED. WHILE PARKED WITH THE HATCH OPEN, I WAS SIMPLY PLACING GROCERIES INTO MY TRUNK. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND CAN NOT BE REPEATED UPON DEMAND. I HAV”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
19 complaints- • SUNROOF EXPLODED-2015 BMW 328I SEDAN-ON FRIDAY, 6/24/16 AROUND 8:15AM, WHILE TRAVELING IN WASH, DC'S RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 35-45MPH ON ROUTE 295N, A LOUD BLAST, LIKE A BOMB, SUDDENLY JOLTED MY CAR! FEARFULLY, I CONTINUED TO STEER THE CAR LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY
- • GRAN TURISMO TAILGATE CRASHED UPON MY HEAD WITHOUT TAIL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING OR ALARM. NO FOOT KICKING TO ACTIVATE THE FEATURE WAS INVOKED. WHILE PARKED WITH THE HATCH OPEN, I WAS SIMPLY PLACING GROCERIES INTO MY TRUNK. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND CAN NOT BE REPEATED UPON DEMAND. I HAV
- • MY COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE RADIO, AND RECEPTION. I HAVE BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN 3 DIFFERENT TOWNS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE RADIO/ANTENNA IS OK. THE PROBLEM IS I HAVE A 2007 BMW AND A 3012 GOTD FUSION, AS WELL AS MY FORMER SPOUSE HAS A 2017 FORD MUSTANG AND THERE IS
“SUNROOF EXPLODED-2015 BMW 328I SEDAN-ON FRIDAY, 6/24/16 AROUND 8:15AM, WHILE TRAVELING IN WASH, DC'S RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 35-45MPH ON ROUTE 295N, A LOUD BLAST, LIKE A BOMB, SUDDENLY JOLTED MY CAR! FEARFULLY, I CONTINUED TO STEER THE CAR LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
13 complaints- • WHILE IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO SPUTTER AND LOSE MOMENTUM. AT THE SAME TIME, A WARNING ALERTED US TO A "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION". LUCKILY, WE WERE IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO T
- • MY CAR SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE AND IS LEAKING GAS
- • WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR OVER 50 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO GIVE IT GAS AND A "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" COMES ON. THE CAR THEN GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND THE ENGINE SHAKES. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO GIVE IT GAS AND BEFORE THE "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" COMES ON YOU CAN FEEL THE
“WHILE IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO SPUTTER AND LOSE MOMENTUM. AT THE SAME TIME, A WARNING ALERTED US TO A "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION". LUCKILY, WE WERE IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
13 complaints- • WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS AT APPROX 50 MPH ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZER SOUNDED. THE MESSAGE ON SCREEN REPORTED 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY'. THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE, VIBRATING BADLY WHENEVER I GAVE IT GAS. WE LIMPED HOME
- • 2015 BMW 328. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER TRAIN SAFETY RECALL.*LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL 20V185000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED THE CAR PAYMENTS FOR THE MONTHS THE V
- • At random the car will display “Drivetrain Malfunction” which causes the car to shift into neutral and begins to slow down until it doesn’t move anymore. There is no check engine light or any other indicator of what might be the problem. The message just pops out of no where. It’s happen in the free
“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS AT APPROX 50 MPH ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZER SOUNDED. THE MESSAGE ON SCREEN REPORTED 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY'. THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE, VIBRATING BADLY WHENEVER I GAVE IT GAS. WE LIMPED HOME”
— 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 197 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS AT APPROX 50 MPH ON A TWO LANE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZER SOUNDED. THE MESSAGE ON SCREEN REPORTED 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATELY'. THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE, VIBRATING BADLY WHENEVER I GAVE IT GAS. WE LIMPED HOME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: GRAN TURISMO TAILGATE CRASHED UPON MY HEAD WITHOUT TAIL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING OR ALARM. NO FOOT KICKING TO ACTIVATE THE FEATURE WAS INVOKED. WHILE PARKED WITH THE HATCH OPEN, I WAS SIMPLY PLACING GROCERIES INTO MY TRUNK. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND CAN NOT BE REPEATED UPON DEMAND. I HAV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: SUNROOF EXPLODED-2015 BMW 328I SEDAN-ON FRIDAY, 6/24/16 AROUND 8:15AM, WHILE TRAVELING IN WASH, DC'S RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 35-45MPH ON ROUTE 295N, A LOUD BLAST, LIKE A BOMB, SUDDENLY JOLTED MY CAR! FEARFULLY, I CONTINUED TO STEER THE CAR LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE IN MOTION ON AN INTERSTATE THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO SPUTTER AND LOSE MOMENTUM. AT THE SAME TIME, A WARNING ALERTED US TO A "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION". LUCKILY, WE WERE IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO T
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 2015 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 197
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 16
- Crash reports
- 8
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2015 Bmw 328I