2011 Bmw 328XI

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw 328XI has 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: driving home from work on monday 07/14/14 at approximately 5:30pm and suddenly my car began to shake and the steering wheel locked. i could hear the engine shut down and the car came to a complete stop. i was able to get the car over to the side of the road and thankfully i was not on the highway.. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 7 crash reports 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

33 complaints

33%

• DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON MONDAY 07/14/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY.
• A LETTER FROM BMW CAME IN JUNE 2014 STATING THAT MY VEHICLE IS EFFECTED FOR IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL AND THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE RECALL WAS FOR VANOS ASSEMBLY BOLTS. THE LETTER STATES THAT I MAY HEAR INCREASED NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY COME O
• AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE THE CAR, IT HESITATES TO MOVE EVEN AFTER I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR STRUGGLES TO MOVE FORWARD AND AFTER PRESSING IN HARD IT MOVES. THE INITIAL DELAY OR THE INITIAL RESPONSE TIME IS HUGE. THE TIME LAG IS LARGE. THE ENGINE MAKES N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON MONDAY 07/14/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

17%

• I REMEMBER DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. LATER, THE CAR'S HVAC BLOWER FAN STOPPED WORKING. DURING REPAIR, THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND THE HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO IT WERE FOUND TO BE BADLY B
• FOOTWELL MODULE FAILURE CAUSED THE TURN SIGNALS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS TO FAIL TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN A MECHANIC TRIED TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE DURING ROUTINE SERVICE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY ELECTRICAL FAILURE THAT PROGRESSED WITH THE VEHICLE PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FIELDS BMW OF DAYTONA, 1050 N TOMOKA FARMS RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124, (386) 274-1200). THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports

“I REMEMBER DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. LATER, THE CAR'S HVAC BLOWER FAN STOPPED WORKING. DURING REPAIR, THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND THE HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO IT WERE FOUND TO BE BADLY B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

15 complaints

15%

• 2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY AIRBAGS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HIS WIFE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, AFTER THAT VEHICLE RAN A STOP. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, PANEL AND HOOD. THE REPAIR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO SOME STONE/BRICK STAIRS, UPON ENETERING A SHORT DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED BUT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISE TO THE RIBS AND FACE. THE VEHICLE WA
• DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT APPROX 35 MPH WHEN AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON VEHICLE DASH THAT STATED THERE IS A DEFAULT WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT THAT MAY AFFECT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY AIRBAGS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HIS WIFE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, AFTER THAT VEHICLE RAN A STOP. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, PANEL AND HOOD. THE REPAIR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

7 complaints

• TODAY I WAS ALMOST KILLED, AND CAUSED MANY OTHER MOTORIST A GREAT DEAL OF PANIC. DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH MY 2011 328XI SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOOSE POWER. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET ACROSS FIVE LANES TO THE SHOULDER, I WAS NEARLY HIT NUMEROUS TIMES AS DRIVERS AROUND ME HAD BRAKE HARD OR
• DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AUTO SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT CONSIDERING HEAVILY TRAVEL ROAD AUTO WOULDN'T START AGAIN HAD AUTO TOWED OFF ROAD TO NEAREST GARAGE SAFETY HAZARD.BMW HAS SPECIAL WARRANTY FOR SUPER LOW EMISSION VEHICLES 15YRS OR 150000 MILES THIS AUTO FITS THAT DESCRIPTION IN
• HI I HAVE A BMW 2011 328XI, RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON ME AND LITERALLY LEFT ME 10 SECS TO GET ON THE SHOULDER. MIND YOU THIS IS BUSY TRAFFIC HOUR COMING BACK FROM CHICAGO. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP LAST YEAR, AND BMW TAKES NO OWNER SHIP OF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TODAY I WAS ALMOST KILLED, AND CAUSED MANY OTHER MOTORIST A GREAT DEAL OF PANIC. DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH MY 2011 328XI SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOOSE POWER. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET ACROSS FIVE LANES TO THE SHOULDER, I WAS NEARLY HIT NUMEROUS TIMES AS DRIVERS AROUND ME HAD BRAKE HARD OR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

6 complaints

• I WAS BACKING MY CAR INTO A GARAGE - CAR WAS IN REVERSE - I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR - THE CAR LUNGED BACKWARD AT TOP SPEED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR WALL OF GARAGE. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES AND THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO HAD
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO SOME STONE/BRICK STAIRS, UPON ENETERING A SHORT DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED BUT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISE TO THE RIBS AND FACE. THE VEHICLE WA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I WAS BACKING MY CAR INTO A GARAGE - CAR WAS IN REVERSE - I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR - THE CAR LUNGED BACKWARD AT TOP SPEED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR WALL OF GARAGE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 99 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON MONDAY 07/14/14 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I REMEMBER DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AND SMELLING A BURNING SMELL. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. LATER, THE CAR'S HVAC BLOWER FAN STOPPED WORKING. DURING REPAIR, THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND THE HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO IT WERE FOUND TO BE BADLY B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY AIRBAGS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HIS WIFE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, AFTER THAT VEHICLE RAN A STOP. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, PANEL AND HOOD. THE REPAIR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TODAY I WAS ALMOST KILLED, AND CAUSED MANY OTHER MOTORIST A GREAT DEAL OF PANIC. DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH MY 2011 328XI SUDDENLY STARTED TO LOOSE POWER. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET ACROSS FIVE LANES TO THE SHOULDER, I WAS NEARLY HIT NUMEROUS TIMES AS DRIVERS AROUND ME HAD BRAKE HARD OR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)