432 of 556 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
78% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 BMW 328i are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 97% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 127 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 63%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
MY SON'S BMW (2011 BMW 328I XDRIVE) SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED ON SEP 4 2017 WHILE HE WAS DRIVING BACK FROM WORK AT 4 AM ON SUNRISE HIGHWAY NY. LUCKILY HE NOTICED SPARKS AND SMOKE AND PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT. THE CAR FULLY BURNT WITHIN 30 MINUTES.
POWER TRAIN04/20/2014CRASH1 INJURED
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NOV. 2011. EVER SINCE, WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE MECHANISM/GEAR SEEMS TO WANT TO SHIFT TO A FASTER GEAR WHEN RIDING THE BRAKE AT A LOWER SPEED TO COME TO A STOP, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD. I HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I WAS INJURED AND STILL SUFFERING…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11/02/20111 INJURED
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.
Three of 432 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (7)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDri…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i,…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 BMW 328i
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
7 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
