BMW 328i: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
BMW 328i problems by model year, from 1,421 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2012 (79%, 89 drivetrain complaints), 2011 (78%, 432 drivetrain complaints) and 2015 (68%, 80 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 5 BMW 328i years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No BMW 328i year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2014 (59%).
By raw volume, the 2011 drew the most drivetrain complaints (432 of 854 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every BMW 328i year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 328i | very high | 78% | 432 | 683 | 2/5 | 7 |
| 2012 328i | very high | 79% | 89 | 145 | 1/5 | 6 |
| 2013 328i | very high | 68% | 180 | 315 | 4/5 | 5 |
| 2014 328i | high | 59% | 73 | 151 | 5/5 | 8 |
| 2015 328i | very high | 68% | 80 | 127 | 3/5 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the BMW 328i years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
BMW 328i engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the BMW 328i involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2011 | 11V476000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2011 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V176000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2011 |
| Mar 2015 | 15V189000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2014 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V683000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) | 2011 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V608000 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system: pump | 2012–2015 |
10 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2013 | 13V044000 | electrical system | 2011 |
| Sep 2013 | 13V454000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2012–2014 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V627000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2012–2014 |
| Aug 2015 | 15V520000 | exterior lighting | 2012–2015 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V676000 | electrical system: wiring | 2011 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V017000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2011–2013 |
| Apr 2024 | 24V288000 | air bags: side/window | 2014–2015 |
| Jul 2024 | 24V513000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2011–2012 |
| Jul 2024 | 24V527000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2014–2015 |
| Dec 2025 | 25V871000 | air bags: side/window: head | 2014 |
What the free pages leave out on the BMW 328i
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the BMW 328i
What are the worst years for the BMW 328i?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst BMW 328i years are the 2012 (79% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2011 (78% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2015 (68% of relevant complaints, very high). 5 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the BMW 328i?
No BMW 328i year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2014 (59%).
Does the BMW 328i have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 854 of 1,174 relevant NHTSA complaints (73%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Is the BMW 328i reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 5 BMW 328i years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 73% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the BMW 328i?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the BMW 328i years we track, out of 15 in total: 15V189000 (Mar 2015, 2014), 17V683000 (Oct 2017, 2011), 24V608000 (Aug 2024, 2012–2015), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.