2016 BMW 328I problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW 328I, most often about engine. There is 1 recall for this model year.

Complaints
44
Recalls
1
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
3
Median mileage
78,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 25 of 44 complaints (57%).
  • Electrical System (19) and transmission & drivetrain (6) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 78,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 4 crashes, 4 fires and 3 injuries.
  • The 2016 BMW 328I has 1 recall on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 7th of 10 BMW 328I model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 58% fewer complaints than the 2015 model year (104).

2016 BMW 328I problems by category

  • Engine · 3 crashes
    25 complaints
  • Electrical System · 1 crash
    19 complaints
  • Other / Unknown · 1 crash
    11 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain · 2 crashes
    6 complaints
  • Brakes
    6 complaints
  • Steering
    3 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    1 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech · 1 crash
    1 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    1 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Electrical system19
Engine13
Engine and engine cooling13
Unknown or other11
Power train6
Service brakes6
Steering3
Structure:body1

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k210k–30k30k–60k260k–100k2100k–150k1150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 BMW 328I complaints that list mileage.

2016 BMW 328I recalls (1)

  • Recall 24V608000Aug 13, 2024720,796 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:CONNECTORS/PLUGS/RECEPTACLES · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP

    BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

    Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open

    Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C…

Recent 2016 BMW 328I complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Sep 24, 2026MAOther / Unknown
    I almost backed over a child due my tire pressure warning system. It preempts my back up video. The child was too short to see out of the rear window. In the 10 years that I have owned this car the TPMS has been nothing but a distraction and and a nuisance. It has never done any good. It tells me to pull over and stop in dangerous situations. Now it has created a very real danger. I should add that the dealership has told me that one of my sensors must be out so that I…
    NHTSA complaint #11766641 · source
  2. Filed Jul 22, 2026MSFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    When the fuel gauge reads 1/4 of a tank or less the car stalls sporadically and comes to a jerking stop. This causes the cars behind us to either slam on their brakes or swerve to avoid hitting us. We reported this to our local BMW dealer and were told this is a known issue on many models, including ours. However, our car was not included in the existing recalls, so we could either pay for a diagnostic test and the fix OR keep the tank filled. Existing recalls involved the…
    NHTSA complaint #11752072 · source
  3. Filed Nov 10, 2025FLCrashFireTowedOther / Unknown
    My vehicle was stolen. Dent on right back fender . Footage needs to be pulled from Gull Aire Village 34677. Witness was [XXX] . First dent. Sunpass has image. Reported to CLWR pd. Accident photos sent. Not same car. Allstate Insurance. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
    NHTSA complaint #11698625 · source
  4. Filed Sep 11, 2025OHElectrical SystemEngine
    The contact owns a 2016 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced…
    NHTSA complaint #11686515 · source
  5. Filed Sep 9, 2025NJEngine
    The contact owns a 2016 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
    NHTSA complaint #11685911 · source
  6. Filed Aug 8, 2025NJElectrical SystemEngine
    The contact owns a 2016 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
    NHTSA complaint #11679405 · source
  7. Filed Aug 6, 2025CABrakes
    Car started to have low coolant when i would replace it instantly and i took it to a shop and they told me it has a recall.
    NHTSA complaint #11678648 · source
  8. Filed Jul 18, 2025NVOther / Unknown
    I have been waiting since October 2024 to get a remedy available to fix the recall on this vehicle. Dealership won’t even look at the car since the remedy is unavailable but this is a dangerous issue to have and know about without a fix anywhere in the foreseeable future.
    NHTSA complaint #11674642 · source

Compare the 2016 BMW 328I with another vehicle →

Other 2016 BMW models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology