repaired · 2026 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2011 BMW 328iProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 580 owner complaints about the 2011 BMW 328i, most often about the engine. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-513 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Flyboooo, CC BY 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 BMW 328i has problems
580 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
195Engine11 crash/fire/injury
175Engine and engine cooling7 crash/fire/injury
130Electrical system13 crash/fire/injury
91Air bags13 crash/fire/injury
25Power train
21Fuel/propulsion system
19Exterior lighting
12Seat belts
11Structure
7913 other systems14 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 195 | 11 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 175 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 130 | 13 |
| Air bags | 91 | 13 |
| Power train | 25 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 21 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 19 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 12 | 1 |
| Structure | 11 | 4 |
| 13 other systems | 79 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2011 BMW 328i recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Emission control: crankcase (pcv)
Risk. An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Show 3 more recalls
repaired · 2015 Q4
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall.
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Driveline: driveshaft
Risk. IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN, IT COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND ULTIMATELY A VEHICLE BREAKDOWN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
89kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 68 engine complaints. 62% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 46% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
7under 30k miles42under 100k miles26100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,800median
Middle half: $1,063 – $2,875
Engine
9 owners mentioned a cost$3,300median
Middle half: $1,077 – $5,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other 328i year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 328i median. How we score
'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 BMW 328i safety ratings
2011 BMW 328 I 2 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What 328i owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Dealership performed VANOS bolt replacement recall on 2011 BMW 328i. Vehicle has 63K miles and is otherwise in excellent condition. Post recall, vehicle experiences unstable idle with rpm dipping low when stopped in gear during initial engine warm up period. Issue stabilizes somewhat but not…
"My vehicle is experiencing a complete mechanical breakdown with a fast-crank, no-start condition and an active fault code for exhaust valve timing. This matches the exact failure mode of active Safety Recall 23V-707 (VANOS Bolts). BMW's official safety recall report states that if a vehicle shows…
I took my car to the Tigard Oregon bmw dealership for my three recalls that were needing addressed. I turned my car over to them in good working order. After picking it up after the repairs my service engine light came on. My car started knocking and rattling louder and louder. I returned to the…
Own a 2011 328i?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.