Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 31 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 BMW 328I, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and electrical categories. 6 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 3 |
| Sep 1997 | 4 | 7 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 8 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 9 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 10 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 11 |
| Aug 1998 | 2 | 13 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 14 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 15 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 16 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 17 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 19 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 20 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 21 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 22 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 23 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 24 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 26 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 28 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 29 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 30 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 31 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW 328I. HE STATED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE CUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. HE STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE CLOCKSPRING, BUT IT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,120 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96720.
POWER LOCK ACTUATORS ON VEHICLE FAIL REPEATEDLY. BETWEEN 2000 AND 2003, THREE POWER LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON VEHICLE (BOTH REAR DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR). SOMETIMES THE ACTUATORS GET STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, SOMETIMES UNLOCKED. WALKED AWAY FROM VEHICLE WITH AN UNLOCKED DOOR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE DISCOVERING PROBLEM. IN ONE CASE (FRONT PASS. DOOR), DOOR LOCK WAS EVEN DIFFICULT (BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE) TO OPERATE MANUALLY: THIS WAS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, MAKING ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT.
I HAVE A 328I BMW, AND THE INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT YOU NEVER NEED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID YET ON THE DAY IN QUESTION MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO STALL AND JERK. I THAN CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO I INFORMED OF THIS TROUBLE, HE THEN INFORMED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO HIM TO CHECK. I NEED TO ALSO TELL THAT THIS AUTOMOBILE DOES NOT HAVE A DIP STICK SO THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS GOING BAD PRIOR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME. WHEN I CALL BMW THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY ONLY WARRANTY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND NOT THE TRANSMISSION, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE TRANSMISSION ONLY OPERATES CORRECTLY WHEN THE FLUID IS RIGHT. IN CONCLUSION I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SUCH CASES REPORTED AND IF SO WHAT IS MY COURSE OF ACTION IF ANY. THANK YOU. *JB
FOR THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE PLATE LIGHTS. *JB
THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. AFTER CONTACTING DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK *SCC
INTERIOR LOCK LOCATED ON ALL FOUR DOORS. WILL LOCK PPASSENGER IN INSIDE OF DOORS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE SELF DIAGNOISTICS PROVIDES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WARNING. DIAGNOISTIC CODE INDICATES "LOW EMISSIONS EFFICIENCY". DEALER READ CODE AND REPORTED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 80,000 MILES SO IT WAS NOT COVERED. REPLACEMENT COSTS ESTIMATED AT $1330. THIS FAILURE OCCURED LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT A RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON 1986 318I MODELS FOR FAILED CATALYTIC CONVERTER PARTS. THE BMW PARTS SOURCE MAY BE THE SAME FOR THE MODEL 328I WHICH WOULD BE WHY I EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. THIS MILEAGE IS VERY LOW FOR A CAT TO FAIL AND IS UNEXCEPTABLE FOR A QUALITY MANUFACTURED VEHICLE. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SUBJECT ON VOLUNTARY EXHAUST EMISSION SERVICE ACTION NO. 98E-A01. *YC *JN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SUBJECT ON VOLUNTARY EXHAUST EMISSION SERVICE ACTION NO. 98E-A01. PRODUCED FROM 10/95 - 11/97 *YC*DB
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
INFORMATION ON EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL AND FUEL FILLER CAP / FILLER DOOR LABELS. *YC
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WIND NOISE DIAGNOSTICS. *TW
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
M52 ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAULT CODE 12. *TW
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 56 | 1 | 1 | 58.8 |
| 2015 | 124 | 4 | 1 | 66.5 |
| 2014 | 151 | 8 | 2 | 68.5 |
| 2013 | 257 | 5 | 2 | 64.0 |
| 2012 | 130 | 6 | 1 | 55.4 |
| 2011 | 573 | 7 | 0 | 56.1 |
| 2010 | 153 | 6 | 0 | 55.1 |
| 2009 | 193 | 6 | 0 | 56.0 |
| 2008 | 239 | 5 | 0 | 56.0 |
| 2007 | 397 | 6 | 0 | 53.3 |
| 2006 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 112 | 7 | 0 | 51.5 |
| 1999 | 98 | 7 | 0 | 56.2 |
| 1998 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 40.1 |
| 1997 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 38.9 |
| 1996Viewing | 31 | 0 | 0 | 37.7 |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.