2010 BMW 328XI Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 BMW 328XI, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical725.0%
- Engine621.4%
- Airbags517.9%
- Fuel system310.7%
- Body & structure27.1%
- Seat belts27.1%
- Driver assistance13.6%
- Brakes13.6%
- Powertrain (other)13.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS NOTIFIIED BY SNAIL MAIL OF TWO RECALLS (17V-676: BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND 17V: PCV VALVE HEATER) LAST NOVEMBER 2017 AND, AS OF TODAY, THEY HAVE NO REMEDIES... BOTH DEFECTS CAN CAUSE FIRES SO IT SEEMS SERIOUS. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY RUNNING FINE BUT IT IS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AND KEEPING ME FROM TAKING THE CAR ON AN EXTENDED TRIP. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HURRY BMW ALONG OR PROVIDE A STATUS?
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND THE FUSEBOX FAILED CAUSING A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS JUST PULLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS A CITY STREET. THIS APPARENTLY HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE UNDER A PREVIOUS NHTSA RECALL AND THE REPAIR DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CABLE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FUSE BOX APPARENTLY WASN'T. BOTH THE CABLE AND THE FUSE BOX WERE REPLACED THIS TIME IN HOPE THAT THIS WILL PERMANENTLY SOLVE THE ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328XI. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was overheating and the gauge was notifying the contact of the engine temperature moving from high to extremely high. The contact also stated there was black smoke coming from the engine and tailpipe. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The approximate failure mileage was 114,900. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE SEAT BELT CHIME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SOUNDED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OCCUPYING THE SEAT. AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2018, THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY DAY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CHIME WAS BY ENGAGING THE LATCH ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WINSLOW BMW OF COLORADO SPRINGS (5845 N NEVADA AVENUE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80918) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR MAT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
DUE TO HOT WEATHER CONDITION (>85F), IF THE CAR PARKS OUTSIDE MORE THAN 4 HOURS, THEN GO TO VEHICLE TO START VEHICLE, BOTH SEAT BELT LIGHT AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ARE ON EVEN DURING DRIVING. BUT, AFTER PARKING VEHICLE OVERNIGHT OR WEATHER BELOW 70F, THERE IS NO ISSUE AT ALL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE SENSORS TO SENSITIVE THE HOT TEMPERATURE. IT IS SAFETY CRITICAL ISSUE AND HAD TO FIND OUT IN DEALER. BMW SAID TO ME IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS SENSOR SPECIFICATION ISSUE WHICH IS NOT HANDLE HIGH TEMPERATURE. BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMX 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT AND A POLICE OFFICER PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. AFTER WAITING 30 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT JUST STALLED OUT AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT AND BACK ON. I HAVE ONLY 66000 MILES ON THE CAR. REPAIR SHOP IS SAYING FUEL PUMP IS SEIZED UP AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THIS RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM BMW IN FEBRUARY OF 2013. WHEN I RUN THE VIN NUMBER NO RECALL COMES UP
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
BMW ON FIRE. I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A CITY STREET FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE SO IT MAY HAVE STARTED WHILE IN TRANSIT. MY CAR HAD NO ISSUES, NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR, ENGINE OR DRIVING EXPERIENCE. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE THERE WERE NO WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD, NO SMELL OF FIRE OR BURNING OIL, NO SIGNS OF ENGINE ISSUES WHILE DRIVING BUT WHILE STOPPED AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE AREA AND IT ESCALATED QUICKLY. I WAS STOPPED WAITING AT A SECOND-TO-THE-LEFT TURN LANE SURROUNDED BY CARS AND NOBODY COULD MOVE AWAY. PEOPLE IN THE CAR TO MY LEFT PANICKED THE MOST AS THEY COULD SEE THE SMOKE GOING THEIR WAY AND COULDN'T MOVE THEIR CAR, FORTUNATELY THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN SOON AND I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT OF A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT ACROSS FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I PARKED, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS IN FLAMES. MANAGEMENT OF THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT RUSHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE REGARDLESS. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DECLARED TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY BEFORE BMW EVEN FINISHED ESTIMATING THE DAMAGE. NOBODY INVESTIGATED FURTHER EVENTHOUGH I ASKED IF THEY WOULD GIVEN THAT MY CAR SEEMED IN PERFECT CONDITION. BMW STATED IT WAS A RARE INSTANCE HOWEVER WHEN I RESEARCHED ABOUT IT I FOUND BLOGS OF LOTS OF MORE CASES LIKE MINE. THE INSURANCE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER BMW IF ANYONE HAD CARED ENOUGH TO PROVIDE ANSWERS OR AT LEAST FOLLOW UP. I BOUGHT MY BMW IN 2014 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN A BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT CONDITION. I'M JUST GLAD I WAS ABLE TO STOP, THAT THE ONLY PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS MY CAR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT NOBODY GOT HURT.
CAR FRONT END SHAKING AND BANGING. BROUGHT TO REPAIR. WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF. NEED TO HAVE BOLTS REMOVED AND REPLACED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE SEAT BELT CHIME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SOUNDED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OCCUPYING THE SEAT. AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2018, THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY DAY. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CHIME WAS BY ENGAGING THE LATCH ON THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WINSLOW BMW OF COLORADO SPRINGS (5845 N NEVADA AVENUE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80918) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR MAT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
DUE TO HOT WEATHER CONDITION (>85F), IF THE CAR PARKS OUTSIDE MORE THAN 4 HOURS, THEN GO TO VEHICLE TO START VEHICLE, BOTH SEAT BELT LIGHT AND PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ARE ON EVEN DURING DRIVING. BUT, AFTER PARKING VEHICLE OVERNIGHT OR WEATHER BELOW 70F, THERE IS NO ISSUE AT ALL. IT SEEMS LIKE THE SENSORS TO SENSITIVE THE HOT TEMPERATURE. IT IS SAFETY CRITICAL ISSUE AND HAD TO FIND OUT IN DEALER. BMW SAID TO ME IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS SENSOR SPECIFICATION ISSUE WHICH IS NOT HANDLE HIGH TEMPERATURE. BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BELIEVE THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED MY ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS REVERSING SLOWLY OUT OF A STEEP DRIVEWAY. ONCE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE SO THAT I COULD SWITCH GEAR IN TO DRIVE. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, AND I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. THE BRAKE WOULDN'T WORK. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO FAST, THAT WHAT STOPPED ME WAS HITTING A HORSE FENCE ACROSS THE STREET. I WAS GOING SO FAST, THAT I ENDED UP GOING AIRBORNE, AND ONLY DAMAGED THE TOP OF THE HORSE FENCE. MY FRONT PART OF MY CAR THEN FELL FORWARD AND BROKE THE TIE ROD IN HALF. I ENDED UP WITH WHIPLASH AND A CONCUSSION, REQUIRING POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR 4 MONTHS. I ASKED BMW FOR A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION INTO MY CAR TO SEE IF IT MALFUNCTIONED. MY CAR WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE FIXED PRIOR TO THE INVESTIGATION AND HAD TO BE DONE AT A BMW DEALER, WHICH IT WAS. EVERYTHING WAS A SECRET WHEN BMW INVESTIGATED MY CAR. THE BMW DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE TOLD ANY FINDINGS OR WATCH THE INVESTIGATION. BMW SENT ME A LETTER AFTERWARDS STATING THAT THE CAR DIDN'T MALFUNCTION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 33 YEARS WITHOUT ONE ACCIDENT OR TRAFFIC VIOLATION. I HAD DRIVEN THAT CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND I KNOW THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE BUT I WAS ACCELERATING FASTER AND FASTER AND COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND WHAT IS DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I AM LUCKY AND THANKFUL THAT NO CAR OR PERSON WAS BEHIND ME, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKE, BUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAD ME GOING IN REVERSE ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL I HIT HORSE FENCE. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I HAVE PHOTOS OF HORSE FENCE AND BROKEN TIE ROD BUT ONLY ALLOWED TO UPLOAD 5 FILES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BELIEVE THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED MY ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS REVERSING SLOWLY OUT OF A STEEP DRIVEWAY. ONCE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE SO THAT I COULD SWITCH GEAR IN TO DRIVE. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, AND I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. THE BRAKE WOULDN'T WORK. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO FAST, THAT WHAT STOPPED ME WAS HITTING A HORSE FENCE ACROSS THE STREET. I WAS GOING SO FAST, THAT I ENDED UP GOING AIRBORNE, AND ONLY DAMAGED THE TOP OF THE HORSE FENCE. MY FRONT PART OF MY CAR THEN FELL FORWARD AND BROKE THE TIE ROD IN HALF. I ENDED UP WITH WHIPLASH AND A CONCUSSION, REQUIRING POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR 4 MONTHS. I ASKED BMW FOR A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION INTO MY CAR TO SEE IF IT MALFUNCTIONED. MY CAR WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE FIXED PRIOR TO THE INVESTIGATION AND HAD TO BE DONE AT A BMW DEALER, WHICH IT WAS. EVERYTHING WAS A SECRET WHEN BMW INVESTIGATED MY CAR. THE BMW DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE TOLD ANY FINDINGS OR WATCH THE INVESTIGATION. BMW SENT ME A LETTER AFTERWARDS STATING THAT THE CAR DIDN'T MALFUNCTION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 33 YEARS WITHOUT ONE ACCIDENT OR TRAFFIC VIOLATION. I HAD DRIVEN THAT CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND I KNOW THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE BUT I WAS ACCELERATING FASTER AND FASTER AND COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND WHAT IS DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I AM LUCKY AND THANKFUL THAT NO CAR OR PERSON WAS BEHIND ME, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKE, BUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAD ME GOING IN REVERSE ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL I HIT HORSE FENCE. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I HAVE PHOTOS OF HORSE FENCE AND BROKEN TIE ROD BUT ONLY ALLOWED TO UPLOAD 5 FILES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BELIEVE THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED MY ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS REVERSING SLOWLY OUT OF A STEEP DRIVEWAY. ONCE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE SO THAT I COULD SWITCH GEAR IN TO DRIVE. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, AND I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. THE BRAKE WOULDN'T WORK. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO FAST, THAT WHAT STOPPED ME WAS HITTING A HORSE FENCE ACROSS THE STREET. I WAS GOING SO FAST, THAT I ENDED UP GOING AIRBORNE, AND ONLY DAMAGED THE TOP OF THE HORSE FENCE. MY FRONT PART OF MY CAR THEN FELL FORWARD AND BROKE THE TIE ROD IN HALF. I ENDED UP WITH WHIPLASH AND A CONCUSSION, REQUIRING POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR 4 MONTHS. I ASKED BMW FOR A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION INTO MY CAR TO SEE IF IT MALFUNCTIONED. MY CAR WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE FIXED PRIOR TO THE INVESTIGATION AND HAD TO BE DONE AT A BMW DEALER, WHICH IT WAS. EVERYTHING WAS A SECRET WHEN BMW INVESTIGATED MY CAR. THE BMW DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE TOLD ANY FINDINGS OR WATCH THE INVESTIGATION. BMW SENT ME A LETTER AFTERWARDS STATING THAT THE CAR DIDN'T MALFUNCTION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 33 YEARS WITHOUT ONE ACCIDENT OR TRAFFIC VIOLATION. I HAD DRIVEN THAT CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND I KNOW THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE BUT I WAS ACCELERATING FASTER AND FASTER AND COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND WHAT IS DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I AM LUCKY AND THANKFUL THAT NO CAR OR PERSON WAS BEHIND ME, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKE, BUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAD ME GOING IN REVERSE ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL I HIT HORSE FENCE. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I HAVE PHOTOS OF HORSE FENCE AND BROKEN TIE ROD BUT ONLY ALLOWED TO UPLOAD 5 FILES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .