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1996 BMW 328I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 BMW 328I are lower than the model-year median of 98.

About this comparison →
31Owner complaints

Model-year median: 98

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
31
199625
199726
199898
1999
Compare all 328I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
6Electrical System
4Power Train
4Air Bags
3Exterior Lighting
3
All reported categories
Structure
3Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

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 TH…

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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

NHTSA ODI #760137

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2000
Unknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROLBEM 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #868551

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.