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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

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

31 reports
Mileage unknown · May 19, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS ACCELLERATING FROM A STOP TO HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE ACCELLERATOR TO MOVE FROM 10 MPH UP TO 55 MPH, QUICKLY, TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED TO AN IDLE SPEED AND THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER RESPONDED. THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN THROTTLE CABLE AT THE POIN…

Read full complaint

I WAS ACCELLERATING FROM A STOP TO HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE ACCELLERATOR TO MOVE FROM 10 MPH UP TO 55 MPH, QUICKLY, TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED TO AN IDLE SPEED AND THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER RESPONDED. THE DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN THROTTLE CABLE AT THE POINT WHERE IT ENTERS THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A RECALL CAMPAIGN IS MENTIONED IN THE DEALER'S REPAIR ORDER, BUT I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATES WHEN ONE EXPECTS IT TO ACCELLERATE. LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCIES MAY RESULT. COLLISIONS ARE LIKELY.

NHTSA ODI #536189

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 1998
Electrical System

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COMPUTER CONTROLS. ALL CHECK LIGHTS COME ON, ENGINE STALLS AND RUNS ROUGH AND CYLINDERS MISFIRE.

NHTSA ODI #529210

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

AIR PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605131

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Visibility

SUNROOF MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604910

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1997
Exterior Lighting

TURN SIGNAL FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605026

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1997
Exterior Lighting

TAIL LIGHT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #606076

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603806

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1997
Visibility

SUN ROOF SHORTED OUT.

NHTSA ODI #603799

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1997
Structure

RATTLING NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER DOOR.

NHTSA ODI #603748

Mileage unknown · May 21, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

HILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSEGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. VEHICLE HIT ON CENTER RIGHT FRONT ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812425

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.