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1997 BMW 328I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 BMW 328I are lower than the model-year median of 98.

About this comparison →
25Owner 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
1999112
2000
Compare all 328I years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
7Structure
4Air Bags
3Engine And Engine Cooling
3Tires
3
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Back Over Prevention
1Power Train
1Seats
1Steering
1Wheels
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: 5 of 25 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

2 reports
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159,800 miles · Jul 11, 2008
Seat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 328I CONVERTIBLE. DUE TO HIS BODY STATURE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAN THE SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO USE THE SEAT BELT EFFECTIVELY. HE CONSULTED THREE DEALERS FOR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, BUT NONE HAD THEM AVAILABLE OR WERE NOT BEING SOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE SEAT BELT EXTE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 328I CONVERTIBLE. DUE TO HIS BODY STATURE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAN THE SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO USE THE SEAT BELT EFFECTIVELY. HE CONSULTED THREE DEALERS FOR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, BUT NONE HAD THEM AVAILABLE OR WERE NOT BEING SOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS FOR THAT MODEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,882 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,800.

NHTSA ODI #10234021

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2001
Seat Belts

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOUSING PORTION DOES NOT HOLD LATCH PLATE IN BUCKLE HOUSING MECHANISM. LATCH PLATE POPS OUT OF BUCKLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BUCKLE. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE FAILED HOUSING. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #885972

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.