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2011 BMW 328XI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

47 reports with mileage · 20 unknown

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. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports5 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

12 reports
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100,000 miles · May 24, 2019
Air Bags

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR: WHEN PASSENGERS SIT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT A WARNING COMES ON AND DISABLES AIRBAG EVEN WHEN BELT IS BUCKLED OR NOT, DRIVING OR STATIONARY. WARNING STAYS ON AFTER PASSENGER EXITS. WARNING STAYS ON FOR ABOUT 50 MILES OF DRIVING AND RESETS UNTIL THE SEAT IS SAT IN AGAIN. ONLINE FORUMS SHOW RECAL…

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PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR: WHEN PASSENGERS SIT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT A WARNING COMES ON AND DISABLES AIRBAG EVEN WHEN BELT IS BUCKLED OR NOT, DRIVING OR STATIONARY. WARNING STAYS ON AFTER PASSENGER EXITS. WARNING STAYS ON FOR ABOUT 50 MILES OF DRIVING AND RESETS UNTIL THE SEAT IS SAT IN AGAIN. ONLINE FORUMS SHOW RECALL FOR THIS IN OTHER MODELS BUT NOT MINE YET MUCH IS BEING REPORTED. SEEMS THE SEAT SENSOR PAD GOES BAD. VERY FEW PEOPLE SIT IN THIS SEAT SO THE SENSOR SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE MALFUNCTIONING/WEARING OUT. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT SUGGESTING IT IS THE SAME SYMPTOM ISSUE AS OTHER BMW MODELS WITH RECALLED SEAT SENSOR PADS.

NHTSA ODI #11209678

74,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018
Air BagsStructureWheelsCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC IN TOWN AT 4 PM ON A SUNNY DAY. THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND WHEN I WAS TRYING TO SLOW MY CAR TOO, IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I DID HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO MY RIGHT WRIST AND TO THE LEFT WRIST…

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I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC IN TOWN AT 4 PM ON A SUNNY DAY. THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND WHEN I WAS TRYING TO SLOW MY CAR TOO, IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I DID HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO MY RIGHT WRIST AND TO THE LEFT WRIST. IT CAUSED PROFUSE BLEEDING BECAUSE THE AIR BAG CAUSED CUTS IN MY WRIST AREA, VERY CLOSE TO A VEIN. A FIVE INCH HEMATOMA APPEARED WITHIN MINUTES IN THE RIGHT WRIST AND THE SKIN WAS SCRAPED OFF BOTH WRISTS. SEVERAL BURN MARKS ARE ALSO VISIBLE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BEND OF MY ARMS. THE POLICE CAME WITHIN MINUTES AND THEY BANDAGED MY WRISTS TO TRY TO STOP THE BLEEDING. AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED AND THE EMT WANTED TO TRANSPORT ME TO A HOSPITAL.

NHTSA ODI #11121766

49,500 miles · Aug 16, 2018
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

PASSENGER FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT/SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING AIR BAGS TO TURN ON/OFF, AND TRIGGER FALSE POSITIVES AND FALSE NEGATIVES FOR MINIMUM WEIGHT OCCUPANCY, THEREBY TRIGGERING SEAT BELT ALARM, AND DISABLING/ENABLING AIR BAGS INCORRECTLY. THIS WAS A RECALL IN THE SAME CAR, MODEL YEAR 2006. I WOULD LIKE MY FEEDBACK ON THIS S…

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PASSENGER FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT/SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING AIR BAGS TO TURN ON/OFF, AND TRIGGER FALSE POSITIVES AND FALSE NEGATIVES FOR MINIMUM WEIGHT OCCUPANCY, THEREBY TRIGGERING SEAT BELT ALARM, AND DISABLING/ENABLING AIR BAGS INCORRECTLY. THIS WAS A RECALL IN THE SAME CAR, MODEL YEAR 2006. I WOULD LIKE MY FEEDBACK ON THIS SUBJECT TO HELP INITIATE THE SAME RECALL FOR THE 2011 MODEL YEAR.

NHTSA ODI #11120434

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2017
Air Bags

2011 BMW 328XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG MODULES RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/14/2017*JS UPDATED 11/03/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED ON OCT 18, 2017.

NHTSA ODI #11023189

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL: HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE MARCH 3016 TO GET BMW TO REPLACE AIRBAG UNDER RECALL. I LIVE IN FLORIDA (CERTAINLY HOT & MUGGY!). CALLED AUG. 14 AND TOLD IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF THIS WEEK. CALLED TODAY AND THEY HAVE NOT YET NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND "RELEASED" THE AIRBAG. MAYBE NEXT WEEK. FYI, THIS IS TAKING FOREVER IN …

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TAKATA RECALL: HAVE BEEN TRYING SINCE MARCH 3016 TO GET BMW TO REPLACE AIRBAG UNDER RECALL. I LIVE IN FLORIDA (CERTAINLY HOT & MUGGY!). CALLED AUG. 14 AND TOLD IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF THIS WEEK. CALLED TODAY AND THEY HAVE NOT YET NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND "RELEASED" THE AIRBAG. MAYBE NEXT WEEK. FYI, THIS IS TAKING FOREVER IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SHOULD BE PRIORITY. LOANERS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11018628

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL - RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED OVER ONE YEAR AGO. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY BMW TO DATE. I HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND EFFECTIVELY CANNOT TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER VEHICLE SINCE ITS VALUE IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED UNTIL THE RECALL IS COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI #10957345

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE …

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG WAS FINALLY REPLACED. UPDATED 02/15/17.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10933985

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2016
Air Bags

IT HAS BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION OR UPDATE ON THE REMEDY FROM BMW.

NHTSA ODI #10895898

53,100 miles · Jul 24, 2014
Air BagsSeats

AT TEMPERATURE ABOVE 87 DEGREES F (AFTER A FULL DAY IN OPEN PARKING LOT UNDER SUN) AS INDICATED ON THE CAR'S DASHBOARD, THE SEAT BELT SENSOR OF THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED. EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY SEAT BELT FIRMLY CLASPED BUT THE CAR KEPT ON BEEPING SEATBELT WARNING FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE CAR DROPPED TO …

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AT TEMPERATURE ABOVE 87 DEGREES F (AFTER A FULL DAY IN OPEN PARKING LOT UNDER SUN) AS INDICATED ON THE CAR'S DASHBOARD, THE SEAT BELT SENSOR OF THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED. EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY SEAT BELT FIRMLY CLASPED BUT THE CAR KEPT ON BEEPING SEATBELT WARNING FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE CAR DROPPED TO LESS THAN 87 DEGREES F. THE SEATBELT WARNING WENT AWAY AFTER I OPENED THE WINDOW AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN OR SWITCHED ON AC IN THE CAR. THIS IS A REPEATABLE PROBLEM AND CAN BE REPRODUCED IF MY CAR IS KEPT IN DIRECT SUMMER SUN FOR AN AFTERNOON AND HAS OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST. SINCE AIRBAG SENSORS INTERACT WITH THE FAULTY SEATBELT SENSORS SO IT HAS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY BMW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616027

36,960 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT APPROX 35 MPH WHEN AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON VEHICLE DASH THAT STATED THERE IS A DEFAULT WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT THAT MAY AFFECT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610309

Official recalls

3

24V513000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 3, 2024

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags:frontal

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

20V017000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 15, 2020

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

17V676000 · Electrical System:wiring

Oct 25, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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.