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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

What owners actually said

67 reports
52,202 miles · Aug 12, 2021
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, an odor appeared from the exhaust pipe and under the hood where the engine was located. The contact mentioned that every year the oil was changed at an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve gasket faile…

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The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, an odor appeared from the exhaust pipe and under the hood where the engine was located. The contact mentioned that every year the oil was changed at an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve gasket failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The contact feels unsafe driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with a case number. The dealer was contacted and confirm that no recalls under the VIN. The contact mentioned NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) as a possible solution to the failure however the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximate 52,202

NHTSA ODI #11428888

112,000 miles · Apr 20, 2021
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND IS REPORTING THE SAME TROUBLE CODES RELATED TO RECALL NUMBER: 17V683000. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THIS MATTER COULD BE INVESTIGATED AND MY VEHICLES VIN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11413051

110,000 miles · Feb 8, 2021
Engine

BOLTS HOLDING THE VANOS UNIT HOUSING BROKE AND DAMAGED MY CAR ENGINE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE US MARKET AS THEY HAVE DONE IN CHINESE MARKET BACK IN THE 2014. ENGINE IS MAKING LOUT NOISE AND DAMAGED WITH COUPLE BOLTS SNAPPED INSIDE. THE CAR IS NOT WORKING AND IS WITH BMW GALLERY IN ROCKLAND, MA. THE CAR HAS ON…

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BOLTS HOLDING THE VANOS UNIT HOUSING BROKE AND DAMAGED MY CAR ENGINE. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE US MARKET AS THEY HAVE DONE IN CHINESE MARKET BACK IN THE 2014. ENGINE IS MAKING LOUT NOISE AND DAMAGED WITH COUPLE BOLTS SNAPPED INSIDE. THE CAR IS NOT WORKING AND IS WITH BMW GALLERY IN ROCKLAND, MA. THE CAR HAS ONLY 11,0000 MILES ON IT, WHICH SHOULDN'T HAVE ENGINE PROBLEM LIKE THAT. HTTPS://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/AMP/2014/04/11/BMW-BROADENS-ENGINE-BOLT-RECALL-NEARLY-HALF-MILLION-CARS-WORLDWIDE/

NHTSA ODI #11395237

100,240 miles · Dec 7, 2020
Engine

ALUMINUM BOLTS ON VANOS INTAKE ACTUATOR/PHASER SNAPPED. CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. HAD REPAIRED, ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS, ENGINE IS IN TIMING. CALLED BMW DEALERSHIP IN PA. THEY STATED NO RECALLS FOR ISSUE, NO TSB'S. I FOUND A NHTSA CAMPAIGN THAT MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED 14V76000, BMW DEALER DID NOT RECONGNIZE CA…

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ALUMINUM BOLTS ON VANOS INTAKE ACTUATOR/PHASER SNAPPED. CAUSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. HAD REPAIRED, ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS, ENGINE IS IN TIMING. CALLED BMW DEALERSHIP IN PA. THEY STATED NO RECALLS FOR ISSUE, NO TSB'S. I FOUND A NHTSA CAMPAIGN THAT MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED 14V76000, BMW DEALER DID NOT RECONGNIZE CAMPAIGN. CANNOT RESELL THE VEHICLE WITH CEL & SPENT THOUSANDS TRYING TO REPAIR. UPSIDE DOWN ON THE CAR & FRUSTRATED.

NHTSA ODI #11378390

105,980 miles · Jul 9, 2020
Tires

I HAVE BRIDGESTONE DRIVEGUARD RUN FLAT TIRES ... JUST HAD MY 3RD BLOW OUT OF A FRONT TIRE IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. ONLY 3 BLOW OUTS I'VE EVER HAD IN 48 YEARS OF DRIVING. THE BLOW OUT TODAY WAS THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FOR THE BLOW OUT 18 MONTHS AGO ... SO QUITE NEW WITH LITTLE WEAR. IN ALL 3 CASES THE TIRE BLEW OUT (FRACTURED) WHERE T…

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I HAVE BRIDGESTONE DRIVEGUARD RUN FLAT TIRES ... JUST HAD MY 3RD BLOW OUT OF A FRONT TIRE IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. ONLY 3 BLOW OUTS I'VE EVER HAD IN 48 YEARS OF DRIVING. THE BLOW OUT TODAY WAS THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FOR THE BLOW OUT 18 MONTHS AGO ... SO QUITE NEW WITH LITTLE WEAR. IN ALL 3 CASES THE TIRE BLEW OUT (FRACTURED) WHERE THE BEAD INTERSECTS THE TIRE RIM.

NHTSA ODI #11338497

56,000 miles · Oct 24, 2019
EngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ON AUGUST 26, 2019, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RICK HENDRICK BMW (1518 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC 29407, (843) 261-5760) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ON AUGUST 26, 2019, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RICK HENDRICK BMW (1518 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC 29407, (843) 261-5760) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). ON AUGUST 27, 2019, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE BEING TEST DRIVEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH THE FOLLOWING DAY. ON AUGUST 29, 2019, THE CONTACT WENT TO THE DEALER TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD NEED A POLICE REPORT BEFORE THEY COULD MAKE ANY DECISIONS REGARDING HIS VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2019, THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A REPAIR ESTIMATE VIA EMAIL AT THE COST OF $4,751. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REC ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR WITH THE VALVE COVER, OIL FILTER SOLENOIDS, SPARK PLUGS, COILS AND OTHER OIL RELATED FAILURES IN THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON OCTOBER 15, 2019, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS BUMPER HAD BEEN REPLACED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE DRIVER WHO CRASHED INTO HIS VEHICLE AND THAT HE WAS "ALL SET TO GO". UPON HIS RETURN HOME, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS DENIED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE VEHICLE'S WHEREABOUTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #11270882

67,000 miles · Oct 10, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WITH THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WITH THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #11267690

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

WHEN I TURN ON MY AIR CONDITIONING MY CAR OVERHEATS WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IT STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND I WAS STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS I NEED THIS PROBLEM FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE I AM IN FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11221965

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

100,000 miles · May 17, 2019
Engine

VEHICLE SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WAS IDLING ROUGH DURING COMMUTE. ENGINE SHUTOFF/STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RETURN HOME, BUT IDLE REMAINED ROUGH. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO REPAIR SHOP ON ANOTHER DAY, IDLE WAS ROUGH UPON ENGINE START AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CAR AGAIN STALLED AT…

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VEHICLE SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WAS IDLING ROUGH DURING COMMUTE. ENGINE SHUTOFF/STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RETURN HOME, BUT IDLE REMAINED ROUGH. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO REPAIR SHOP ON ANOTHER DAY, IDLE WAS ROUGH UPON ENGINE START AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CAR AGAIN STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ENGINE WOULD NOT RE-START AND VEHICLE REQUIRED A TOW TO GET IT TO SHOP. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER EXPLAINED THAT VANOS BOLTS HAD SHEARED AND IS THE EXACT ISSUE DESCRIBED IN BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN VANOS SIB 14V-176. IN SPITE OF MY VEHICLE MATCHING THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, AND ENGINE TYPE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, BMW INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN WAS NOT SHOWING ANY RECALL. IT APPEARS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS EITHER INTENTIONALLY OR THROUGH NEGLIGENCE OMITTED CERTAIN VEHICLE VINS FROM THE RECALL BULLETIN, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE MALFUNCTION SPECIFIED (SHEARING OF VANOS BOLTS).

NHTSA ODI #11208167

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.