BMW 328I Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 467 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the BMW 328I across 16 model years. The 2011 model year has the most (175). The words owners use most often: “engine cooling electrical” (26% of reports).
- 467engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine cooling electrical: mentioned in 121 of 467 complaints (26%)
- Burning odor: mentioned in 26 of 467 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 238 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 467 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 19 a fire, 3 an injury.
BMW 328I engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 328I | 13 | 23% | 115,000 |
| 2015 328I | 42 | 34% | 100,000 |
| 2014 328I | 29 | 19% | 93,000 |
| 2013 328I | 44 | 17% | 106,000 |
| 2012 328I | 16 | 12% | 123,500 |
| 2011 328I | 175 | 30% | 116,000 |
| 2010 328I | 40 | 26% | 111,000 |
| 2009 328I | 21 | 11% | 103,000 |
| 2008 328I | 33 | 14% | 100,000 |
| 2007 328I | 35 | 9% | 88,000 |
| 2001 328I | 2 | 50% | — |
| 2000 328I | 5 | 4% | 73,500 |
| 1999 328I | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1998 328I | 2 | 8% | 54,500 |
| 1997 328I | 3 | 12% | 69,042 |
| 1996 328I | 6 | 19% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump
Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2010, 2011
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
Risk: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact had received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), 17V676000 (Electrical System), and 17V683000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer in June 2026. The contact later received a phone…
The contact owned a 2007 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was whitish grey smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the residence where it was…
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire originated in the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was then…
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Â ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "turn off engine and do not open hood" was displayed on the instrument…
The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V513000 (Air Bags), 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all BMW 328Is have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 467 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the BMW 328I. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the BMW 328I engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the BMW 328I?
The most frequent phrase is “engine cooling electrical”, in 121 of 467 complaints, followed by “burning odor” (26).
Other BMW 328I problems
- Electrical System problems (683)
- Engine problems (625)
- Air Bags problems (551)
- Power Train problems (171)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (128)
- Structure problems (110)
- Steering problems (105)
See all BMW 328I problems.