BMW 328XI Engine Problems
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the BMW 328XI across 8 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (36). The words owners use most often: “numbers electrical engine” (17% of reports).
- 110engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 32%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.
- Numbers electrical engine: mentioned in 19 of 110 complaints (17%)
- Valve heater: mentioned in 8 of 110 complaints (7%)
- Blower motor wiring: mentioned in 6 of 110 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 77 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 110 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 14 a fire, 2 an injury.
BMW 328XI engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 328XI | 2 | 14% | 26,000 |
| 2014 328XI | 2 | 12% | 54,500 |
| 2013 328XI | 7 | 26% | 31,500 |
| 2011 328XI | 24 | 36% | 78,000 |
| 2010 328XI | 4 | 24% | 90,500 |
| 2009 328XI | 3 | 27% | 120,000 |
| 2008 328XI | 32 | 32% | 80,000 |
| 2007 328XI | 36 | 18% | 82,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. Additionally, while driving on several occasions at slow speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328XI. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking excessively from the engine compartment. The contact stated while driving, the 4WD, brakes, and Service engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while the…
The positive battery fuse cable under the glovebox is placed into a plastic space causing melting. This leads to the vehicle going dead and not even emergency lights will work. This recall has been placed on very few BMWs however it is affecting way more then they are saying. You can see in UK…
The car was over heating and not starting as well as fuel pump error on my dash. There is an open recall on my vehicle starting March of 2022 it is now June and BMW says they donât know when they will have a remedy for this and it could be months but I need my car.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH on the highway, the engine failed. The contact pulled over to the emergency lane. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove home safely. The vehicle was taken to a dealer…
Frequently asked questions
Do all BMW 328XIs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 110 owner complaints about engine for the BMW 328XI. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the BMW 328XI engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine problems on the BMW 328XI?
The most frequent phrase is “numbers electrical engine”, in 19 of 110 complaints, followed by “valve heater” (8).
Other BMW 328XI problems
See all BMW 328XI problems.