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2011 Bmw 328i Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 7 NHTSA recalls and 684 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This model year has more owner complaints than most other years of the Bmw 328i

The 2011 model year has more NHTSA owner complaints than the average of the years compared below. Review the recalls and common complaints, and have any vehicle inspected.

F
20/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2011 Bmw 328i

The 2011 Bmw 328i shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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7
NHTSA Recalls
7 recalls on record
684
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
27
Crash Reports
33 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2011 Bmw 328i (7)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Bmw dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module
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…
NHTSA #20V017000
🔧 Electrical System: Wiring
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…
NHTSA #17V676000
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Exhaust System: Emission Control: Crankcase (pcv)
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.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #17V683000
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine
If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA #14V176000
🔧 Electrical System
If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on March 13, 2013….
NHTSA #13V044000
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN, IT COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND ULTIMATELY A VEHICLE BREAKDOWN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT ATTACHMENT BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW…
NHTSA #11V476000
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module
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…
NHTSA #24V513000
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Most Common Problems — 2011 Bmw 328i

Based on 684 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine And Engine Cooling
182
Electrical System
140
Engine
132
Air Bags
102
Unknown Or Other
33
Power Train
25
Fuel/propulsion System
12
Steering
10
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Bmw 328i — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2011 model year is highlighted.

2010 274 complaints 2011 683 complaints 2012 144 complaints 2013 288 complaints 2014 152 complaints 2015 125 complaints

→ Recently checked Bmw 328i VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a BMW VIN — free BMW VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2011 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2015 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2011 Bmw 328i

Is the 2011 Bmw 328i reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2011 Bmw 328i has 7 recall campaigns and 684 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2011 Bmw 328i have?
The 2011 Bmw 328i has 7 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Bmw 328i?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2011 Bmw 328i are: Engine And Engine Cooling, Electrical System, Engine, Air Bags. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2011 Bmw 328i safe to buy?
The 2011 Bmw 328i has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 7 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Bmw 328i should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Bmw 328i are: 2015. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2011.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.