2011 BMW 328I reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2011 BMW 328I — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 797
- 351 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 189 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 7
- see below
- Reported harm
- 31 reported crashes · 33 injuries · 35 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#569
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs BMW median
+641
median 156 across 103 BMW records
Vs 2009-2013
+524
median 274 complaints in 614 records
Top component share
24%
Engine: 189 complaints
What owners report fails — 2011 BMW 328I
- ENGINE 189
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 161
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 122
- AIR BAGS 90
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 43
7 recalls on record for the 2011 BMW 328I
- NHTSA 24V513000 · 2024 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious i
- NHTSA 20V017000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 17V676000 · 2018 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehi
- NHTSA 17V683000 · 2018 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehic
- NHTSA 14V176000 · 2014 · 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.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2011 BMW 328I
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2011 BMW 328I units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 BMW 328I reliable?
NHTSA has 797 consumer complaints on record for the 2011 BMW 328I and 7 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (189 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2011 BMW 328I units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 BMW 328I?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (189), engine and engine cooling (161), electrical system (122), air bags (90). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2011 BMW 328I?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.