2011 BMW 328I reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2011 BMW 328I from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 797
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- 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 ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint 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
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
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. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. 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?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2011 BMW 328I. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.