Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 2007 BMW 328 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2019.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 34
Against the median year of the BMW 328. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 46
27% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2007 BMW 328
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
428.6%
Median failure at 99,500 miles
Airbags
321.4%
Median failure at 110,000 miles
Seat Belts
214.3%
Median failure at 55,050 miles
Steering
214.3%
Median failure at 110,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
17.1%
Median failure at 100 miles
Stability & Traction Control
17.1%
Median failure at 99,500 miles
Engine & Cooling
17.1%
Median failure at 130,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
327.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
327.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
545.5%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 2016peak 3Apr 2019
NHTSA investigations into the 2007 BMW 328
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 110,000 milesGallatin, TN
SEAT BELTS
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A BLOWER MOTOR WIRING ISSUE (17V-676) AND AN EXTENSION IN LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. BMW NORTH AMERICA SAID THEY COULD NOT SEE THE VEHICLE IN THERE SYSTEM AND COULD NOT INITIATE REPAIRS UNTIL IT WAS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN TENNESSEE ON 3/23/16, BUT SAW IN THE CARFAX REPORT THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED OVERSEAS.
NHTSA complaint #11196676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesGallatin, TN
AIR BAGS
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A BLOWER MOTOR WIRING ISSUE (17V-676) AND AN EXTENSION IN LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. BMW NORTH AMERICA SAID THEY COULD NOT SEE THE VEHICLE IN THERE SYSTEM AND COULD NOT INITIATE REPAIRS UNTIL IT WAS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN TENNESSEE ON 3/23/16, BUT SAW IN THE CARFAX REPORT THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED OVERSEAS.
NHTSA complaint #11196676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesGallatin, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A BLOWER MOTOR WIRING ISSUE (17V-676) AND AN EXTENSION IN LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM. BMW NORTH AMERICA SAID THEY COULD NOT SEE THE VEHICLE IN THERE SYSTEM AND COULD NOT INITIATE REPAIRS UNTIL IT WAS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN TENNESSEE ON 3/23/16, BUT SAW IN THE CARFAX REPORT THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED OVERSEAS.
NHTSA complaint #11196676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williamstown, NJ
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED MAILED CORRESPONDENCE FROM TK HOLDING REGARDING DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS FOR MY 2007 328XI. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE THE CLAIM FORMS MAILED TO MAIL WHICH I DID. SUBSEQUENTLY MY CLAIM WAS DENIED AND TO DATE NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE OR OFFERED FOR THE AFFECTED TAKAKA PARTS INSIDE MY VEHICLE. AS IT MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH THE FAULTY PARTS. I AWAIT RECALL FOR THE TAKAKA INFLATOR RECALL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BMW OF MT. LAUREL TO FIX IT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT FIXING TAKATA INFLATOR RECALLS AT THAT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11175997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER RED AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND REMAINS ON. IT DOE NOT MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT OR NOT.
NHTSA complaint #11102759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesVallejo, CA
SEAT BELTS
I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SENSOR SYSTEMS. NOT ABLE TO PASS SMOG. ALSO MY DOOR HANDLES HAVE MELTED FROM SOME HEAT WHEN MY CAR IS EXTREMELY HOT. THESE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS I'M HAVING.
NHTSA complaint #11044111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesVallejo, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SENSOR SYSTEMS. NOT ABLE TO PASS SMOG. ALSO MY DOOR HANDLES HAVE MELTED FROM SOME HEAT WHEN MY CAR IS EXTREMELY HOT. THESE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS I'M HAVING.
NHTSA complaint #11044111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesVallejo, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SENSOR SYSTEMS. NOT ABLE TO PASS SMOG. ALSO MY DOOR HANDLES HAVE MELTED FROM SOME HEAT WHEN MY CAR IS EXTREMELY HOT. THESE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS I'M HAVING.
NHTSA complaint #11044111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesChapel Hill, NC
ENGINE
THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING MODERATELY HARD, WHICH IN TURN SHUTS DOWN POWER STEERING AND PROBABLY THE POWER BRAKES!!! THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. FOR EACH OF THESE EVENTS, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR AN EXTENDED TIME, PROBABLY LONGER THAN TWO HOURS. IN ONE INCIDENT ON APRIL 12, 2017, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN I QUICKLY ACCELERATED TO ALLOW FOR SAFE TRAFFIC FLOW INVOLVING A TRACTOR TRAILER. ANOTHER INCIDENT ON SAME DAY INVOLVED MODERATELY HARD BRAKING AS I APPROACHED STALLED TRAFFIC ON THE TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND THE ROAD DID NOT HAVE A SHOULDER. THIS CREATED A SERIOUS HAZARD WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. A THIRD INCIDENT ON THE SAME DAY OCCURRED DURING MODERATELY HARD BRAKING AS I APPROACHED A TOLL BOOTH. LOSS OF POWER STEERING (AND PROBABLY POWER BRAKES) CREATED A SERIOUS HAZARD. A FOURTH INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS EARLIER WHEN I BRAKED MODERATELY HARD WHILE EXITING FOR A REST STOP. LOSS OF POWER STEERING (AND PROBABLY POWER BRAKES) CREATED A SERIOUS HAZARD. IN THE RECENT THREE EVENTS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT TURNED ON. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. AFTER LESS THAN A MINUTE, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, DROVE NORMALLY, AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNED OFF. IN THE EVENT WITH ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART EASILY FOR 15-30 MINUTES; EVENTUALLY IT RESTARTED AND DROVE NORMALLY. DURING THE 15-30 MINUTES, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED, BUCKED, AND SHUT DOWN REPEATEDLY. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE BMW DEALER AFTER THE FIRST EVENT AND THEY SAID THE ONLY POTENTIAL CAUSE WAS WATER PUMP SPEED DEVIATION. I REPLACED WATER PUMP IN MAY 2016 AS THEY RECOMMENDED.
NHTSA complaint #10972374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesLawrence, MA
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR GAVE ME AN ELV LOCK ERROR AND LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10945295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesHouston, TX
STEERING
WHEEL STERRING LOCK MALFUNCTION, ESSENTIALLY THERE STEERING NO LONGER WORKS AND CAR SHUTS DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10916390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Trabuco Canyon, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE REAR DOORS WON'T LOCK AND THE FRONT DOORS WON'T UNLOCK AND THE GAS LID WON'T OPEN! THIS JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE. READ ONLINE BY LOTS OF FOLKS THAT'S IT'S AN DOOR ACTUATOR AND WRONG FUSE. DEALER IS VERY AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND LOTS OF FOLKS HAVING THE SAME DEFECT - IT REALLY SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALER!
NHTSA complaint #10897294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,500 milesLawrenceville, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLS TWICE (2 TIMES) ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. VEHICLE LOST POWER COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 20-25 MPH. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON LATEST INCIDENT. FIRST STALL HAPPENED AT 99500 MILES AND 2ND STALL HAPPENED AT 100340 MILES. THERE WAS NO LIGHT INDICATOR WARNING OR SIGNS OR DISTRESS ON ENGINE BEFORE POWER WAS COMPLETELY LOST. CAR STALLED IMMEDIATELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED.
NHTSA complaint #10862398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,500 milesLawrenceville, GA
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
VEHICLE STALLS TWICE (2 TIMES) ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. VEHICLE LOST POWER COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 20-25 MPH. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON LATEST INCIDENT. FIRST STALL HAPPENED AT 99500 MILES AND 2ND STALL HAPPENED AT 100340 MILES. THERE WAS NO LIGHT INDICATOR WARNING OR SIGNS OR DISTRESS ON ENGINE BEFORE POWER WAS COMPLETELY LOST. CAR STALLED IMMEDIATELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED.
NHTSA complaint #10862398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.