Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 2008 BMW 328 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2018.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 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 — 27
Against the median year of the BMW 328. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 47
9.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2008 BMW 328
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
436.4%
Median failure at 75,000 miles
Electrical System
327.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 100,000 mi
Engine & Cooling
327.3%
Body & Structure
19.1%
Median failure at 77,500 miles
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.
Jul 2016peak 3May 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2008 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...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 100,000 milesNorthville, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY, SMELLED MELTED PLASTIC, PARKED CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. LOOKED AND SAW FLAMES FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE GLOVEBOX AREA. CAR IGNITED IN FLAMES. ATTEMPTED PUT OUT BUT FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY AND CALLED 911.
NHTSA complaint #11062424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Ellenton, FL
AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL, PCV VALVE RECALL, BLOWER MOTOR RECALL, AND CONSTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ISSUES STILL NOT RESOLVED BY BMW. ISSUE KEEPS GETTING BLOWN OFF BY BMW.
NHTSA complaint #11091974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellenton, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL, PCV VALVE RECALL, BLOWER MOTOR RECALL, AND CONSTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ISSUES STILL NOT RESOLVED BY BMW. ISSUE KEEPS GETTING BLOWN OFF BY BMW.
NHTSA complaint #11091974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellenton, FL
ENGINE
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL, PCV VALVE RECALL, BLOWER MOTOR RECALL, AND CONSTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ISSUES STILL NOT RESOLVED BY BMW. ISSUE KEEPS GETTING BLOWN OFF BY BMW.
NHTSA complaint #11091974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Towaco, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED PAUL MILLER BMW (1515 NJ-23, WAYNE, NJ 07470) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11072871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Towaco, NJ
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED PAUL MILLER BMW (1515 NJ-23, WAYNE, NJ 07470) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11072871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Doylestown, PA
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND COOLING). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER THREE MONTHS AGO. THE DEALER (THOMPSON BMW, 680 N MAIN ST, DOYLESTOWN, PA 18901, (215) 340-3900) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #11063506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesNorthville, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY, SMELLED MELTED PLASTIC, PARKED CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. LOOKED AND SAW FLAMES FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE GLOVEBOX AREA. CAR IGNITED IN FLAMES. ATTEMPTED PUT OUT BUT FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY AND CALLED 911.
NHTSA complaint #11062424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, GA
AIR BAGS
I HAVE CONTACTED UNITED BMW OF ROSWELL SEVERAL TIMES OVER A YEAR NOW. I JUST CALLED AGAIN 10/24/2017 AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THE SAME THING. THE AIRBAGS FOR MY MODEL THEY DO NOT HAVE YET BUT I AM ON THEIR LIST TO CALL WHEN THEY COME IN. I'VE BERN ON THAT LIST SINCE APRIL 2016.
NHTSA complaint #11039333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT: ADVANTAGE BMW, HOUSTON, TX, AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11006557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesBlythewood, SC
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE CALLED DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET THE REPAIR PART. I OWN TWO 2008 BMW'S WITH SAME RECALL. COLUMBIA SC BMW 803 404 5400. SURELY SOMEONE KNOWS THE STATUS OF THE NEW PART. THEY SEEM TO BE IGNORING ME, NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10929413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,500 milesSafety Harbor, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY FAMILY AND I LEFT FOR VACATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FROM FLORIDA TO VIRGINIA. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND SINCE IT WAS SO LATE. WE WERE DRIVING AT ROUGHLY 78 MPH. WE HAD THE SUNROOF ANGLED OPEN. SUDDENLY, WE HEARD AN EXPLOSION, WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND WE WERE ALL COVERED IN BITS OF GLASS. THE SOUND WAS SO SUDDEN AND LOUD THAT I NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD. WE REALIZED THE SOURCE OF THE FALLING GLASS WAS FROM OUR SUNROOF, WHICH NOW LOOKED LIKE A DOME. SOMETHING CAUSED IT TO WARP IN AN OUTWARD POSITION. TINY PIECES OF GLASS WERE FALLING ON US LIKE SNOW. WE PULLED OFF AT A TRUCK STOP AND VACUUMED OUT THE GLASS INSIDE THE CAR. THEN, AS WE SHUT THE CAR DOOR, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SUNROOF COLLAPSED, CREATING A GAPING HOLE. WE THEN BOUGHT DUCT TAPE TO SEAL THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE SO THAT WE COULD MAKE THE REST OF OUR 13 HOUR DRIVE TO OUR DESTINATION. WHEN WE ARRIVED, MY HUSBAND FOUND A FORD DEALERSHIP WHO GAVE US A HUGE SHEET OF WINDOW TAPE TO HELP SEAL IT OFF BETTER. WE THEN CALLED THE BMW MANUFACTURER IN GREER, S.C. TO FILE A COMPLAINT.. THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM. I WAS THERE TODAY, 7/8/2016, AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $400 TO REMOVE THE HEADLINER AND COMPLETE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I PROMPTLY WALKED OUT. I'VE READ OF HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SITUATION HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. WHY IS THIS TYPE OF GLASS NOT UNDER A RECALL NOTICE? I'M SCARED TO DEATH FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH THE ROOF ANGLED UPWARD. NO ONE, FROM WHAT I'VE READ, CAN SEEM TO FIND ANY REASON FOR THE GLASS TO COMPLETELY CHANGE SHAPE AND EXPLODE. IF GLASS CAN'T HOLD UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHY IS IT BEING USED?! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10883538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.