Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2012 BMW 328 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2018.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 6 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 — 25
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 — 0
0% 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 2012 BMW 328
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
330.0%
Median failure at 50,925 miles
Seat Belts
220.0%
Median failure at 50,925 miles
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
Median failure at 75,989 miles
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
Median failure at 41,000 miles
Steering
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
Median failure at 52,400 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
337.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
450.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
112.5%
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.
Feb 2016peak 3Nov 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2012 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 80,000 milesNorth Potomac, MD
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ON THE STATE HIGHWAY AND WILL NOT START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON 09/08/2018 ON FOR MAJOR REPAIRS INCLUDING OIL CHANGE AND ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE WERE UP TO DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THAT ENGINE IS JAMMED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID ALL THE MAINTENANCES AND I HAVE THE INVOICES TO DOCUMENT THE RECENT REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. THE CAR HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN THE PAST, STOPPING SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY. I THINK THE BMW ENGINE HAS PROBLEMS AND THE DEALER WHO DID THE LAST MAINTENANCE ALSO DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB. I REQUEST TO TAKE THIS ISSUE WITH THE BMW CORPORATION AND HAVE THEM COVER THE DAMAGES.
NHTSA complaint #11154194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winfield, IL
STEERING
WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE, A WARNING MESSAGE "CHASIS STABILIZATION: DRIVE MODERATELY" APPEARED ON THE DASH AND HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS MAKING WHIRRING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. STOPPED THE CAR AND WALKED BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND FOUND A SHEARED OFF BOLT ON THE FLOOR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND ALL THE THREE BOLTS ON THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR SHEARED OFF & MISSING AND THE STEERING MOTOR WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF FROM ITS PLACE AND EXCESSIVE CORROSION WAS ALSO NOTICED. THE ONE BOLT FOUND ON THE GARAGE FLOOR MUST HAVE BEEN THE LAST ONE HOLDING THE MOTOR IN PLACE. GLAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OR WHEN MAKING A TURN.
NHTSA complaint #11074676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,978 milesBatavia, NY
ENGINE
IN JULY 2017 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CABIN COMPLETELY FILLED UP WITH SMOKE AND I INHALED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT , AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD AREA. MY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE SMOKE FILLING THE CABIN. AT NO POINT DID I RECEIVE ANY FORM OF NOTICE THROUGH THE MAIL, EMAIL, OR PHONE INFORMING ME OF SUCH A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO TOWNE BMW IN WILLIAMSVILLE, NY AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST 2017. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND THE VEHICLE WAS 'SAFE TO DRIVE'. HOWEVER ON THE DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED. I HAD NO LIGHTS, NO HORN, NO BRAKES, NO POWER WHATSOEVER. THIS APPARENTLY IS WHAT BMW CONSIDERS 'SAFE'. I HAD TO PAY TO TOW THE CAR BACK TO TOWNE BMW, AS THE SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT SEEM TO CARE THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. A FEW DAYS LATER TOWNE BMW INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS ONCE AGAIN 'SAFE TO DRIVE'. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AGAIN AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN, IN ADDITION TO NOISES BEING EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. I CALLED TOWNE BMW ON AVERAGE TWICE A DAY LEAVING VOICEMAILS AS WELL AS MY CONTACT INFORMATION, AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER. AFTER MY SECOND CALL TO BMW CORPORATE TO COMPLAIN I FINALLY RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM BMW AFTER NEARLY A WEEK OF PHONE CALLS. I SUPPOSE THE SAFETY OF VEHICLES OR PROPER SERVICE ARE NOT BMW CORE VALUES. IT IS NOW DECEMBER AND BMW REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS, DESPITE NOT SENDING ME ANY RECALL NOTICE FOR SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11057144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,000 milesWashington, DC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WATER LEAKING INTO DRIVER SIDE OF CAR AND POOLING IN DRIVER FOOTWELL AND DRIVER-SIDE PASSENGER. WHEN PARKED ON SLOPE, NEARLY 3-4 INCHES OF STANDING WATER. AFTER PUMPING AND DRYING OUT WATER, MAJOR RAIN STORM RESULTED IN RETURN OF POOLING WATER. POSSIBLY RELATED TO BMW SERVICE BULLETIN: SIB 51 05 14 IT SAYS "REMOVE WATER DRAIN GROMMET OF UNITS COMPARTMENT"
NHTSA complaint #11013596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,450 milesAtascadero, CA
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. A WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG/RESTRAINT SYSTEM ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BEING ENGAGED. THESE WARNING APPEAR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #10955246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,450 milesAtascadero, CA
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. A WEEK LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG/RESTRAINT SYSTEM ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. THE VEHICLE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BEING ENGAGED. THESE WARNING APPEAR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #10955246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ...UPDATED 09/20/16
NHTSA complaint #10899323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,400 milesPortland, OR
SEAT BELTS
I BOUGHT MY CAR AT AROUND 50K MILES, AFTER MANUFACTURER' WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE. ONE DAY, AFTER DRIVING FROM THE STORE, MY CAR INDICATED I NEEDED TO FASTEN MY SEATBELT. I WAS FASTENED IN. SO I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THINKING IT WAS SOME WEIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I GOT HOME AND THE NEXT TIME I GOT INTO MY CAR TO DRIVE IT, THE DISPLAY NOW SHOWS" DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: CONTINUE WEARING SAFETY BELT. CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER." I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED DOES NOT COVER SEATBELTS OR AIRBAG SENSORS. THE DEALER GAVE ME A COST OF REPLACEMENT: $820.52! I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. YET, THERE IS NO RECALL. WHY WOULD IT BE OKAY FOR SEATBELTS AND AIRBAG SENSORS TO STOP WORKING JUST AFTER 50K MILES?
NHTSA complaint #10837580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,400 milesPortland, OR
AIR BAGS
I BOUGHT MY CAR AT AROUND 50K MILES, AFTER MANUFACTURER' WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE. ONE DAY, AFTER DRIVING FROM THE STORE, MY CAR INDICATED I NEEDED TO FASTEN MY SEATBELT. I WAS FASTENED IN. SO I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THINKING IT WAS SOME WEIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I GOT HOME AND THE NEXT TIME I GOT INTO MY CAR TO DRIVE IT, THE DISPLAY NOW SHOWS" DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: CONTINUE WEARING SAFETY BELT. CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER." I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED DOES NOT COVER SEATBELTS OR AIRBAG SENSORS. THE DEALER GAVE ME A COST OF REPLACEMENT: $820.52! I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. YET, THERE IS NO RECALL. WHY WOULD IT BE OKAY FOR SEATBELTS AND AIRBAG SENSORS TO STOP WORKING JUST AFTER 50K MILES?
NHTSA complaint #10837580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,400 milesPortland, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT MY CAR AT AROUND 50K MILES, AFTER MANUFACTURER' WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE. ONE DAY, AFTER DRIVING FROM THE STORE, MY CAR INDICATED I NEEDED TO FASTEN MY SEATBELT. I WAS FASTENED IN. SO I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THINKING IT WAS SOME WEIRD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I GOT HOME AND THE NEXT TIME I GOT INTO MY CAR TO DRIVE IT, THE DISPLAY NOW SHOWS" DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: CONTINUE WEARING SAFETY BELT. CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER." I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE WARRANTY I PURCHASED DOES NOT COVER SEATBELTS OR AIRBAG SENSORS. THE DEALER GAVE ME A COST OF REPLACEMENT: $820.52! I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. YET, THERE IS NO RECALL. WHY WOULD IT BE OKAY FOR SEATBELTS AND AIRBAG SENSORS TO STOP WORKING JUST AFTER 50K MILES?
NHTSA complaint #10837580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.