Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2013 BMW 328 with NHTSA between 2016 and 2019.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 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 — 30
Against the median year of the BMW 328. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 86
16.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 34
20% 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 2013 BMW 328
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
433.3%
Median failure at 56,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
216.7%
Median failure at 79,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
216.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 76,000 mi
Transmission & Drivetrain
216.7%
Median failure at 59,250 miles
Airbags
18.3%
Electrical System
18.3%
Median failure at 50,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
110.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
220.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
330.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
110.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
330.0%
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.
Mar 2016peak 5Mar 2019
NHTSA investigations into the 2013 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 72,000 milesBrownsburg, IN1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING FREE FROM OTHER TRAFFIC OR OBSTACLES WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED CAUSING A LOUD SOUND THAT DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. RESULTANT GLASS PARTICLES ENTERED THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A MINOR INJURY TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE DRIVER. AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED PHOTOS, THE GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD, INDICATING THAT THIS WAS NOT DUE TO AN EXTERNAL IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE 74 EASTBOUND JUST WEST OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
NHTSA complaint #11186678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesHouston, TXCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOPPED IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE CAR REVED TO 6 OR 7000 RPM AND THEN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHEI DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AS I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10994243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 72,000 milesBrownsburg, IN1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING FREE FROM OTHER TRAFFIC OR OBSTACLES WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED CAUSING A LOUD SOUND THAT DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. RESULTANT GLASS PARTICLES ENTERED THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A MINOR INJURY TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE DRIVER. AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED PHOTOS, THE GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD, INDICATING THAT THIS WAS NOT DUE TO AN EXTERNAL IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE 74 EASTBOUND JUST WEST OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
NHTSA complaint #11186678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesSAN Mateo, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS OCCASIONALLY DO NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, TRAPPING ME INSIDE. PRESSING THE UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE DASHBOARD WORKS, BUT PULLING THE PHYSICAL HANDLES DOES NOT.
NHTSA complaint #11150233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Missouri City, TX
ENGINE
UNKNOWN OIL LEAK STARTED AROUND 75K. NOTICED IT IN MY GARAGE. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #11142361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesHuntsville, AL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING CAME ON THAT SAYS DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT WILL BARELY GO.
NHTSA complaint #11139279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesGaithersburg, MD
POWER TRAIN
3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PAD CHANGE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. MY DASHBOARD STATED THAT I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THAT MAXIMUM OUTPUT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY CAR INTO BMW IN ORDER TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. WHEN I RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WAS NON OPERABLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TEN THOUSAND TO CHANGE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE, AND THAT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN BUT IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY A BAD OIL FILTER. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS CONCERNING OIL AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11133501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesGaithersburg, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PAD CHANGE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. MY DASHBOARD STATED THAT I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THAT MAXIMUM OUTPUT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY CAR INTO BMW IN ORDER TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. WHEN I RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WAS NON OPERABLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TEN THOUSAND TO CHANGE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE, AND THAT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN BUT IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY A BAD OIL FILTER. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS CONCERNING OIL AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11133501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesGaithersburg, MD
ENGINE
3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PAD CHANGE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. MY DASHBOARD STATED THAT I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THAT MAXIMUM OUTPUT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY CAR INTO BMW IN ORDER TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. WHEN I RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WAS NON OPERABLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TEN THOUSAND TO CHANGE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE, AND THAT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN BUT IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY A BAD OIL FILTER. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS CONCERNING OIL AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11133501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Southern Pines, NC
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE REGISTERED THIS VEHICLE WITH BMW BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED AS TO WHEN THEY WOULD BE FIXING THE AIRBAG.
NHTSA complaint #11035408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesHouston, TXCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOPPED IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE CAR REVED TO 6 OR 7000 RPM AND THEN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHEI DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AS I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10994243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesArlington, MA
ENGINE
THIS IS NOW A REPEAT PROBLEM (3 TIMES). DRIVING AT SPEED ON LOCAL ROADS THE CAR DROPS TO IDLE SPEED AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS MORNING I HAD JUST GOTTEN THE CAR BACK FROM BMW SERVICE AND WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME IT HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING ACROSS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE AND I WAS LET BASICALLY STATIONARY IN THE ONCOMING LANE.
NHTSA complaint #10926110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesWest Long Branch, NJ
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE CAN'T HANDLE HEAVY RAIN WITH MEDIUM SIZED PUDDLES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES, "DRIVE THROUGH CALM WATER ONLY IF NOT DEEPER THAN 9.8 INCHES, NO FASTER THAN WALKING SPEED UP TO 6MPH." THIS PUDDLE WAS UNDER 4 INCHES AS I MEASURED AND TOOK PHOTOS, BUT BMW REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE WORK. THEY CLAIM THE ENGINE HYDROLOCKED RESULTING IN FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. A QUICK TRIP TO GOOGLE AND YOU WILL SEE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. WE WERE THE ONLY CAR DISABLED. 2 DEALERS ADMITTED TO ENGINEERING FLAWS, BUT LAUGHED AT BMW COVERING THE REPAIRS. BMW USA WAS OF NO HELP EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10885651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,500 milesColorado Springs, CO
POWER TRAIN
CAN'T GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL AS WELL. COULD NOT GET ACCESS ON SIDE OF ROAD TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL . THE PROCEDURE IN THE MANUAL DID NOT WORK. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL, THERE SHOULD BE A MANUAL RELEASE FROM WITHIN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR
NHTSA complaint #10839564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.