1997 BMW 328I

0 recalls, 29 complaints - 8 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

29 total complaints 3 crashes 1 injuries 1 deaths

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
TIRES2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH1
WHEELS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Apr 26, 2017
Incident date: Apr 21, 2017
AFTER SEEING YET ANOTHER REAR END COLLISION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION I HAVE HAD IN MIND FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE WE CAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SUCH ACCIDENTS, BY FLASHING THE STOP SIGNALS WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE ON AND THE CAR IS STOPPED ( REQUIRES A SPEED SENSOR, OF COURSE). MANUAL FL... Read more
Crash 1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Mar 4, 2014
Incident date: Sep 11, 2013
THE LOCKING DEVICE ON A 1997 BMW 328I INTERMITTENTLY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IF IT IS LOCKED WHILE OCCUPIED. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK, WHICH CREATES A HIGH DANGER AND SEVERITY OF RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO CONSUMERS AND/OR USERS OF THE VEHICLE IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEH... Read more
1 deaths
STEERING Jul 11, 2011
Incident date: Jun 27, 2011
1997 BMW 328IS WITH 179K MILES. AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES (HIGHWAY OR CITY), MY STEERING WHEEL WILL BIND OR GET TIGHT IN A TURN. AFTER MUSCLING THROUGH THE TURN SO I DON'T CRASH, THE STEERING WHEEL "POPS" AND RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS BEGAN TO HAPPEN DAILY AND I AM CONCERNED... Read more
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Apr 28, 2009
Incident date: Apr 28, 2009
I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY CAR IS NOT SAFE AS THE FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Dec 19, 2008
Incident date: Nov 30, 2008
1997 BMW 328I LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. DRIVING 40MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. SNOWING BUT STRAIGHT LEVEL CONCRETE ROAD. APPROACHING ASPHALT CURVE ENTERING SMALL MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, I TAPPED BRAKE TO DISENGAGE CRUISE. IT DIDN'T DISENGAGE SO HIT IT HARDER. CRUISE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THREW CAR INTO A... Read more
Crash
SEAT BELTS Jul 11, 2008
Incident date: May 18, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 328I CONVERTIBLE. DUE TO HIS BODY STATURE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAN THE SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO USE THE SEAT BELT EFFECTIVELY. HE CONSULTED THREE DEALERS FOR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, BUT NONE HAD THEM AVAILABLE OR WERE NOT BEING SOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT TH... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Jul 19, 2005
Incident date: Jul 16, 2005
PLASTIC RADIATOR BROKE AT UPPER HOSE CONNECTION, CAUSING SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE STOPPING IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THIS LED TO A VERY DANGEROUS RESCUE BY CALTRANS TRUCK AFTER AN HOUR OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE May 20, 2005
Incident date: May 20, 2005
SUDDEN FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL RESULTING IN A SHAKING/VIBRATING VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELLERTING IN CITY TRAFFIC THE CAR CAN LUNGE AND JERK WHILE ACCELLERATING, RESULTING IN UNPREDICTABLE ACCELLERATION. IN CITY TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE IGNITION COILS FOR BMW 3 SERIES CA... Read more
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Jul 22, 2003
Incident date: Jul 22, 2003
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
Crash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Sep 18, 2002
Incident date: Aug 28, 2002
TURNED ENGINE OFF, AND WENT INTO STORE, AND HEARD AN EXPLOSION. CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *AK THE DEALER SAID THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT IN TURN DEPLOYING THE AIR BAG. *JG
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN Nov 23, 2001
Incident date: Sep 23, 2001
WHILE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN VEHICLE, SOMETHING UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATED THE ALARM SYSTEM, DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE, HORN ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. *JB
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR Nov 23, 2001
Incident date: Sep 23, 2001
WHILE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN VEHICLE, SOMETHING UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATED THE ALARM SYSTEM, DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE, HORN ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. *JB
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT Nov 23, 2001
Incident date: Sep 23, 2001
WHILE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN VEHICLE, SOMETHING UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATED THE ALARM SYSTEM, DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE, HORN ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. *JB
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY Sep 28, 2001
Incident date: Jun 14, 2001
THERMOSTAT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND RADIATOR TO BLOW. *AK THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND TRIM UNDER THE REAR OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOOSE. *ET
SEATS Sep 28, 2001
Incident date: Jun 14, 2001
THERMOSTAT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND RADIATOR TO BLOW. *AK THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND TRIM UNDER THE REAR OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOOSE. *ET
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Sep 28, 2001
Incident date: Jun 14, 2001
THERMOSTAT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND RADIATOR TO BLOW. *AK THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND TRIM UNDER THE REAR OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOOSE. *ET
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Apr 16, 2001
Incident date: Mar 15, 2001
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOUSING PORTION DOES NOT HOLD LATCH PLATE IN BUCKLE HOUSING MECHANISM. LATCH PLATE POPS OUT OF BUCKLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BUCKLE. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE FAILED HOUSING. *SLC
TIRES Feb 2, 2001
Incident date: Jan 26, 2001
ODI #740028. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ACTM2Y7166 TIRESIZE: 205/60R15)
TIRES Feb 2, 2001
Incident date: Jan 26, 2001
IT HAPPENED AT 3:50 PM, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, JANURAY 26, 2001, FREEWAY 91 HEADING EAST, PASSED FREEYWAY 710, AT THE EXIT OF ATLANTIC. I WAS LUCKY TO PULL OVER AND MY COLLEAGUE WAS FOLLOWED ME AT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. SHE WITNESSED EVERY THING. THE METRO (MTA) TOW TRUCK PASSED BY 15 MINUTES LATER ... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Jan 17, 2001
Incident date: Dec 3, 2000
WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO PARK VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY TURNING OFF IGNITION. BRAKES WOULD ONLY SLOW IT DOWN, BUT NOT STOP IT. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, WILL N... Read more
AIR BAGS Dec 18, 2000
Incident date: Dec 13, 2000
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
TIRES:SIDEWALL Aug 23, 2000
Incident date: Jul 29, 2000
TIRE FAILED ON FREEWAY ON HOT DAY. PERMETER AND 2/3 OF SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM BEADS. NO EVIDENCE OF PUNCTURE IN TIRE FRAGMENTS. TIRES HAVE UTQGS OF 400, TRACT. A, TEMP. A, BUT THERE IS NO RECORD OF OF ANY TIRE OF THIS MAKE HAVING EVER BEEN TESTED AT NHTSA FACILITIES. *AK
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR Jul 30, 1999
Incident date: Mar 1, 1997
PLASTIC FACE PLATE ON THE BOTTOM OF DOOR FRAME GOT CAUGHT ON CONSUMER'S SHOE AND BROKE. MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR Jun 11, 1999
Incident date: Jul 2, 1997
ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Apr 20, 1999
THERMOSTAT STUCK.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY Jan 18, 1999
I PARKED THIS CAR FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE I DROVE IT AT SUNDAY MORNING. AFTER I PARKED FOR AN HOUR LATER IT STARTED ON FIRE BY IT SELF. FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH IS STARTED FROM ENGINE ROOM BETTERY TERMINAL.
WHEELS Sep 22, 1998
2 ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE BENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. *AK
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH Jun 24, 1998
VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD IN DRIVE GEAR AS WELL AS REVERSE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR Apr 8, 1998
WATER LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE FROM ALL DOORS IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Technical Service Bulletins, 1997 BMW 328I

8 manufacturer communications from 5 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

ComponentBulletins
063000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2
116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
063100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL1
070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
B510819 Jan 16, 2024
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B510819 Jan 16, 2024
133000 VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
12 10 97 Apr 1, 1998
063000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SUBJECT ON VOLUNTARY EXHAUST EMISSION SERVICE ACTION NO. 98E-A01. *YC *JN
12 10 97 Mar 1, 1998
063000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SUBJECT ON VOLUNTARY EXHAUST EMISSION SERVICE ACTION NO. 98E-A01. PRODUCED FROM 10/95 - 11/97 *YC*DB
16 01 98 Mar 1, 1998
070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
INFORMATION ON EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL AND FUEL FILLER CAP / FILLER DOOR LABELS. *YC
12 10 97 Dec 1, 1997
063100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
OXYGEN SENSOR FAULTS. *AK
13 02 97 Aug 1, 1997
180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AN INCORRECT THROTTLE BODY COOLANT RETURN HOSE WAS INSTALLED. *AK
12 01 97 Mar 1, 1997
116200 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
INTERMITTENT CRANK/NO START. *TW

BMW 328I - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the BMW 328I across all model years (1999, 2016).

78 Total Recalls
3,763 Total Complaints
0 Investigations
214 Reported Crashes
159 Reported Fires
1 Reported Deaths

BMW 328I - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year Recalls Complaints
2016 1 95 View
2015 4 197 View
2014 8 235 View
2013 5 389 View
2012 6 198 View
2011 7 797 View
2010 6 229 View
2009 6 297 View
2008 5 375 View
2007 6 571 View
2006 3 0 View
2005 1 0 View
2004 1 0 View
2003 1 0 View
2002 1 0 View
2001 3 5 View
2000 7 146 View
1999 7 125 View
1998 0 34 View
1997 (current) 0 29
1996 0 36 View

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5 SERIES 78 557 View