NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 BMW 320I Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2016 BMW 320I right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 22 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 BMW 320I.

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2016 BMW 320I owner complaints

Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW 320I, describing incidents dated December 2, 2016 to February 3, 2025.

Most-cited components

Engine 7 complaints
Service Brakes 7 complaints
Air Bags 5 complaints
Structure 5 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints

Of the 22 complaints on file, 4 report a crash; across all 22 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11657771 · Filed April 30, 2025
i have previously reported this issue, confirmation #11656013. However, after diagnostic with a Certified BMW Service Center, i wish to follow up and add additional details. My 2016 BMW 320 XI is experiencing an issue with the Turbo Oil Feed Line. This is a known issue, reported under SI B11 11 16…
ODI #11656013 · Filed April 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle after the vehicle had not been driven for a while, there was blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local service center, where it was…
ODI #11648688 · Filed March 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact found information regarding Technical Service Bulletin: SIB 11116 (Engine and Engine Cooling released in July 2017). The vehicle was taken…

Read all 22 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2016 BMW 320I in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2016 BMW 320I right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2016 BMW 320I. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

22 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 BMW 320I.

Engine

ODI #11657771

Incident: February 3, 2025 · Filed: April 30, 2025

i have previously reported this issue, confirmation #11656013. However, after diagnostic with a Certified BMW Service Center, i wish to follow up and add additional details. My 2016 BMW 320 XI is experiencing an issue with the Turbo Oil Feed Line. This is a known issue, reported under SI B11 11 16 on the NHTSA.gov website. i have been told that my specific vehicle / VIN is not included as part of this coverage under the Extended Warranty. However, since my car, N20 Engine is experiencing this specific issue, i am requesting my car be considered to be effected and that it should be included in this extended warranty. i have attached a copy of the Diagnostic / Inspection of my vehicle, dated 4/29/2025

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #11656013

Incident: December 5, 2024 · Filed: April 22, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle after the vehicle had not been driven for a while, there was blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local service center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine oil feed line to the turbocharger was leaking. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to BMW Warranty Extension: SI B11 11 16; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #11648688

Incident: September 17, 2024 · Filed: March 17, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact found information regarding Technical Service Bulletin: SIB 11116 (Engine and Engine Cooling released in July 2017). The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer linked the failure to the Technical Service Bulletin; however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.

Structure

ODI #11621820

Incident: October 24, 2024 · Filed: October 24, 2024

While replacing the battery, the battery well was rusty. If allowed to continue I have no doubt the very heavy battery will fall through to the ground causing an accident and very hazardous materials will spill on the roadway (acids and lead from a ruptured battery).

Air Bags; Structure; Engine

ODI #11527569

Incident: June 18, 2023 · Filed: June 18, 2023

Yes

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11525692

Incident: June 6, 2023 · Filed: June 6, 2023

BMW released a SIB 01 03 22 Plastic Fuel Tank (B58/N20/N55/S55) Ltd Emission Wty Ext To 15 Yrs/150,000 Miles. I have a plastic fuel tank with this problem but the range for the warranty is for models F30 2013 to 2016 320i and xDrive Sedan that are produced between July 02, 2012 to April 30, 2016 . My vehicle was produced on May 2016 but has the same plastic fuel tank. Upon calling BMW north america they said they said they can not make exceptions and there is no escalation path. My point is if the same plastic fuel tank is used for the vehicles with in the warranty date range, why isn't my car covered? It is reasonable for BMW to add my VIN to the exception list.

Electrical System; Service Brakes

ODI #11523884

Incident: May 22, 2023 · Filed: May 25, 2023

The front brakes are locked up and I went to the dealer and they are asking $7000 to replace the dsc module. It was also braking while I was driving on the highway and I got scared and pulled over and checked everything looked okay but i didn’t know what happened. I am glad nobody was behind me when the car (bmw)brakes it self while it was running. I hope you do a further investigation and see what is happening to the bmw brakes. It only had 52139 miles when I send it to bmw of Dallas and they took 3 days to find the problem and told me I need to pay $7000 to replace the dsc module (abs module) I can’t afford to pay that kind of money what do I do

Service Brakes

ODI #11523341

Incident: May 1, 2023 · Filed: May 22, 2023

while driving on the high way while raining the car is braking it self to slow down. and release after it slow down to 40 mph or lower. I also notice my front brake is garbing the brake while driving and it does not release the brake when you release the brake pedal

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11520334

Incident: May 1, 2023 · Filed: May 3, 2023

My right turn signal suddenly stopped working. The BMW dealership diagnosed the problem as the fem module failure.

Engine

ODI #11494195

Incident: January 3, 2022 · Filed: November 18, 2022

When starting a cold engine, a “plume of blue smoke” can be seen emitting from the exhaust tailpipe for approximately 10-20 seconds. There is no engine malfunction light illuminated (no” turbocharger boost faults are stored) and no drivability issues are detected.

Other BMW 320I model years

Check your 2016 BMW 320I VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 320I at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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