NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 BMW 328I Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1996 BMW 328I right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 31 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 BMW 328I, plus NCAP crash-test ratings.

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1996 BMW 328I owner complaints

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 BMW 328I, describing incidents dated June 1, 1996 to June 7, 2007.

Most-cited components

Engine 6 complaints
Electrical System 4 complaints
Power Train 4 complaints
Air Bags 3 complaints
Exterior Lighting 3 complaints
Structure 3 complaints

Of the 31 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 31 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10199955 · Filed August 17, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW 328I. HE STATED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE CUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. HE STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE CLOCKSPRING, BUT IT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,120 AND THE APPROXIMATE…
ODI #10066535 · Filed April 20, 2004
POWER LOCK ACTUATORS ON VEHICLE FAIL REPEATEDLY. BETWEEN 2000 AND 2003, THREE POWER LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON VEHICLE (BOTH REAR DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR). SOMETIMES THE ACTUATORS GET STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, SOMETIMES UNLOCKED. WALKED AWAY FROM VEHICLE WITH AN UNLOCKED DOOR ON SEVERAL…
ODI #10021514 · Filed June 12, 2003
I HAVE A 328I BMW, AND THE INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT YOU NEVER NEED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID YET ON THE DAY IN QUESTION MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO STALL AND JERK. I THAN CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO I INFORMED OF THIS TROUBLE, HE THEN INFORMED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO HIM TO CHECK…

Read all 31 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1996 BMW 328I right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

1996 BMW 3-Series (328i) 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

31 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 BMW 328I.

Electrical System

ODI #10199955

Incident: June 7, 2007 · Filed: August 17, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BMW 328I. HE STATED THAT THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE CUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE HOOD. HE STATED THAT HE PURCHASED THE CLOCKSPRING, BUT IT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,120 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96720.

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10066535

Incident: September 2, 2003 · Filed: April 20, 2004

POWER LOCK ACTUATORS ON VEHICLE FAIL REPEATEDLY. BETWEEN 2000 AND 2003, THREE POWER LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON VEHICLE (BOTH REAR DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR). SOMETIMES THE ACTUATORS GET STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, SOMETIMES UNLOCKED. WALKED AWAY FROM VEHICLE WITH AN UNLOCKED DOOR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE DISCOVERING PROBLEM. IN ONE CASE (FRONT PASS. DOOR), DOOR LOCK WAS EVEN DIFFICULT (BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE) TO OPERATE MANUALLY: THIS WAS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, MAKING ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT.

Power Train

ODI #10021514

Incident: June 10, 2003 · Filed: June 12, 2003

I HAVE A 328I BMW, AND THE INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT YOU NEVER NEED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID YET ON THE DAY IN QUESTION MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO STALL AND JERK. I THAN CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO I INFORMED OF THIS TROUBLE, HE THEN INFORMED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO HIM TO CHECK. I NEED TO ALSO TELL THAT THIS AUTOMOBILE DOES NOT HAVE A DIP STICK SO THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL IF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS GOING BAD PRIOR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME. WHEN I CALL BMW THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY ONLY WARRANTY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND NOT THE TRANSMISSION, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE TRANSMISSION ONLY OPERATES CORRECTLY WHEN THE FLUID IS RIGHT. IN CONCLUSION I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SUCH CASES REPORTED AND IF SO WHAT IS MY COURSE OF ACTION IF ANY. THANK YOU. *JB

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10020182

Filed: May 20, 2003

FOR THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE PLATE LIGHTS. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10020180

Incident: May 20, 2003 · Filed: May 20, 2003

THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

Air Bags

ODI #8013854

Incident: July 2, 2002 · Filed: July 15, 2002

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. AFTER CONTACTING DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK *SCC

Structure

ODI #8013100

Incident: June 1, 2002 · Filed: July 1, 2002

INTERIOR LOCK LOCATED ON ALL FOUR DOORS. WILL LOCK PPASSENGER IN INSIDE OF DOORS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Power Train

ODI #8000776

Incident: December 1, 2001 · Filed: December 17, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH HAD GONE BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Power Train

ODI #899479

Incident: April 1, 2001 · Filed: November 27, 2001

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH WAS DEFFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Unknown or Other

ODI #868551

Filed: August 24, 2000

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROLBEM 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Other BMW 328I model years

Check your 1996 BMW 328I VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 328I at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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