NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 BMW 328I Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 BMW 328I right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 26 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 BMW 328I.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1998 BMW 328I owner complaints

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 BMW 328I, describing incidents dated November 16, 1997 to March 4, 2022.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 5 complaints
Air Bags 4 complaints
Service Brakes 4 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Power Train 3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints

Of the 26 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 26 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11455158 · Filed March 4, 2022
Bought car from third party with rebuilt title 333,000 miles currently and has been recertified by state patrol in 2015. Control cluster says taillight failure, and has issues with not starting. When jump started the car has reduced power with transmission limp mode light. Sometimes light comes on…
ODI #10786008 · Filed October 26, 2015
THE BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTION IS BAD ON THE LEFT SIDE WHICH RESULTS IN THE BREAK LIGHT NOT TO WORK.
ODI #10537146 · Filed August 25, 2013
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRUNK OPENED UP. NOW THE TRUNK IS SHUT AND WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. *TR

Read all 26 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 BMW 328I 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 1998 BMW 328I. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

26 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 BMW 328I.

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control; Service Brakes

ODI #11455158

Incident: March 4, 2022 · Filed: March 4, 2022

Bought car from third party with rebuilt title 333,000 miles currently and has been recertified by state patrol in 2015. Control cluster says taillight failure, and has issues with not starting. When jump started the car has reduced power with transmission limp mode light. Sometimes light comes on with limp mode, other time no limp mode at all. Have replaced taillights, battery and alternator with no fix. Still having reduced power, have to jump start my car and have a taillight failure. Cars front tires rub when turning even though all parts have clearance. Electrical problems surplus with this car. Everything from the radio, heater, transmission and taillights works intermittently.

Electrical System

ODI #10786008

Incident: May 27, 2015 · Filed: October 26, 2015

THE BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTION IS BAD ON THE LEFT SIDE WHICH RESULTS IN THE BREAK LIGHT NOT TO WORK.

Structure

ODI #10537146

Incident: August 6, 2013 · Filed: August 25, 2013

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRUNK OPENED UP. NOW THE TRUNK IS SHUT AND WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. *TR

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10537145

Incident: August 6, 2013 · Filed: August 25, 2013

BRAKE LIGHTS WARNING "BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE" KEEPS BEING DISPLAYED ACROSS THE CONTROL PANEL. I CLEAN THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKES LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS DID ILLUMINATE PROPERLY AFTERWARDS, THE WARNING GOES AWAY. THEN THE NEXT TIME I GET IN THE CAR A DAY LATER THE CONTROL SAYS "1 BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE" THEN THE NEXT DAY SAYS "BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE". *TR

Service Brakes

ODI #10495249

Incident: July 19, 2012 · Filed: January 30, 2013

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10055670

Incident: January 22, 2004 · Filed: February 26, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRUNK OPENED UP. *AK THE LATCH CONTINUED SLIPPING AND THE TRUNK WOULD NOT LOCK. *SC

Power Train

ODI #10049606

Incident: October 14, 2003 · Filed: December 11, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 BMW 328I FAILED DUE TO BURNT FLUID AND OXIDATION. BMW PRODUCT LITERATURE CLEAR STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTAINS A "LIFETIME FILL" OF FLUID AND DOES NOT REQUIRE CHANGING. IN ADDITION, BMW DOES NOT INCLUDE A TRANSMISSION SERVICE IN ANY REGULARLY RECOMMENDED SERVICES AND NEVER RECOMMENDS THAT ONE BE PERFORMED. INTERSTING THOUGH, BMW RECOMMENDS THE USE OF DEXRON III/MERCON FLUID FOR THE TRANSMISSION. PRODUCT LITERATURE PUT OUT BY THE MANUFACTURERS OF THESE FLUIDS CLEARLY STATE THAT ALTHOUGH THE FLUID SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN NORMAL FLUID, IT STILL MUST BE CHANGED REGULARLY. EVERY ARTICLE REGARDING TRANSMISSIONS CLEARLY STATES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE SERVICED AND THE FLUID CHANGED REGULARALY. BMW REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND ITS "LIFETIME FILL" CLAIM.*AK

Air Bags

ODI #10039864

1 injury

Filed: September 23, 2003

THE SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY OUT THE AIR BAG DOOR COVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB ON RAINY NIGHT, INSTEAD THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DOWN THE DOOR AND BLEW OFF THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL. INJURES WERE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE DOOR TRIM WHICH FLEW OFF AND HIT THE PASSENGER IN THE RIBS. PHOTOS ATTACHED. A FIELD ENGINEER TOOK PHOTOS AND THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED IN A TRAINING SESSION BEING HELD THERE. *PH *JB

Air Bags

ODI #10020646

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: May 23, 2003 · Filed: May 28, 2003

1998 BMW 328I - CRASHED GOING 35-40 MPH WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10014766

Incident: March 10, 2003 · Filed: March 31, 2003

NAR 03-31-2003 MR ENGINE GASKET FAILED WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE ENGINE. *CB

Other BMW 328I model years

Check your 1998 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.

Check a BMW VIN