Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2011 BMW 328I
NHTSA data on file today
The 2011 BMW 328I has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 579 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V513000 Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V017000 Driver Air Bag Inflators May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V683000 PCV Heater may Short Circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V676000 Blower Motor Wiring may Overheat NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V176000 Camshaft Housing Bolts May Loosen causing Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V044000 Loss of Electrical Power/Stalling NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V476000 FRONT DRIVESHAFT BOLTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 194 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 175 complaints
- Electrical System 130 complaints
- Air Bags 91 complaints
- Unknown or Other 43 complaints
- Power Train 24 complaints
Of the 579 complaints on file, 19 report a crash and 26 a fire; across all 579 complaints, owners report 19 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2011 BMW 328i shows a below-average reliability, with 577 NHTSA complaints and 7 recalls, primarily involving engine, electrical, and airbag issues. This data suggests potential high maintenance costs. However, the evidence lacks precision in failure frequencies.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $2,000–$6,000 | common |
| electrical system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $1,500–$4,500 | common |
| airbags | Unknown | $500–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant flush and fill
- Spark plug replacement
- Transmission fluid service
- Drive belt inspection
- Air conditioning service
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires or rough idle
- Electrical issues or warnings
- Air bag warning lights
- Overheating or coolant leaks
- Transmission slipping or noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2011 BMW 328I at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.