Most common 2016 BMW 320i problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 320i complaints by model year
Best 320i years: 2012, 2013, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 BMW 320i:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2016 BMW 320i owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owned a 2016 BMW 320i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught on fire. The vehicle was unoccupied. The contact stated that while walking into the house that she noticed the fuel odor. The contact stated that after entering the residence, the contact walked back out and noticed the vehicle was on fire. The contact noticed the fire coming from the engine hood. The fire department was called. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle and the items in the vehicle were consumed in the fire. The contact stated that the garage, which was attached to the contact's residence, and the items in the garage were consumed in the fire. In addition, the contact stated that the contact's residence was filtered with smoke. The contact stated that, because of the smoke in the contact's residence, the contact was residing in a local hotel. …
The contact owned a 2016 BMW 320i. The contact stated that after driving approximately 28 miles, arriving at her residence to park the vehicle in the garage, and noticed a burning odor. Upon inspection, a fire was coming from underneath the hood. The contact, lacking a fire extinguisher, attempted to use flour to extinguish the fire. However, upon returning, the fire was larger and made a loud noise as it expanded, before quickly reducing in size. The contact called the fire department and began removing items from the vehicle. The contact retreated to a safe distance from the garage where the vehicle was parked and awaited the fire department's arrival. The Fire Department arrived, and the fire had expanded to the garage, and the fire was extinguished. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed and declared a total loss. …
Brakes
Vibration in the brakes heavily at higher speeds when gradually pressing brakes shakes. When pressed harder during shaking goes away with the breaking. Brand new brakes brand new rotors alignment yet the vehicle is still having this issue I'm hoping that the vibration doesn't cause any electronics or braking mechanism not to properly work to me this is a safety concern a safety issue and I'm seeing it pop up a lot I watch video reviews on magazines pros and cons of this vehicle the one thing stayed it was a vibration in the brakes that the reviewer could not answer and he says it wasn't a problem but it has to be a Manufacturing issue. I hope this helps anybody else Only the manufacture can answer this question
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
Air bags
I was involved in a major accident in a 2016 BMW 320i with front and passenger side impact. It was so bad, it pushed back my entire axle, wheels, etc. My driver side nor passenger side airbags failed to deploy. I was traveling 40 miles per hour when hit by another driver who was traveling downhill at or above the same speed. Sos button did not work either. This happened on a city street (intersection). The car is a total loss. I had two minors in the car with me. The message displayed on my dash, etc. Says something about faulty airbags, etc. Collision expert confirmed sensors definitely should have made front and side, curtain airbags deploy. They even another vehicle (same make and year) in their lot with same impact locations- though not as significant/serious- showing all airbags deployed.
Takata recall - a safety recall has not yet been issued for this vehicle and/or its Takata airbag system. Driver of the vehicle was stopped on a two lane highway attempting to take a left hand turn when she was rear ended by another vehicle traveling approximately 55 MPH. After impact, her vehicle traveled across the yellow line, across a southbound lane and off the roadway into a 4 foot ditch. The airbag system failed to deploy both when struck by the other vehicle as well as the impact with the ditch. Driver was injured and taken to emergency room. Passenger in her vehicle was removed by the jaws of life and airlifted for life-threatening injuries.
2016 BMW 320i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 23 / 35 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 23 / 35 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 BMW 320i a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 320i rates use caution: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the 320i at the same age. It is one of the 320i years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 BMW 320i?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline › turbo/supercharger. Next are the brakes (7) and air bags (5).
How many recalls does the 2016 BMW 320i have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2016 BMW 320i. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 320i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. See the full BMW 320i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 BMW 320i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.