2010 BMW 328i Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
  2

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  49%
• 50k–75k
  817%
• 75k–100k
  715%
• 100k–150k
  1839%
• 150k+
  920%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 BMW 328i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a burning odor was detected and there was smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with an unknown failure. The mechanic informed the contact that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

2010 328i bmw That I own. Vehicle will not start. I had to leave it where it sits as we speak at my baby mamas apartment complex in Lacey Washington. Very dangerous and strong smell a burning smell I am finally after getting the trunk open come to find out that my battery was more than just "smoldering" and the positive terminal was melted all the way to the point where we panic and I had to disconnect it because it was red hot actually the bolts are melted together im sure and probably won't be coming apart. I had to leave my key in the ignition and I left the car there after speaking to the apartment complex managers asking them not to do it. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine and check ignition warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power and was able to coast to the side of the road as the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but after several failed attempts the vehicle failed to start. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was misdiagnosed. The contact stated that several parts were replaced, including a new radiator hose, a new water pump, and several unknown sensors. The failure reoccurred and became persistent. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be towed to the residence three times. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was notified of the issue and scheduled an appointment for vehicle inspection. During the repair, the contact was informed that four bolts in the engine had fractured and that the part could not be repaired due to potential engine damage that could lead to an engine fire. The contact stated that upon return of the vehicle, an abnormally loud whistling sound was coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed back to the dealer the next day where it remained in dealer possession. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact had received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), 17V676000 (Electrical System), and 17V683000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer in June 2026. The contact later received a phone call on June 23, 2026, and was informed that the vehicle was ready to be retrieved. The contact went to the dealer; however, while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine seized. The contact informed the dealer of the issue with the vehicle and that the engine had seized. The vehicle was left at the dealer. The contact received a call from the dealer on August 17, 2026. The contact was informed that the engine had failed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle was idling rough and occasionally, the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but was more frequent. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. While the vehicle was idling, the RPM was fluctuating between 800 - 1,000 RPM. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was a failure with the VANOS valve timing system. The contact was informed that the VANOS valve timing system needed to be replaced. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle coasted to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 25 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with three detached VANOS bolts. The contact was informed that the VANOS bolts needed to be replaced. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000. …

The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there was a rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with starter failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was informed that the rattling sound was related to an engine issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received the notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Related recalls

Engine complaints in other 328i years