Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 BMW 328i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and made an abnormal sound that worsened over time. The contact pulled over to inspect the vehicle and discovered smoke coming from the engine compartment; moments later the engine compartment engulfed in flames. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System). The vehicle was occupied however, no injuries were sustained and the contact's friend was able to exit the vehicle safely. The fire department came and extinguished the fire however, no report was filed. The police department was also present however, a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not totaled however, the vehicle was not drivable and was towed to an auto repair shop to get a diagnosis. …
The contact owned a 2015 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, and while at a complete stop, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood and through the A/C vents. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the A/C only blew hot air. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the timing belt, the oil gasket, the oil pan, and unknown fuses were replaced; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the A/C vents and from the charging port. The contact stated that the infotainment system then caught on fire. The contact exited the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with two extinguishers and with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire originated in the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was then towed to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an electrical short circuit in the front water pump connector. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a claim was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact owned a 2015 Bmw 328i. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle had caught on fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The fire was in the engine area. The contact used a water hose to extinguish the fire. A fire department report was filed. There was no police report filed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the failure had originated from the driver's side low beam headlight, which had become inoperable. The contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the headlight. The contact removed the bulb from the headlight housing. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated there was a smoky odor coming through the A/C vents upon activating the heat. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was fluid leaking on the ground. Additionally, the message "Engine Overheated, Please Stop Now" was displayed while driving, and smoke was coming from under the hood. The contact pulled over and waited for the engine to cool down. Upon inspection under the hood, the contact discovered a hole in the coolant reservoir, with coolant all over the engine compartment. There was smoke coming from the coolant pump. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the coolant pump and coolant hoses; however, the failure persisted, with the engine overheating and the vehicle failing to accelerate above 60 MPH while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a red light, the message "Drive Moderate Engine High Temperature - Turn off Engine" was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle then lost automotive power, and the contact was forced to pull over onto the side of the road. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, all four tires felt flat, and the vehicle was pulling to the left, with an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The message "Chassis Stabilization" error was displayed on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle needed to be jump-started. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic for a second opinion, and the contact was advised to disconnect the battery after driving the vehicle as a temporary repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the engine was overheating. The contact noticed white smoke coming from under the hood on the passenger's side. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the vehicle. The message "Engine Overheating" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where two independent mobile mechanics diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the water pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 ( ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "turn off engine and do not open hood" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and checked the water reservoir and noticed it was low. The contact filled up the reservoir with water and waited a few minutes. Afterward, the vehicle drove normal. The failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. However, it was not diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that per the recall the remedy was to install a protective shield. The contact asked the dealer to replace the engine coolant pump and connector. However, the dealer refused. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. …
Engine complaints in other 328i years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 BMW 328i?
NHTSA has 63 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 BMW 328i, 50% of the model year's 125 complaints. The component named most often is cooling system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 BMW 328i engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2015 BMW 328i, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2015 BMW 328i engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 7 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.