2016 BMW 328i Engine Problems

27 owners have reported engine & cooling problems with the 2016 BMW 328i to NHTSA — 47% of all 57 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 78,000 miles. That ranks #10 of 16 328i model years for engine complaints (a typical year has 63). No engine recall has been issued for this model year.

27complaints
78ktypical miles
0related recalls
3crashes
3fires
3injuries

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    338%
  • 25k–50k
    00%
  • 50k–75k
    00%
  • 75k–100k
    225%
  • 100k–150k
    225%
  • 150k+
    113%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 BMW 328i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 328I. The contact stated that after parking and turning the vehicle off, moments later the front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, a bystander who attempted to extinguish the flames was treated by EMS at the scene for headaches and smoke inhalation. A fire report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

180,000 miles · Oct 2023 · fire · 1 injury

I was at a red light while driving my car.When I stepped on the gas once the light turned green the car stalled and started jerking i immediately smelled smoked and seen smoke coming through the cabin..lt made a strange sound from the engine The service engine light came on and said reduced engine power/ drive train malfunction get service immediately.I was able to coast the car to a curb luckily in front of a car shop as soon as i can get out of the car a worker from the shop ran outside yelling your car is on fire! We lift the hood and he had a water hose on the side of the shop he then sprayed the area of the fire and it was put out.I have kept regular routine maintenance on the car no prior signs of car malfunctioning or service engine light on no warning at all this was unexpected.This occurred February 8th 2022 I had the vehicle towed to my local Firestone auto care and they said …

Feb 2022 · fire

The contact owns a 2016 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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started decelerating unintendedly, with the message "Engine Hot - Stop Driving" was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the highway and waited for an hour for the engine to cool down, before restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. There were no fault codes retrieved, and the contact was referred to the local dealer for assistance. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle but found no cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact linked the failure to the recall. …

133,000 miles · Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2016 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 upon driving and coming to a stop, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle, and there was smoke coming front the A/C vents. The contact stated that a passenger who was occupying the front passenger's side seat and became aware of the abnormal burning odor. There was no warning light illuminated. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

115,000 miles · May 2024

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 328I. The contact stated that an abnormal, coolant odor would emit throughout her vehicle without warning while driving at various speeds. As the failure persisted, a heavy, white smoke began to emit from the tailpipe with the check engine warning light on the instrument panel. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed her that there were no recalls on her vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

75,000 miles · Jun 2019

known what failed the entire car was on fire= if there was no one near by it could have consumed more cars/buildings it has been inspected by BMW of north america and Geico the car was overheating the night before and had a check engine light. it was taken to the shop immediately and the fire started within less than 24 hours of the initial symptoms occurring.

Jul 2023 · fire

Subject: Urgent: Ongoing Recall Issue Dear NHTSA, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my concern regarding the ongoing recall for my vehicle, which has remained unresolved for over three months. Despite the recall being officially opened, I have not received any updates or a timeline for the necessary repairs, and I am feeling increasingly unsafe driving my car in its current condition. I would greatly appreciate it if you could investigate why the repairs are taking so long and provide me with any information regarding the status of the recall. Additionally, if there are any temporary measures I can take to ensure my safety while I wait for the repairs, please let me know. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2016 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 made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2016 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 unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. 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 contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Mar 2025

The contact owns a 2016 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 unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. 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 contact had not experienced a failure.

Sep 2025

Engine complaints in other 328i years

’96’97’98’99’00’01’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’1663218210086668636471133586327
Engine complaints per model year, BMW 328i.

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2016 BMW 328i?

NHTSA has 27 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2016 BMW 328i, 47% of the model year's 57 complaints.

Is there a recall for 2016 BMW 328i engine problems?

No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2016 BMW 328i, though it has 1 recall 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 2016 BMW 328i engine problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 3 crashes, 3 fires and 3 injuries 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.