Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2015 | 2 | 2% | 30,000 miles |
| 2014 | 7 | 5% | 60,000 miles |
| 2013 | 8 | 3% | 45,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% | 30,000 miles |
| 2011 | 11 | 2% | 68,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% | 17,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% | 70,000 miles |
| 2008 | 7 | 3% | 90,000 miles |
| 2007 | 18 | 5% | 93,000 miles |
| 2000 | 31 | 28% | 118,000 miles |
| 1999 | 11 | 11% | 71,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 4% | 165,000 miles |
| 1997 | 4 | 16% | — |
| 1996 | 3 | 10% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? + AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN HEAD-ON COLLISION How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? + DUE TO FAILURE, DRIVER SUSTAINED MILD CONCUSSION WHEN HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL AND PUT AT RISK OF LIFE THREATENING INJURY AND IMPAIRMENT Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? + UNKNOWN; HOWEVER, NO RECALL OR WARNINGS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? + UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? + NO, NONE, NEVER
The sunroof of my 2014 BMW 328i sedan exploded while driving on a highway at 75mph. The explosion sounded like a gunshot or a truck tire exploding. Thankfully I kept control of the car and the pull shield was closed preventing a majority of the glass from raining down on me and my passenger. We did pull over to the side of the highway were a witness described the glass as exploding up and sliding down the back of the car. Glass was found in the trunk crevasse of the car and inside the vehicle. Next, we proceeded to a safe location off the freeway and found the sunroof glass to have a hole in the center. The remaining glass was protruding upwards in a convex shape. To note, I did not have cars in front me during the explosion so no direct impact from a rock or other debris. My dealership has the car for inspection and repair. A claim with my insurance has been submitted. …
Passenger door lock failed and does not allow the door to be opened in an emergency. The door is designed to be unlocked by the first pull of the door handle then unlatched with the second pull of the handle, however after the first handle pull the lock immediately locks again preventing the second pull from unlatching the door. The system would be available for inspection. This problem has been reproduced and confirmed by manufacturer's dealer, but has not been inspected The electric door lock actuator had failed about a year ago, but still allowed the door lock to be used manually without any disruption to being able to open the door.
Car involved in rear end collision and car caught fire and burned up. Air bags did not deploy. Car was in slow motion approaching a stop light when hit in rear . Road conditions sunny and dry. My car was pushed into car in front causing more damage. Accident occurred in illinois 159 in glen carbon,ill.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact then stated that he noticed that the front passenger's side interior door handle disintegrated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the door handle melted and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the local dealer was notified of the recall notice and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall repair however, the contact was advised to call the manufacturer. The contact was concerned that touching the door handle could cause harm to a passenger touching the door handle and could catch fire. The vehicle was not repaired. …
While driving at city speed limit the headlights started flicking on-off very difficult to see in the dark. I pulled over to the side of the road for safety but now realized the turn signals not working and also the hazard lights are not working either. I was in a very dangerous situation sitting on the side of the road without any warning light on. Not only for mine safety but also dangerous for other drivers passing by without seen my car in the dark. Its due to well known BMW FOOTWELL MODULE that has high failure incidents rate but BMW refused not to do a recall. Since this a safety issue NHTSA should request BMW to do a recall instead of just extended the warranty to 10/150K miles which my car is not qualify for. I've contacted BMW customer care but they refused to offer any assistance. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 BMW 328i. The contact stated that leather covering on the front passengers door handle melted. The vehicle was taken to the autobahn BMW fort worth, located at 2828 white settlement rd, fort worth, tx 76107, where the contact was told that there was no recall for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000. The VIN was not provided.
Driving down I-25 at 75 mpg on May 28 near berthoud, colorado my sunroof exploded. No trucks nearby. Normal traffic. Weather was about 70 deg f. No rain or hail. Luckily the slider was closed, otherwise we'd be covered in glass. The cars behind me were covered in glass, as was the road. Seems it's happened to a few BMW cars lately across the globe.
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 328i years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (31), 2007 (18), 1999 (11), 2011 (11) and 2013 (8) model years. Body complaints make up 28% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for BMW 328i body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any BMW 328i model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do BMW 328i body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (58 mentions), followed by the frame and members (26).
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.