Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 8 | 14% | 25,000 miles |
| 2015 | 9 | 7% | 43,000 miles |
| 2014 | 21 | 14% | 56,000 miles |
| 2013 | 31 | 12% | 7,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% | 108,000 miles |
| 2011 | 8 | 1% | 27,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2009 | 3 | 2% | 104,000 miles |
| 2008 | 7 | 3% | 44,000 miles |
| 2007 | 6 | 2% | 75,000 miles |
| 2000 | 2 | 2% | 53,000 miles |
| 1999 | 8 | 8% | 30,000 miles |
| 1998 | 4 | 15% | 186,000 miles |
| 1996 | 1 | 3% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Need to recall as it is Common Knowledge among the BMW technicians that these vehicles are plagued with hazard of Parking / Emergency Break line clip breaking and for the line contacting the rotating drive shaft. The holding clip Mfg Part # 34406854898 breaks regularly ! the plastic parking brake retaining clip (BMW part # 34 40 6 854 898) deforms due to age/heat. The cable guide does not hold the cable in place anymore and Hazardously starts to rub against the rotating driveshaft, causing the Emergency parking lines which makes a noise that and sounds like coming from the center console. This is endangering the occupants, and also it is very costly replacement with the same plastic part again. This is such a prevalent issue that there are alternative clips being sold to replace for this manufactures omission of quality: [redacted] also there are videos on this [redacted]
The clip holding the emergency brake line is made out of plastic and mine broke (which I found out is common with these cars). When this happens, it rubs on the driveshaft which can wear through and sever the emergency brake line. This is a very dangerous situation and easily be avoided if BMW used a metal part vs. the current, plastic flimsy one.
I drove my car to a parking garage yesterday. As I was pulling into a parking spot slowly, my car started to accelerate. I then pressed the brake pedal harder and the car went faster. The car stopped by hitting the wall in front. All airbags came out. The police came for the investigation. The car was not functioning so the police called the towing company to remove my car. No one was hurt, except some scratches and bruises on the face, chest and legs. No damage to the wall. But there is enough damage to my car so that the insurance company is deciding whether it has been totaled. I found online posts that people reported similar situations with the same model car (BMW328i). It could be related to accelerator module defects based on the online posts.
Reporting very dangerous sudden unintended acceleration of 2015 BMW 328i: When about to back out of a parking space in a parking garage, I pressed the brakes and turned on the ignition switch. After looking around to ensure no cars or people were near the car, I put the gear shift in reverse, turned my whole head entirely over my right shoulder to look through the back windshield and, seeing nothing behind me, began to slowly lift my foot from the brake to reverse out of the parking space. I turned the steering wheel towards the left and the back of the car went to the left. The bumper gently tapped a white column that had been out of sight all the way further over my right shoulder. I gently pressed on the brake, and when I switched the gear shift into drive, the car suddenly and explosively accelerated forward extremely fast and sped out of control. …
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel locked up not allowing the contact to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated the chassis stabilization warning light was illuminated on the control panel. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it has yet to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 13V454000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
I went to park my mom's car. Tapped the brakes, moved up a little, tapped the brakes again-the brakes gave out and the car lunged forward at a high speed. The only reason I stopped was because a metal fence stopped me. Earlier in the day the car switched modes by itself from Sport to Economy. This is the 2nd time this has happened in this car. The first time my mom was parking in her driveway and the brakes gave out and the car lunged into her garage. This car is not safe.
I stated on another form about my other safety issue. My son was in an accident in 2013 328I xdrive this website states this vehicle does not have an open recall or any recalls on it. I say bull crap not only did my son lose break, accessibility and crash into a tree doing 54 miles an hour. He also had the airbags deploy and burned him. Air bag dust literally ate right through his pants. I still have the severely burned up his hands We purchased this vehicle for Son last year, because BMWs are known to be safe. My 16-year-old son was almost killed in his car because of BMWs negligence.
Driver was driving on a clear road on a straight level Road went to go make a turn as he tried to break the car would not break, causing him to skid and slam into a culvert and hit a tree resulting in a concussion
Related recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. It is possible that the retaining clip that secures the brake booster pushrod to the brake pedal arm was not properly installed during production. It is possible for the clip to detach from the pin on the brake pedal arm allowing the pushrod to disconnect from the arm.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the clip for tight installation and replace the clip if it is loose.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of power assist braking
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft…
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 328i years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (31), 2014 (21), 2015 (9), 1999 (8) and 2011 (8) model years. Brake complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for BMW 328i brake problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 14V-627 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Oct 7, 2014); 13V-454 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Sep 26, 2013); 99V-100 (pedals and linkages, May 3, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do BMW 328i brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles; 69% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5 mentions), followed by the pedals and linkages (2).
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.