1998 BMW 328i

Routine

Owners filed 26 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
000
Service Brakes2
000
Electrical System2
000
Air Bags › Side/Window2
102
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
001
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Suspension › Front1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure › Body › Trunk Lid1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Mar 4, 2022WA

Bought car from third party with rebuilt title 333,000 miles currently and has been recertified by state patrol in 2015. Control cluster says taillight failure, and has issues with not starting. When jump started the car has reduced power with transmission limp mode light. Sometimes light comes on with limp mode, other time no limp mode at all. Have replaced taillights, battery and alternator with no fix. Still having reduced power, have to jump start my car and have a taillight failure. Cars front tires rub when turning even though all parts have clearance. Electrical problems surplus with this car. Everything from the radio, heater, transmission and taillights works intermittently.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 26, 2015169,000 milesFL

THE BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTION IS BAD ON THE LEFT SIDE WHICH RESULTS IN THE BREAK LIGHT NOT TO WORK.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Aug 25, 2013165,000 milesIL

BRAKE LIGHTS WARNING "BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE" KEEPS BEING DISPLAYED ACROSS THE CONTROL PANEL. I CLEAN THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKES LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS DID ILLUMINATE PROPERLY AFTERWARDS, THE WARNING GOES AWAY. THEN THE NEXT TIME I GET IN THE CAR A DAY LATER THE CONTROL SAYS "1 BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE" THEN THE NEXT DAY SAYS "BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE". *TR

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed Aug 25, 2013165,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRUNK OPENED UP. NOW THE TRUNK IS SHUT AND WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2013186,000 milesTX

BRAKE LIGHTS WARNING "BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE" KEEPS BEING DISPLAYED ACROSS THE CONTROL PANEL. I CLEAN THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKES LIGHTS AND THE LIGHTS DID ILLUMINATE PROPERLY AFTERWARDS, THE WARNING GOES AWAY. THEN THE NEXT TIME I GET IN THE CAR A DAY LATER THE CONTROL SAYS "1 BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE" THEN THE NEXT DAY SAYS "BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE". *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Trunk Lid › Lock
Filed Feb 26, 200459,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRUNK OPENED UP. *AK THE LATCH CONTINUED SLIPPING AND THE TRUNK WOULD NOT LOCK. *SC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 11, 2003143,000 milesCA

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 BMW 328I FAILED DUE TO BURNT FLUID AND OXIDATION. BMW PRODUCT LITERATURE CLEAR STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTAINS A "LIFETIME FILL" OF FLUID AND DOES NOT REQUIRE CHANGING. IN ADDITION, BMW DOES NOT INCLUDE A TRANSMISSION SERVICE IN ANY REGULARLY RECOMMENDED SERVICES AND NEVER RECOMMENDS THAT ONE BE PERFORMED. INTERSTING THOUGH, BMW RECOMMENDS THE USE OF DEXRON III/MERCON FLUID FOR THE TRANSMISSION. PRODUCT LITERATURE PUT OUT BY THE MANUFACTURERS OF THESE FLUIDS CLEARLY STATE THAT ALTHOUGH THE FLUID SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN NORMAL FLUID, IT STILL MUST BE CHANGED REGULARLY. EVERY ARTICLE REGARDING TRANSMISSIONS CLEARLY STATES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE SERVICED AND THE FLUID CHANGED REGULARALY. BMW REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND ITS "LIFETIME FILL" CLAIM.*AK

Air Bags › Side/Window1 injured
Filed Sep 23, 2003FL

THE SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY OUT THE AIR BAG DOOR COVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB ON RAINY NIGHT, INSTEAD THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DOWN THE DOOR AND BLEW OFF THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL. INJURES WERE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE DOOR TRIM WHICH FLEW OFF AND HIT THE PASSENGER IN THE RIBS. PHOTOS ATTACHED. A FIELD ENGINEER TOOK PHOTOS AND THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED IN A TRAINING SESSION BEING HELD THERE. *PH *JB

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed May 28, 200366,000 milesMA

1998 BMW 328I - CRASHED GOING 35-40 MPH WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 31, 200354,500 milesMA

NAR 03-31-2003 MR ENGINE GASKET FAILED WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE ENGINE. *CB

Electrical System
Filed Jan 29, 2003MD

THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK FUNCTION IS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 2-3 TIMES, UNABLE TO REPAIR. PH

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 30, 2001FL

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 4 TIMES ALL OF THE 4 TIMES SAME PROBLEM, FUEL EXPENSION TANK PROBLEM. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM REPAIR EACH TIME IT HAPPENS. EVERY SIGNLE TIME, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I HAD A BAD PART INSTALLED NOT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR ITSELF. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE CIRUIT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON 6 TIMES WHILE I WAS IN ATLANTA,GEORGIA LAST YEAR. UPON RETURN TO ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, BERT SMITH BMW FIXED IT. NOW, LAST WEEK THE BRAKE CIRCUIT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME, I AM IN MIAMI, FL AND PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR TO LAUDERDALE IMPORT. LDT./BWM AND THE CAR IS NOT LONGER UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY LIKE THE FIRST TIME. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH THE CAR BECAUS OF MANUFACTURE DEFECTS. THANKS. *AK

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 4, 2000TX

VEHICLE SUSTAINED A DIRECT HIT IN SIDE, BETWEEN BOTH FRONT PASSENGER'S AND REAR PASSENGER'S DOORS, AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BMW HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Power Train
Filed Jul 27, 2000CA

FUEL SENSORS FAILED. GAS GAUGE SHOWED FUEL BUT CAR RAN OUT OF GAS AT FREEWAY SPEED IN RUSHHOUR TRAFFIC. FUES SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. THUS, I DRIVE MY CAR BY THE TRIP ODOMETER AND NOT THE FUEL GAUGE.BMW STATES PROBLEM IS DUE TO GAS IS CALIFORNIA. BMW STATES NOT A MANUFACTURERS' DEFECT.

Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 1, 2000FL

DEALER PICKED UP CAR FOR OIL CHANGE AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT WITHOUT REQUEST OR AUTHORIZATION. SINCE THEN CAR PULLS TO RIGHT. AFTER. *AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1 injured
Filed Jun 16, 1999NY

WINDOW HAS AN AUTOMATIC UPWARD TOLL FEATURE WHICH GOES UP WITH ONE TOUCH ON THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON. BUT IT DID NOT STOP WHEN A FINGER GOT CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW AND WAS CUT OFF. THIS FEATURE IS ON ALL 4 WINDOWS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 22, 1999CA

LITTLE POWER UPON ACCELERATION, THEN CAR SURGES.SAFETY SWITCH IN IGNITION FAILED TO RELEASE KEY WHEN CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK. AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR, NOW INGITION WILL NOT ACCEPT KEY TO GO IN WHEN ATTMPTING TO START THE CAR. HE IGNITION. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

GAS CAP FAILED. *YC

Power Train › Driveline
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

DIFFERENTIAL SEAL FAILED. *YC

Fuel System, Other
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

GAS INDICATOR FAILED. *YC

20 of 26 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201656140Routine
2015124480Routine
2014151820Routine
2013257580Above average
2012130610Routine
20115777250High concern
2010155660Routine
20091936100Routine
20082395220High concern
20073986280High concern
20060300Routine
20050100Do not drive
20040100Do not drive
20030100Do not drive
20020100Do not drive
20014300Do not drive
2000112720Do not drive
199998720Do not drive
1998 — this page26000Routine
199725001Fatalities reported
199631000Routine

Compare every 328i year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.