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.
1998 BMW 328i
Owners filed 26 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags › Side/Window | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Suspension › Front | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body › Trunk Lid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsTHE BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTION IS BAD ON THE LEFT SIDE WHICH RESULTS IN THE BREAK LIGHT NOT TO WORK.
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
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
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
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
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
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
1998 BMW 328I - CRASHED GOING 35-40 MPH WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NAR 03-31-2003 MR ENGINE GASKET FAILED WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE ENGINE. *CB
THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK FUNCTION IS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER 2-3 TIMES, UNABLE TO REPAIR. PH
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
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
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.
DEALER PICKED UP CAR FOR OIL CHANGE AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT WITHOUT REQUEST OR AUTHORIZATION. SINCE THEN CAR PULLS TO RIGHT. AFTER. *AK
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
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
GAS CAP FAILED. *YC
DIFFERENTIAL SEAL FAILED. *YC
GAS INDICATOR FAILED. *YC
20 of 26 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2011| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 56 | 1 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2015 | 124 | 4 | 8 | 0 | Routine |
| 2014 | 151 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2013 | 257 | 5 | 8 | 0 | Above average |
| 2012 | 130 | 6 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2011 | 577 | 7 | 25 | 0 | High concern |
| 2010 | 155 | 6 | 6 | 0 | Routine |
| 2009 | 193 | 6 | 10 | 0 | Routine |
| 2008 | 239 | 5 | 22 | 0 | High concern |
| 2007 | 398 | 6 | 28 | 0 | High concern |
| 2006 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2001 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 2000 | 112 | 7 | 2 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 1999 | 98 | 7 | 2 | 0 | Do not drive |
| 1998 — this page | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1997 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1996 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
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.