BMW 328I · model year

2015 BMW 328I

188 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2015BMW328I carries 188 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 13 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2015 328I is electrical system with 51 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (39) and engine (20). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2015 328I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

188
Complaints
9
Crashes
13
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
2015 BMW 328I — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2015 BMW 328I. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 5.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

188 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 5/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM51
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING39
ENGINE20
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19
POWER TRAIN13
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12
SERVICE BRAKES9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING5
STRUCTURE:BODY2
SEAT BELTS2
WHEELS2
SUSPENSION2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
AIR BAGS2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1

Recalls (4)

24V28800024/04/2024

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 42

15V52000017/08/2015

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicl

24V60800013/08/2024

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:PUMP

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 201

24V52700011/07/2024

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo,

Recent Complaints

20260219SERVICE BRAKES

My 2015 BMW 328i has a broken "plastic" parking brake cable bracket. It breaks so often on the BMW lineup of cars that businesses have made better work-arounds to fix the problem than a plastic part. A fantastic video explain it can be found at AGATools.com search BMW parking brake. It is on Youtube as well. When the plastic parking cable holder breaks, which it will, BMW has to lower or remove the gas tank to fix a $5 part...the labor is over $800. The parking brake cable becomes loose and wears on the drive shaft, making noise throughout the cabin, but more importantly will wear and fail over time.

20260116FireENGINE

On November 17, 2025, my 2015 BMW 328i (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while parked, locked, and turned off inside my enclosed residential garage in Irvine, California. The vehicle had been parked for approximately 90 minutes prior to the incident. No flammable materials were stored in or around the vehicle. Responding police and fire personnel identified the vehicle itself as the source of the fire, with ignition originating in the engine bay. The building’s fire sprinkler system activated, and residents were evacuated due to smoke and fire conditions. No injuries occurred, but the incident posed a serious risk to life and property due to the residential setting. The vehicle was a total loss. While the exact technical cause of ignition could not be determined at the scene, first responders confirmed that the fire originated within the vehicle’s engine compartment. BMW of North America was notified of the incident and represented that an inspection would be coordinated. I remained in

20260116FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On November 17, 2025, my 2015 BMW 328i (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while parked, locked, and turned off inside my enclosed residential garage in Irvine, California. The vehicle had been parked for approximately 90 minutes prior to the incident. No flammable materials were stored in or around the vehicle. Responding police and fire personnel identified the vehicle itself as the source of the fire, with ignition originating in the engine bay. The building’s fire sprinkler system activated, and residents were evacuated due to smoke and fire conditions. No injuries occurred, but the incident posed a serious risk to life and property due to the residential setting. The vehicle was a total loss. While the exact technical cause of ignition could not be determined at the scene, first responders confirmed that the fire originated within the vehicle’s engine compartment. BMW of North America was notified of the incident and represented that an inspection would be coordinated. I remained in

20260116FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

On November 17, 2025, my 2015 BMW 328i (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while parked, locked, and turned off inside my enclosed residential garage in Irvine, California. The vehicle had been parked for approximately 90 minutes prior to the incident. No flammable materials were stored in or around the vehicle. Responding police and fire personnel identified the vehicle itself as the source of the fire, with ignition originating in the engine bay. The building’s fire sprinkler system activated, and residents were evacuated due to smoke and fire conditions. No injuries occurred, but the incident posed a serious risk to life and property due to the residential setting. The vehicle was a total loss. While the exact technical cause of ignition could not be determined at the scene, first responders confirmed that the fire originated within the vehicle’s engine compartment. BMW of North America was notified of the incident and represented that an inspection would be coordinated. I remained in

20251031WHEELS

Tire Pressure Monitor failure intermittently reported while driving. The error lights up on the dashboard. Sometimes the TMP resets without my resetting the system. I took the car to the dealer and was told nothing is wrong with the system. The dealer told me to drive the car more frequently. This has happened over the last several years. Driver's door intermittently fails to lock and/or will not open (intermittently) using the interior door latch handle mechanism. The door will unlock using the electronic locking and unlocking switch/button located on the center of the dashboard. The problem would be exiting the vehicle in an emergency without electrical systems functioning. This has happened starting in the first year of purchase - 2017 continuing through 2025.

20251031ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tire Pressure Monitor failure intermittently reported while driving. The error lights up on the dashboard. Sometimes the TMP resets without my resetting the system. I took the car to the dealer and was told nothing is wrong with the system. The dealer told me to drive the car more frequently. This has happened over the last several years. Driver's door intermittently fails to lock and/or will not open (intermittently) using the interior door latch handle mechanism. The door will unlock using the electronic locking and unlocking switch/button located on the center of the dashboard. The problem would be exiting the vehicle in an emergency without electrical systems functioning. This has happened starting in the first year of purchase - 2017 continuing through 2025.

20251025FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2015 BMW 328i xDrive (VIN [XXX] ) experienced an engine-compartment fire that began shortly after coolant sprayed from the front of the vehicle. This incident occurred before BMW’s official recall announcement for NHTSA Campaign 24V-608 / BMW 24V-608:474 (Safety: Engine Coolant Pump Electrical Connector). The fire originated near the coolant pump area, consistent with the recall’s described defect involving electrical shorting and overheating at the pump connector. The vehicle was declared a total loss by my insurance company. I believe this event was caused by the same defect identified in the recall and request that this incident be investigated and documented under campaign 24V-608. Supporting photos and insurance documentation are available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20251025FireENGINE

My 2015 BMW 328i xDrive (VIN [XXX] ) experienced an engine-compartment fire that began shortly after coolant sprayed from the front of the vehicle. This incident occurred before BMW’s official recall announcement for NHTSA Campaign 24V-608 / BMW 24V-608:474 (Safety: Engine Coolant Pump Electrical Connector). The fire originated near the coolant pump area, consistent with the recall’s described defect involving electrical shorting and overheating at the pump connector. The vehicle was declared a total loss by my insurance company. I believe this event was caused by the same defect identified in the recall and request that this incident be investigated and documented under campaign 24V-608. Supporting photos and insurance documentation are available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20251025FirePOWER TRAIN

My 2015 BMW 328i xDrive (VIN [XXX] ) experienced an engine-compartment fire that began shortly after coolant sprayed from the front of the vehicle. This incident occurred before BMW’s official recall announcement for NHTSA Campaign 24V-608 / BMW 24V-608:474 (Safety: Engine Coolant Pump Electrical Connector). The fire originated near the coolant pump area, consistent with the recall’s described defect involving electrical shorting and overheating at the pump connector. The vehicle was declared a total loss by my insurance company. I believe this event was caused by the same defect identified in the recall and request that this incident be investigated and documented under campaign 24V-608. Supporting photos and insurance documentation are available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20250926ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact had been calling the local dealer for several months and was informed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not informed the contact about parts availability. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20250926ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact had been calling the local dealer for several months and was informed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not informed the contact about parts availability. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20250926SERVICE BRAKES

Virtually all parking brake cable attachment clips fail on this BMW product years 2012 to 2019. Complaints are easy to find online. Upon failure, the parking brake cable drops down onto the drive shaft creating a safety hazard for the brake system as well as the drive shaft mechanism. The piece that fails (breaks) costs less than $20, but replacement costs $1200 due to labor intensive access. I have repeatedly contacted BMW of North America, but they refuse to own this serious issue. Even the people at the BMW dealership here are surprised that there has been no recall. Please advise.

20250926POWER TRAIN

Virtually all parking brake cable attachment clips fail on this BMW product years 2012 to 2019. Complaints are easy to find online. Upon failure, the parking brake cable drops down onto the drive shaft creating a safety hazard for the brake system as well as the drive shaft mechanism. The piece that fails (breaks) costs less than $20, but replacement costs $1200 due to labor intensive access. I have repeatedly contacted BMW of North America, but they refuse to own this serious issue. Even the people at the BMW dealership here are surprised that there has been no recall. Please advise.

20250915EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side taillight became inoperable. The taillight intermittently illuminated, creating an inconsistent lighting condition. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness and bulb socket in the driver’s side taillight had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact expressed concerns that the failure posed a significant safety hazard, as a non-functioning taillight increased the risk of a crash. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

20250819ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact was notified 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 made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were 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.

20250819ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact was notified 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 made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were 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.

20250807ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20250807ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2015 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20250731ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the A/C was blowing hot air, and the temperature gauge was rising. Additionally, there was white smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact had received the recall notification from the manufacturer. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that a plastic shield was to be installed on the water pump, but that the shield would not stop the engine from overheating. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure . The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20250731ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the A/C was blowing hot air, and the temperature gauge was rising. Additionally, there was white smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact had received the recall notification from the manufacturer. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that a plastic shield was to be installed on the water pump, but that the shield would not stop the engine from overheating. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure . The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

Compare 2015BMW328I to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2015 BMW 328I have?
The 2015 BMW 328I has 188 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 13 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2015 BMW 328I?
The 2015 BMW 328I received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2015 BMW 328I?
Yes, the 2015 BMW 328I has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW 328I?
The most-complained component for the 2015 BMW 328I is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 51 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and ENGINE.
Is the 2015 BMW 328I safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2015 BMW 328I has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.