KnownCarProblems2015 BMW 328i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 BMW 328i, most often about the engine (50% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is 9th of 12 328i model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2015 BMW 328i problems
Engine
63 complaints · 50%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated…
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 there was smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was…
Electrical
56 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: software, instrument cluster/panel.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated…
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 there was smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was…
Other or unspecified
19 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles.
Rear spoiler malfunction appeared on my screen while I was driving roughly 30 miles per hour, then the rear spoiler began to smoke within 60 seconds. I pulled the car over to park it, and after another 100 seconds, the spoiler caught fire and within 180 more seconds the whole rear of the car was on fire. By this time…
Gran turismo tailgate crashed upon my head without tail warning lights flashing or alarm. No foot kicking to activate the feature was invoked. While parked with the hatch open, I was simply placing groceries into my trunk. The problem is intermittent, and can not be repeated upon demand. I have been able to demo the…
Fuel system
15 complaints · 12%While in motion on an interstate the car suddenly started to sputter and lose momentum. At the same time, a warning alerted US to a "drive train malfunction". Luckily, we were in the lane closest to the side of the road and we were able to limp off the road and out of traffic. The car was towed to the nearest BMW…
While driving on the interstate or over 50 MPH the vehicle will not allow me to give it gas and a "drivetrain malfunction" comes on. The car then goes into limp mode and the engine shakes. The vehicle will not allow me to give it gas and before the "drivetrain malfunction" comes on you can feel the gas or fuel pump…
Transmission
13 complaints · 10%While attempting to pass at approx 50 MPH on a two lane mountain highway, the car suddenly lost power, warning lights and buzzer sounded. The message on screen reported 'drivetrain malfunction, drive moderately'. The car continued to operate, vibrating badly whenever I gave it gas. We limped home, shut it off. Two…
Brakes
9 complaints · 7%Bracket used to hold emergency brake line to panel snapped and now brake line is running up against the drive shaft which could cause cable to snap. This seems to be wear and tear as nothing happened to the vehicle to have this happened. Multiple people have reported this happening to 2014-2016 vehicles and seems to…
Lights
7 complaints · 6%Left brake light malfunction is persistent even after changing the bulb 4 times, also cleaned the contacts and keeps on happening randomly. This happens even if the car is stationary. Numerous forum posts report the same for the f30 engine models
Both high beam and low beam lights on my 2015 BMW 328i, equipped with halogen lights, are extremely dim. This is a significant safety hazard that needs to be addressed
Wheels and tires
3 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: tread/belt.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 3281 equipped with bridgestone turanza el 400 tires, size: 205/50/r17 (na). While at a car wash, a technician informed the contact that the tread was separating from an unknown tire. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was confirmed that the tread separated. The tire was replaced.…
Greetings: we have a 2015 bmw328i which came with continental sport/contact tires installed since new. The vehicle has approximately 26000 miles. During a recent regular maintenance visit it was determined that the tires have become unsafe due to broken/separated cord which has caused the tread to raise unevenly…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 BMW 328i recalls
Electrical: connectors/plugs/receptacles
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on march 28, 2025. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
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, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Fix: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 6, 2024. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
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, and 2015 4 series gran coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Air bags: side/window
Risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed november 4, 2024. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
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, 428i xdrive, 435i, 435i xdrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on october 7, 2015. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at [email protected].
Full defect summary
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 vehicles manufactured june 28, 2013, to april 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd sports wagon vehicles manufactured july 5, 2013, to april 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2015 BMW 328i
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW 328i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (63 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); electrical (56 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); other or unspecified (19 complaints, typically around 22,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 BMW 328i have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 13, 2024 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the BMW 328i?
- It is 9th of 12 328i model years by number of complaints, with 125 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.