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1997 BMW 328I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 BMW 328I are lower than the model-year median of 98.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2017
Electrical SystemCrashInjury

AFTER SEEING YET ANOTHER REAR END COLLISION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION I HAVE HAD IN MIND FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE WE CAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SUCH ACCIDENTS, BY FLASHING THE STOP SIGNALS WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE ON AND THE CAR IS STOPPED ( REQUIRES A SPEED SENSOR, OF COURSE). MANUAL FLASHING ELECTRONICS EXISTS IN E…

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AFTER SEEING YET ANOTHER REAR END COLLISION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION I HAVE HAD IN MIND FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE WE CAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SUCH ACCIDENTS, BY FLASHING THE STOP SIGNALS WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE ON AND THE CAR IS STOPPED ( REQUIRES A SPEED SENSOR, OF COURSE). MANUAL FLASHING ELECTRONICS EXISTS IN EVERY MODERN CAR, BUT IS NOT NORMALLY USED WHEN STOPPED ON THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10980991

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2014
Electrical System

THE LOCKING DEVICE ON A 1997 BMW 328I INTERMITTENTLY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IF IT IS LOCKED WHILE OCCUPIED. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK, WHICH CREATES A HIGH DANGER AND SEVERITY OF RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO CONSUMERS AND/OR USERS OF THE VEHICLE IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEHICLE THAT IS LOCKED. DESPITE K…

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THE LOCKING DEVICE ON A 1997 BMW 328I INTERMITTENTLY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IF IT IS LOCKED WHILE OCCUPIED. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK, WHICH CREATES A HIGH DANGER AND SEVERITY OF RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO CONSUMERS AND/OR USERS OF THE VEHICLE IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEHICLE THAT IS LOCKED. DESPITE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SAFETY RISK, BMW FAILED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT AND ADVISE OR WARN PURCHASERS OR POTENTIAL USERS, INCLUDING THE PURCHASERS, OWNERS AND/OR USERS OF THE SUBJECT 1997 BMW 328I, BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE WARNINGS AND/OR NOTICES OF THE SEVERE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEHICLE THAT IS LOCKED. ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11, 2013, A HOT AND SUNNY DAY, A FEMALE YOUTH WHO WAS AN OCCUPANT OF A 1997 BMW 328I, BECAME TRAPPED IN THE SUBJECT 1997 BMW 328I THAT WAS LOCKED. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE YOUTH TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, AND SHE ULTIMATELY SUCCUMBED TO HEAT STROKE AND DIED WHILE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10567287

50 miles · May 20, 2005
Electrical System

SUDDEN FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL RESULTING IN A SHAKING/VIBRATING VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELLERTING IN CITY TRAFFIC THE CAR CAN LUNGE AND JERK WHILE ACCELLERATING, RESULTING IN UNPREDICTABLE ACCELLERATION. IN CITY TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE IGNITION COILS FOR BMW 3 SERIES CARS AND IT APPEARS THEY FAIL A …

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SUDDEN FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL RESULTING IN A SHAKING/VIBRATING VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELLERTING IN CITY TRAFFIC THE CAR CAN LUNGE AND JERK WHILE ACCELLERATING, RESULTING IN UNPREDICTABLE ACCELLERATION. IN CITY TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE IGNITION COILS FOR BMW 3 SERIES CARS AND IT APPEARS THEY FAIL A LOT, YET THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN! AFTER INVESTIGATING FURTHER IT APPEARS BMW HAS SOME RECALL CAMPAIGNS FOR SOME OF THE NEWER CARS. THEY SUGGEST REPLACING ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW BOSCH MODEL. MY CAR HAS BREMI MODEL COILS (PART NO. F3000-86682) AND THERE IS NO BOSCH SUBSTITUTE ACCORDING TO THE BMW DEALER (PLAZA MOTORS IN ST. LOUIS, MO). I FOUND AN EPA RECALL NUMBER FOR THE BREMI COILS FOR ANOTHER MODEL BMW AT THIS WEB SITE: REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/OTAQ/CERT/RECALL/420B04018.PDF EPA# 2061 IT DESCRIBES AN INTERNAL FAILURE AS FOLLOWS: "BECAUSE OF PRODUCTION PROCESS FAILURES, THE IGNITION COIL OF ONE SUPPLIER (BREMI)MAY HAVE AN INTERNAL INSULATION BREAK-DOWN IN THE PRIMARY ELECTRIC 2121 CIRCUIT, THE SECONDARYELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND/OR A DISRUPTIVE DISCHARGE. REMEDY: BMW HAS DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW IMPROVED VERSION." THE SAME EXACT THING IS HAPPENING TO BMW 3 SERIES CARS. A REVIEW OF BMW FORUMS ON THE INTERNET EXPLAINS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY BY THE DAY. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL CAMPAIGN INITIATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!

NHTSA ODI #10121723

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2001
Back Over PreventionElectrical SystemStructure

WHILE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN VEHICLE, SOMETHING UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATED THE ALARM SYSTEM, DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE, HORN ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #899377

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeats

THERMOSTAT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND RADIATOR TO BLOW. *AK THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND TRIM UNDER THE REAR OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOOSE. *ET

NHTSA ODI #897012

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #608590

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 1999
Electrical System

I PARKED THIS CAR FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE I DROVE IT AT SUNDAY MORNING. AFTER I PARKED FOR AN HOUR LATER IT STARTED ON FIRE BY IT SELF. FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH IS STARTED FROM ENGINE ROOM BETTERY TERMINAL.

NHTSA ODI #702319

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.