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1998 BMW 328I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 BMW 328I are lower than the model-year median of 98.

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 98

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
31
199625
199726
199898
1999112
20004
2001
Compare all 328I years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
5Air Bags
4Power Train
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2
All reported categories
Fuel System, Other
2Service Brakes
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Suspension
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Steering
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

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: 8 of 26 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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 reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2022
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11455158

169,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10786008

165,000 miles · Aug 25, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

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 LIGH…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10537145

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2003
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #10005904

Mileage unknown · May 22, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #706750

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.