BMW 328d

Where it stands out against its peers

• Fuel/propulsion system: more complaints than 98% of 2014 cars — 31% of its 151 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 6%.
• Fuel system: more complaints than 99% of 2014 cars — 17% of its 151 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 2%.
• Diesel: more complaints than 99% of 2014 cars — 15% of its 151 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 0%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ENGINE — 32 owners reported this, 3 involving a fire
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 26 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL — 21 owners reported this, 2 involving a fire
• ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 13 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN — 9 owners reported this
• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — 3 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• STRUCTURE — 3 owners reported this
• SERVICE BRAKES — 2 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

27% of 2018 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 15V520000

  If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

  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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

• 18V755000

  The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

• 20V185000

  A loss of power to the rear wheels can affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the vehicle is parked after a loss of power to the rear wheels and the parking brake is not engaged, unintended rollaway can occur, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the constant-velocity joint and inspect the transfer case, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

• 21V586000

  Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

• 21V907000

  A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.

  Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

• 24V288000

  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.

  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.

• 24V527000

  An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.

  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.

• 25V700000

  Smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold increase the risk of a fire.

  Dealers will replace the EGR cooler, inspect and replace the intake manifold, if necessary, and clean the EGR pipe connecting the cooler to the manifold, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 5, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 5, 2025. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V907.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• High pressure fuel pump failure

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2023, still open.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

BMW filed 87 bulletins about the 2018 328d.

• Equipment: 23
• Electrical system: 19
• Engine and engine cooling: 18
• Engine: 4
• Equipment adaptive/mobility: 3
• Fuel system, gasoline: 3
• Steering: 3
• Communication: 2
• Seats: 2
• Service brakes, hydraulic: 2
• Other: 8

• N47/n57 diesel engine egr cooler revised ext ltd wty(elw) coverage/procedure · September 2025
• The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 25 years without mileage limit as determined from the original first… · August 2025
• The vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on. The following fault codes may be stored in the DDE: 24CE00 Hot film air mass meter: Ratio of measured to calculated… · February 2024
• The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. · February 2024
• The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers… · February 2024
• Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt… · December 2023
• Pressure control valve (pcv) extended ltd wty 15 years/150,000 miles · December 2023
• Diesel fuel injectors: ltd wty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles · December 2023

79 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.