1998 BMW 328I problems
NHTSA has received 34 complaints about the 1998 BMW 328I, and 15% of them involve electrical system. After that come air bags (12%) and brakes (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 34 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 165,000 miles 10 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 10 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 165,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 5 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 14th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the BMW 328I with enough data (19 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle sustained a direct hit in side, between both front passenger's and rear passenger's doors, and side air bags did not deploy. BMW has been contacted.
Window has an automatic upward toll feature which goes up with one touch on the power window button. But it did not stop when a finger got caught in the window and was cut off. This feature is on all 4 windows. Please provide further information.
The side air bag failed to deploy out the air bag door cover, when the vehicle hit a curb on rainy night, instead the air bag deployed down the door and blew off the entire door panel. Injures were caused as a result of the door trim which flew off and hit the passenger in the ribs. Photos attached. A field engineer took photos and the vehicle was being used in a training session being held there.
The automatic transmission in my 1998 BMW 328I failed due to burnt fluid and oxidation. BMW product literature clear states that the transmission contains a "lifetime fill" of fluid and does not require changing. In addition, BMW does not include a transmission service in any regularly recommended services and never recommends that one be performed. Intersting though, BMW recommends the use of dexron iii/mercon fluid for the transmission.
While driving at any speed and without any warning the trunk opened up. The latch continued slipping and the trunk would not lock.