1996 BMW 328i Recalls
No NHTSA recalls on record for the 1996 BMW 328i. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Complaints by component
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 bmw 328i. He stated that the horn did not work and noticed that the wires were cut in the steering column and under the hood. He stated that he purchased the clockspring, but it was not compatible with the steering wheel. The current mileage was 97,120 and the…”
“Power lock actuators on vehicle fail repeatedly. Between 2000 and 2003, three power lock actuators failed on vehicle (both rear doors and front passenger door). Sometimes the actuators get stuck in the locked position, sometimes unlocked. Walked away from vehicle with an unlocked door on several…”
“I have a 328i bmw, and the information in the owners manual states that you never need to change the transmission fluid yet on the day in question my transmission began to stall and jerk. I than called my mechanic who I informed of this trouble, he then informed me to bring the car to him to…”
“The brakes failed on the vehicle. *jb”
“Air bag light has come on and has stayed on. After contacting dealer, dealer noted that air bags may not deploy in an accident.*ak *scc”
“Interior lock located on all four doors. Will lock ppassenger in inside of doors without prior warning. Dealership is aware of problem.*ak”
“Vehicle self diagnoistics provides engine check light warning. Diagnoistic code indicates "low emissions efficiency". Dealer read code and reported the catalytic converter needs to be replaced. Factory warranty expired at 80,000 miles so it was not covered. Replacement costs estimated at $1330.…”
“Vehicle self diagnoistics provides engine check light warning. Diagnoistic code indicates "low emissions efficiency". Dealer read code and reported the catalytic converter needs to be replaced. Factory warranty expired at 80,000 miles so it was not covered. Replacement costs estimated at $1330.…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 BMW 328i as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.