2016 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 93 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 10th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 12 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 11 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: engine
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 26, 2021
Car is smoking when starting upon looking up this is a common issue with my 2016 bmw 328i m sport. From what I have been reading bmw knows of the issue and made a change to the part but are making customers come out of pocket to buy the updated part and pay for the repair.
Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 30, 2021, crash
ON MARCH 22, 2021, I WAS PARKING MY 2016 BMW GRAN TURISMO 328X AT A PARKING GARAGE. II HAD COMPLETED THE INITIAL TURN-IN, WHEN THE CAR FELT LIKE THE ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR WENT FROM APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AN HOUR TO ABOUT 20 MPH IN THE LENGTH OF A PARKING SPOT. THE CAR HIT THE CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD ON, WITH THE SIDE CURTAIN, STEERING WHEEL AND LEG AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THE CAR WAS FULLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED BY THE BMW DEALER WITH BRAND NEW TIRES. IT HAD ABOUT 78K MILES ON IT. THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING DID NOT GO OFF NOR DID THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING OCCUR. I ASKED THE REPAIR FACILITY TO CHECK OUT WHY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, BUT WAS TOLD THAT ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND THAT THE CAR WAS TOTALED ANYWAY. I DID NOT PRESS THE ACCELERATOR 'ACCIDENTALLY'. I HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF DRIVERS TRAINING AND EVASIVE MANUVERING BECAUSE OF MY JOB AND DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES LIKE THAT. I AM GRATEFUL THAT NO ONE OTHER THAN I WAS HURT AND THAT THERE WAS THE CONCRETE BARRIER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT MADE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED AS THERE WAS MORE THAN 15K DAMAGE. USAA HAS THE CAR.
Power train, Engine, Sep 3, 2020, crash
THIS HAPPENED TWO SEPARATE TIMES ABOUT 2 WEEKS APART.. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT. FOOT ON BRAKE. SUDDENLY ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND CAR LEAPED FORWARD. BRAKE DID NOT STOP IT. THE SECOND TIME, (AUGUST 31, 2020) THE CAR REARED-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY TO THAT DRIVER. NEITHER CAR WAS HARMED.
Power train, Engine, Dec 18, 2019
TO NHTSA: NOT TOO LONG AGO THE TIMING CHAIN AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION BEARING WENT OUT ON MY 2016 BMW 320I ([XXX]) TIMING CHAIN ISSUE SHOULDN'T OCCUR ON A MOTOR WHICH ONLY PRODUCES 180 HORSEPOWER WITH NO MODS OR TUNES. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD DEFINITELY NEVER GIVE OUT UNLESS YOU'RE PUSHING OVER 700 HORSEPOWER ON A STOCK DIFF. AGAIN MY CAR HAS 180 HORSEPOWER AND HAS NEVER BEEN MODDED. THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine, Jun 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW 328D. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V755000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT BMW OF BAKERSFIELD (LOCATED AT 5400 GASOLINE ALLEY DR, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93313, (661) 396-4040) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Engine, May 24, 2019
RECALL 18V-755.AFTER WAITING SINCE DEC 2018 THE PARTS ARRIVED AT MY DEALERSHIP FOR THIS RECALL. THE CARE WENT IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALER "INSPECTED" THE EGR COOLER AND PRONOUNCED IT "FINE". I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THE THE ROAD WHEN IT FAILS AND BURNS UP MY VEHICLE AND OR GARAGE? IF THE PART IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN SHOULDN'T IT BE CHANGED? WHO IS LIABLE?
Engine, Dec 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW 328DX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE AT BMW OF CHARLOTTESVILLE (LOCATED AT 1295 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, (434) 270-8664), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V755000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, Nov 16, 2016
WHILE DRIVING HOME TODAY 11/16/2016 - I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH THE SPEED LIMIT OF 25 AND THE POWER CUT OUT ON THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO GET HOME. I CALLED BMW ROADSIDE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 28, 2016
THIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. YOU COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL EITHER TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS VEHICLE WAS ON A 6 LANE ROAD STARTING TO GO FROM THE INTERSECTION. I KNOW THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANOTHER PERSON WITH AN X3 AS WELL. BMW IS CLAIMING THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. I WAS DRIVING A RALPH SCHOMP BMW LOANER AT THE TIME BECAUSE MY 2017 X3 WAS IN THE SHOP. I HAVE THE OTHER PERSON'S INFORMATION SHOULD YOU NEED IT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THE OTHER PERSON THIS HAPPENED TO WAS ON A HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT IS UNKNOWN TO ME WHAT CAUSED THIS, BUT THE VEHICLE FLASHED LIGHTS AND TOLD ME TO TURN OFF THE CAR. WHEN I DID, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT BMW IS HIDING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I KNOW THE SAME DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 15, 2016
SUDDEN ACCELERATION - ON TWO OCCASIONS (JUNE 12 AND 27, 2016), WHILE SLOWING AND COMING TO A STOP (ONCE TO PARK AND ONCE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE), THE CAR BUCKED AND REVVED AND WAS INCREDIBLY HARD TO CONTROL, LURCHING FORWARD. ON THE FIRST OCCASION IT LURCHED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF FORCE AND HIT A FENCE AS I WAS PULLING IN SLOWLY TO PARK - I COULD NOT CONTROL IT WITH THE BRAKE UNTIL I PUT IT IN REVERSE; ON SECOND OCCASION (2 WEEKS LATER), I WAS ON A CITY STREET SLOWING TO 5MPH AND STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AND SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS FULL FOOT ON BRAKE THE CAR WAS REVVING AND BUCKING AND I COULD NOT CONTROL IT UNTIL I THREW IT INTO PARK. FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME. BOTH TIMES DRIVING COMPLETELY STRAIGHT AND VERY SLOWLY INTO THE STOP. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 1500 MILES ON IT. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH VARIOUS TRANSMISSION STYLES - THE FIRST TIME IT WAS IN "SPORT" TRANSMISSION; THE SECOND IT WAS IN THE DEFAULT ("CUSTOM"). ON JUNE 28, I TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER. THEY HAVE NOW HAD IT NEARLY 3 WEEKS AND HAVE NOT TOLD ME ANYTHING, OTHER THAN THAT THE SOFTWARE IS BEING ANALYZED IN GERMANY AND SOMEONE FROM BMW NA NOW HAS MY FILE.