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: service brakes
18 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Aug 6, 2025
Car started to have low coolant when i would replace it instantly and i took it to a shop and they told me it has a recall.
Service brakes, Jan 30, 2024
Brake line bracket failed. It appears that the bracket is made out of plastic and is a common failure for BMWs. The failure causes the line to rattle against the lower body and eventually break. The bracket is in a place very difficult to access. BMW wants to charge 1000$ while the part cost in under 10$
Power train, Service brakes, Oct 11, 2023
The clip holding the emergency brake line is made out of plastic and mine broke (which I found out is common with these cars). When this happens, it rubs on the driveshaft which can wear through and sever the emergency brake line. This is a very dangerous situation and easily be avoided if BMW used a metal part vs. the current, plastic flimsy one.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 26, 2023
Need to recall as it is Common Knowledge among the BMW technicians that these vehicles are plagued with hazard of Parking / Emergency Break line clip breaking and for the line contacting the rotating drive shaft. The holding clip Mfg Part # 34406854898 breaks regularly ! the plastic parking brake retaining clip (BMW part # 34 40 6 854 898) deforms due to age/heat. The cable guide does not hold the cable in place anymore and Hazardously starts to rub against the rotating driveshaft, causing the Emergency parking lines which makes a noise that and sounds like coming from the center console. This is endangering the occupants, and also it is very costly replacement with the same plastic part again. This is such a prevalent issue that there are alternative clips being sold to replace for this manufactures omission of quality: [XXX] also there are videos on this [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical system, Service brakes, May 25, 2023
The front brakes are locked up and I went to the dealer and they are asking $7000 to replace the dsc module. It was also braking while I was driving on the highway and I got scared and pulled over and checked everything looked okay but i didn’t know what happened. I am glad nobody was behind me when the car (bmw)brakes it self while it was running. I hope you do a further investigation and see what is happening to the bmw brakes. It only had 52139 miles when I send it to bmw of Dallas and they took 3 days to find the problem and told me I need to pay $7000 to replace the dsc module (abs module) I can’t afford to pay that kind of money what do I do
Service brakes, May 22, 2023
while driving on the high way while raining the car is braking it self to slow down. and release after it slow down to 40 mph or lower. I also notice my front brake is garbing the brake while driving and it does not release the brake when you release the brake pedal
Service brakes, Jan 27, 2022
Vibration in the brakes heavily at higher speeds when gradually pressing brakes shakes. When pressed harder during shaking goes away with the breaking. Brand new brakes brand new rotors alignment yet the vehicle is still having this issue I’m hoping that the vibration doesn’t cause any electronics or braking mechanism not to properly work to me this is a safety concern a safety issue and I’m seeing it pop up a lot I watch video reviews on magazines pros and cons of this vehicle the one thing stayed it was a vibration in the brakes that the reviewer could not answer and he says it wasn’t a problem but it has to be a Manufacturing issue. I hope this helps anybody else Only the manufacture can answer this question
Service brakes, Nov 12, 2021
Total brake failure
Service brakes, Mar 18, 2020
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT 30 MPH WHEN INSTEPPED ON THE BREAKS AND IT KEPT MOVING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT THEY FIX THE BREAK. THEO DAYS AGO I WAS PROMPTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
Service brakes, Mar 18, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW 320I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR HITTING A PEDESTRIAN. THE VEHICLE WENT UP ON THE SIDE WALK AND THE CONTACT QUICKLY ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OFF LEASE ONLY LOCATED AT (5580 NW 145TH ST, MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33054), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS BRAKES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER TOWED THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Service brakes, Jun 29, 2018, crash
I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH AND STOP AT A RED LIGHT ON A STREET (NOT HIGHWAY) AND MY CAR WASN'T BRAKING. IT THEN STOPPED. AFTER IT BRAKED AND I WAS SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FULLY STOPPED AND STATIONARY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-20 SECONDS MY CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE IMPACT CAUSED A TINY SCRATCH ON THE DRIVERS BUMPER FROM MY LICENSE PLATE. HIS CAR WAS OLD AND HIS BUMPER ALREADY DAMAGED, SO HE WASN'T TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCRATCH. WE PULLED OFF TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT AND HE CHECKED UNDER HIS CAR AND UNDER MY CAR TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN THE SMALL SCRATCH AND WE PARTED WAYS. I CALLED THE MY BMW SERVICE CENTER FIRST THING THE NEXT MORNING AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN. TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING ON A STREET WITH NO TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. I ASSUMED THAT SOMETHING SET OFF ONE OF THE SENSORS, BUT THIS IS NOT A STREET WHERE PEOPLE OR ANIMALS WOULD BE CROSSING AND NO ONE WAS IN THE STREET. THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN NJ SENT IN A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AND INSPECTED THE CAR. AN EXECUTIVE CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE FROM BMW'S NJ CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS GOT BACK TO ME YESTERDAY REPORTING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND I CAN PICK IT UP AT ANYTIME. THEY COULD OFFER ME NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS OCCURRENCE AND I AM TERRIFIED TO GET BACK IN THIS CAR. I AM ESTIMATING THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR AS 25,000 MILES AS MY CAR IS STILL AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER AND NOT IN MY POSSESSION TO CHECK THE EXACT MILEAGE.
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jun 8, 2018
I WAS DRIVING WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER ON JUNE 1, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 3 PM ON A PUBLIC STREET, TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT APPROX 40 MPH. CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND SUNNY. I PRESSED THE BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR STOPPED FOR A BRIEF SECOND AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE WAS STILL DEPRESSED. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED HARD TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET AND SLOWED TO A STOP. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING WHILE I TRIED TO STOP AND MY PASSENGER STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON OR ENGINE WARNING. I WAS APPROX 2 MILES FROM THE BMW DEALERSHIP SO I SLOWLY DROVE MY CAR THERE, PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL EACH TIME I HAD TO STOP. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, THEY REVIEWED THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF IDLING HIGH/FAST, WHICH I ALSO RELAYED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS NEAR OR UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY STEP ON THE GAS. I AM CANCELING MY LEASE TOMORROW.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jan 26, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 (NA) BMW 320I. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE DROVE STRAIGHT THROUGH SOME SHRUBS AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE LAWN OF A BANK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ISSUED A CHECK FOR THE BODY REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED THE MECHANICAL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Nov 27, 2017
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH THE OPTIONAL "ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL" (ACC). UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE CAR ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED BY THE DRIVER, THE ACC ENGAGEMENT SHOULD ALWAYS BE TERMINATED. IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THE ACC REMAINS ENGAGED DESPITE THE DRIVER'S USE OF THE BRAKES. WHEN THE ACC IS ENGAGED AND DETECTS AN OBJECT AHEAD, THE BRAKES MAY BE APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY BY THE ACC. IF, WHILE THE BRAKES ARE STILL BE APPLIED BY THE ACC AND THE DRIVER ALSO PRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACC SHOULD BE DISENGAGED AND REMAIN OFF. HOWEVER, IF THE OBJECT PREVIOUSLY DETECTED AHEAD HAS CLEARED AND THE DRIVER RELEASES THE BRAKES, THE ACC CONTROL IS RESTORED AND THE CAR ACCELERATES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND CONFUSING RESPONSE. DRIVERS INSTINCTIVELY EXPECT ANY CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY AND REMAIN DISENGAGED UPON BRAKE APPLICATION.THE BMW ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT PERFORM THIS WAY IN THE SITUATION DESCRIBED. THIS ACC RESPONSE IS A REPEATABLE DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED ME TO EXPERIENCE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING.
Power train, Electrical system, Service brakes, Nov 16, 2017
CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION AND INDICATOR WARNING COMES ON SAYING 'DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION' THE GAGE INDICATES THERE IS AT LEAST 42 MILES OF FUEL BEFORE EMPTY. LUCKILY THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET. THE CAR SHAKES AND MAKES A LOUD SOUND BEFORE PUTTING ITSELF IN NEUTRAL. ALSO THE BRAKES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED BY BMW BUT THEY DO NOT STOP PROPERLY AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH. ALSO THE SUNROOF OPENS INDEPENDENTLY WHEN IT RAINS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT.
Air bags, Seat belts, Service brakes, Dec 5, 2016, crash
I WAS DRIVING IN A 25 MPH ZONE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, DRY ROADS DURING DAYLIGHT AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SLIDE TOWARDS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO QUICKLY TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR HEAD ON. I HIT THE CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE AND DAMAGE TO MY CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *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.
Service brakes, Mar 21, 2016
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN MOTION, A NEW 2016 BMW 328 GT, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, CAR COULD NOT BE STOPPED, EMERGENCY BRAKE PULLED WITH FULL PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL, CAR EVENTUALLY SLOWED AND STOPPED BEFORE STRIKING OTHER VEHICLES IN ITS PATH. CAR RETURNED TO BMW AND BMW STATED THAT BRAKES NOW WORK. BMW REFUSED TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSESSMENT OR SERVICE DESPITE BEING AWARE OF RECENT PRIOR VEHICLES FOR BMW BRAKE FAILURE.