2011 BMW 328i transmission problems

The 2011 BMW 328i has 24 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 3% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

Transmission complaints

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

328i transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

11V476000TransmissionSeptember 15, 2011 · 190 units

Defect

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 328I XDRIVE AND 335I XDRIVE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 8, 2011, THROUGH JULY 29, 2011. THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. IF THE BOLTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION, THEY MAY BECOME LOOSE.

Consequence

IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN, IT COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND ULTIMATELY A VEHICLE BREAKDOWN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT ATTACHMENT BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

What owners report

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE AND SPUTTERED WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SMOKE WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC BMW (2571 SOM CENTER RD, WILLOUGHBY HILLS,…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · March 1, 2019 · fire

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2011 BMW 328i have?

NHTSA has 24 complaints about the 2011 BMW 328i transmission — 3% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2011 BMW 328i transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 11V476000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.