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BMW 328d VIN Check

NHTSA holds 175 owner complaints on the BMW 328d from 69 production runs; the worst run has 10, the typical one 2.5.

NHTSA complaint records · 175 complaints · 69 runs · 2014–2015 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported 328d run is WBA3D3C50EK (2014 builds) with 10 complaints, 4× the typical run. Engine problems make up 26% of reports; 2014 is the worst model year at 2.9 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for 328d model years 2014–2018.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The BMW 328d has 69 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 25% of every 328d complaint on file.

FIG.01·BMW 328d — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
WBA3D3C50EK••••••2014101—
WBA3D3C58EK••••••201410——
WBA3D5C56EK••••••20149——
WBA3D3C54EK••••••2014811
WBA3D3C5XEK••••••20147—1
WBA3K5C51EK••••••201471—
WBA3D5C58EK••••••20146——
WBA3D5C55EK••••••20146—1
WBA3D5C53EK••••••20145——
WBA3D3C56EK••••••20145——
WBA3D3C59EK••••••20145——
WBA3D5C52EK••••••20145—2
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 57 328d runs has 5 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 10 328d VINs so far, most often 2018, 2014, 2016 builds.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the BMW 328d the gap between build years is 1.9×: a 2014 car draws 2.9 complaints per run, a 2015 one 1.5.

FIG.02·BMW 328d — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20151.52718—
20142.9148514
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2014 at 2.9 complaints per run; lightest is 2015 at 1.5.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 26% of everything BMW 328d owners report: Engine, 61 of 175 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·BMW 328d — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Engine61—8
Fuel/propulsion System5421
Fuel System32—2
Diesel30—2
Unknown Or Other20—3
Power Train1911
Electrical System1014
Engine And Engine Cooling6—1
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 8 recall campaigns on the BMW 328d; the 6 below cover build years 2014 to 2018. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·BMW 328d — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
18V755000Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve)2014–2018
21V907000Fuel System, Diesel2014–2018
21V586000Fuel System, Diesel:delivery:fuel Pump2014–2018
20V185000Power Train:driveline:constant Velocity Joint2014–2016
15V520000Exterior Lighting2014–2015
24V288000Air Bags:side/window2014–2015
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

18V755000 was opened in 2018 on cars built from 2014: 4 years on the road before the recall.

The 328d against its rivals

The 328d draws 2.5 complaints per production run; the Cadillac ATS 1.3. That is the highest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·BMW 328d VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
BMW 328d175692.52.3%
Cadillac ATS3652751.34.9%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 175 reports on the BMW 328d, 2.3% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·BMW 328d — complaint severity
OutcomeBMW 328dAll vehicles
Complaints filed1751,115,966
Involved a crash4 (2.3%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire12 (6.9%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported058,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 60% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The BMW 328d share of that is 175 complaints over 69 runs, 0.02% of everything on record.

Everything on the BMW 328d
Recalls24 campaignsFuel economy36 mpg bestReliability4.5/5Common problems180 complaintsCargo space28 cu ftUsed prices136 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2014–2018

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a BMW 328d VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 175 NHTSA complaints from 69 328d runs and 8 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which 328d production run has the most complaints?

WBA3D3C50EK, a 2014 build, with 10 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical 328d run has 2.5.

Which 328d years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2014 is heaviest at 2.9 complaints per run and 2015 lightest at 1.5.

Does the 328d get more complaints than the Cadillac ATS?

Yes: 2.5 complaints per production run for the 328d against 1.3 for the Cadillac ATS.

How many 328d complaints involve a crash?

2.3% of 175 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 12 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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