2016 BMW 3 Series problems and complaints

Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW 3 Series. The most-reported areas: Engine (24), Electrical System (23), Service Brakes (18).

Key takeaways

  • 93 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 12 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 11 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine2426%
Electrical System2325%
Service Brakes1819%
Unknown Or Other1617%
Power Train1314%
Engine And Engine Cooling1213%
Air Bags89%
Vehicle Speed Control78%
Structure66%
Fuel/Propulsion System55%
Steering44%
Seat Belts22%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2016 BMW 3 Series SW AWD5/54/55/55/5
2016 BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD5/54/55/55/5
2016 BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD5/54/55/55/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes - filed 2025-08-06

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.

Unknown Or Other - filed 2025-07-18

I have been waiting since October 2024 to get a remedy available to fix the recall on this vehicle. Dealership won’t even look at the car since the remedy is unavailable but this is a dangerous issue to have and know about without a fix anywhere in the foreseeable future.

Engine And Engine Cooling,electrical System - filed 2025-05-12

The contact owns a 2016 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon driving and coming to a stop, there was an abnormal burning odor coming fr...

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More for the 2016 BMW 3 Series

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.