Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 BMW 328D Xdrive problems

Owners filed 27 complaints about the 2015 BMW 328D Xdrive with NHTSA between Oct 2018 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (8).

Complaints
27
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system8
  2. Fuel system, diesel6
  3. Engine6
  4. Power train5
  5. Electrical system2
  6. Visibility/wiper1
  7. Engine and engine cooling1
  8. Exterior lighting1
  9. Structure1
  10. Other / unknown3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20181
20196
20202
20213
20228
20233
20242
20252

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel/propulsion system

8 reports
“The high pressure fuel pump failed i see there are recalls for 2014-2018 similar bmw with diesel engine and mine is not included with recall although it clearly has the faulty part. The car will no longer start and I am being quoted $18,000 to repair it which makes the car useless i just got it for $10,000”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11622632

Fuel system, diesel

6 reports
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328D. The contact stated that while driving 15-25 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a BMW-Authorized mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed, and there were metal shavings found in the fuel. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V586000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2025Fuel system, dieselODI 11694868

Engine

6 reports1 fire
“Vehicle is 100% BMW Serviced for it's history, showroom to present. Vehicle had been smoking after sitting 2-3 days and driving. We'd park and see wisps of smoke coming from the wheelwells and engine bay. Alarming! Never witnessed open flame, but as the saying goes, if there's smoke... Questionable component: 328xd Fuel Sensor Probe (BMW part #13-53-8-594-893 Fuel Feed Line 135040 ) Complaint/Report pertains to Fuel Sensor Probe failure and resultant fuel propagation(backfeeding/leaking fuel from sensor connection) into adjacent wiring/engine bay foils. Diagnostic System did not report sensor failure until extensive damage and hazard was realized. BMW USA responded to report as NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY(high mile vehicle) and therefore not of responsibility of BMW. According to local BMW Service team the event is NOT UNUSUAL and that several vehicles with same fail/error codes have exhibited similar fuel leakage/propagation/damages. VERY PROBABLE FIRE HAZARD Costly repairs; if system had detected failure when sensor failed we would have had it fixed. We reported the smoking several times but the service department didn't isolate the problem. We continued to drive…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2023Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11532089

Power train

5 reports
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328D. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle hesitated. Additionally, while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before slamming into gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V185000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2025Power trainODI 11654517

Electrical system

2 reports
“DIESEL FUEL FOUND IN UNEXPECTED AREAS INCLUDING WIRING HARNESS, FUEL INJECTORS, PRESSURE SENSORS, TURBO CHARGER COMPONENT, DDE, EGR, ETC. UNABLE TO LOCATE SOURCE OF FUEL LEAK INTO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD OR SERIOUS VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING. ADVISED BY BMW SERVICE MANAGER THAT COST TO PERFORM REPAIR MORE COSTLY THAN VALUE OF VEHICLE. BMW NOT SUPPORTIVE IN CORRECTION OR ASSISTANCE WITH ISSUES. OVER 2.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, VEHICLE SERVICED >5+ TIMES FOR ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION ALERTS. EGR VALVE REPLACED X3, EXHAUST PRE DPFTEMP SENSOR,ETC. SERVICE PERFORMED ON RECALLED FLEX DISC B27, AND EGR COOLER (MULTIPLE TIMES)PER ADVISORY. REGULAR AND TIMELY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2021Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11405853

Visibility/wiper

1 report
“I was driving on the freeway at 70mph, the indicated speed limit. It was cloudy, drizzling rain. No large vehicles near me. All of a sudden it sounded like a gunshot went off right above my head. I had the panoramic sunshade closed so I couldn't see anything, but my first thought was that the glass of the panoramic sunroof had shattered. After 5 more minutes of driving (so I could safely get home), I parked the car and stepped out of the door and looked at the roof. Sure enough, the front of the two pieces of glass had shattered right in the middle, about 150 square inches open to the sky, and dozens of pieces of broken glass had fallen in between the interior sunroof shade and where the glass was supposed to be. Thank goodness I had the shade closed, otherwise the pieces of glass would have landed on me and my girlfriend (who was sitting in the passenger seat.) There was no hail, no lightning, and no loose rocks from any vehicles in front of me. It was about 82 degrees Fahrenheit, so not abnormally warm.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2022Visibility/wiperODI 11478019
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.