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2015 BMW 328d

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

27 owner complaints · 6 recalls · data verified July 28, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Buy-rated alternatives from this era

Other 20132017 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict, worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2015 BMW 328d.

2014
Dodge Caravan
Buy99/100
2015
Lexus Es350
Buy99/100
2015
Kia Optima Hybrid
Buy99/100

Why caution?

6 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#365 of 580Among the 2015 models with a matured record, the 2015 BMW 328d ranks #365, scoring higher than 14% of them. See the 2015 ranking →

Complaint volume100
Severity97
Recall load51
Trend71

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20182025

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

5/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2015 BMW 328D 4 DR RWD

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: OptionalLane departure warning: Optional

2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.

NHTSA crash-test photo, 2015 BMW 328D 4 DR RWD

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2015 BMW 328d, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k mi

Also reported (mileage varies): Fuel system (8) · Fuel System, Diesel (6) · Engine (6) · Transmission & drivetrain (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.

Fuel system

30%

8 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

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 th…

Read the fuel system complaints →

Fuel System, Diesel

22%

6 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328D. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair…

Read the fuel system, diesel complaints →

Engine

22%

6 complaints

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT FREEWAY SPEED IT SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO CROSS LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. THE DEA…

Read the engine complaints →

Transmission & drivetrain

19%

5 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

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…

Read the transmission & drivetrain complaints →

Check it against this car’s mileage

Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.

miles

Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.

Read all 27 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 1 crash/fire/injury reports →

Recalls (6)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Air Bags · 24V288000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.

Risk: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Fuel System, Diesel · 21V907000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.

Risk: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Fuel System, Diesel · 21V586000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Power Train · 20V185000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2016 328d xDrive sedans and 2013-2015 328d xDrive station wagon vehicles. The constant-velocity joint which transfers power between the transfer case and the rear drive shaft, may become damaged, possibly resulting in loss of power to the rear wheels.

Risk: A loss of power to the rear wheels can affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the vehicle is parked after a loss of power to the rear wheels and the parking brake is not engaged, unintended rollaway can occur, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the constant-velocity joint and inspect the transfer case, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Engine And Engine Cooling · 18V755000

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.

Risk: The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Exterior Lighting · 15V520000

BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this BMW before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2015 BMW 328d. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
  2. Owners of this model report fuel system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any fuel system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Owners of this model report fuel system, diesel problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any fuel system, diesel symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  4. Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
  5. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  6. Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2015 BMW 328D beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2015? See how every 328d model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2015 BMW 328d against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2015 BMW 328d as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.