Representative model. Photo: OathOn, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 BMW 3 Series recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2016 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 6
Park-it warnings: 1
Complaints: 93
Latest campaign: Jul 8, 2026

Recall summary by component6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Park‑it	Latest	Campaign IDs
Engine and engine cooling	2	–	Aug 13, 2024	24V608000 18V755000
Fuel system, diesel	2	–	Nov 19, 2021	21V907000 21V586000
Electrical system	1	1	Jul 8, 2026	26V441000
Power train	1	–	Mar 26, 2020	20V185000

Safety recalls6

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

1Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jul 8, 2026Latest campaign


Jul 8, 202626V441000	Electrical system: starter assembly relay A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire. Park outside, away from structures DetailsHide details for campaign 26V441000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2020 530e xDrive, 2017-2019 740Le xDrive, 2018-2020 530e iPerformance, 2016-2018 330e iPerformance vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit. Risk A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire. Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 30, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 28, 2026. Filed under 330e Iperformance Campaign NHTSA 26V441000 · Jul 8, 2026
Aug 13, 202424V608000	Engine and engine cooling: cooling system pump An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 24V608000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit. Risk An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Filed under 328i, 328xi Campaign NHTSA 24V608000 · Aug 13, 2024
Nov 19, 202121V907000	Fuel system, diesel A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V907000 What's wrong 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. Remedy 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. Filed under 328d Campaign NHTSA 21V907000 · Nov 19, 2021
Jul 29, 202121V586000	Fuel system, diesel: delivery fuel pump Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V586000 What's wrong 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. Remedy 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. Filed under 328d Campaign NHTSA 21V586000 · Jul 29, 2021
Mar 26, 202020V185000	Power train: driveline constant velocity joint A loss of power to the rear wheels can affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 20V185000 What's wrong 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. Remedy 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. Filed under 328d Campaign NHTSA 20V185000 · Mar 26, 2020
Oct 25, 201818V755000	Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system emission control The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V755000 What's wrong 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. Remedy 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. Filed under 328d Campaign NHTSA 18V755000 · Oct 25, 2018

Merged from NHTSA model names: 330e Iperformance, 328i, 328xi, 328d. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component93

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

93Complaints filed

12Involving a crash

3Involving a fire

11Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Engine	24	26	3	3	3
Electrical system	23	25	1	3	2
Service brakes	18	19	2	0	0
Unknown or other	16	17	1	1	1
Power train	13	14	2	0	2
Engine and engine cooling	12	13	0	0	0
Air bags	8	9	7	0	8
Vehicle speed control	7	8	1	0	0
Structure	6	6	2	0	3
Fuel/propulsion system	5	5	0	0	0
Steering	4	4	1	0	1
Seat belts	2	2	1	0	0
Seats	2	2	1	0	2
Forward collision avoidance	2	2	1	0	0
Visibility/wiper	2	2	0	0	0

6 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names 3 Series, 3 Series GT, 3 Series Phev.

Latest reports

Service brakes
“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.”
Filed 08/06/2025 · ODI 11678648
Unknown or other
“I have been waiting since October 2024 to get a remedy available to fix the recall on this vehicle.”
Filed 07/18/2025 · ODI 11674642
Engine and engine cooling
“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.”
Filed 05/12/2025 · ODI 11660445

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2016 BMW 3 Series recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 BMW 3 Series have?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 BMW 3 Series. The most recent, 26V441000 (reported July 8, 2026), concerns electrical system. 1 campaign carries a park-it or park-outside warning. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2016 BMW 3 Series recalls for?

The largest group is engine and engine cooling, with 2 campaigns. Others: fuel system, diesel (2), electrical system (1), power train (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 BMW 3 Series?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 24 complaints out of 93 filed with NHTSA (26%). Across all complaints, owners reported 12 crashs and 3 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 BMW 3 Series?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised BMW dealer.

Check a specific BMW by VIN

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Recall summary by component6

Safety recalls6

Electrical system: starter assembly relay

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system pump

Fuel system, diesel

Fuel system, diesel: delivery fuel pump

Power train: driveline constant velocity joint

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system emission control