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BMW 320IModel year report

2016 BMW 320I Problems

Compared with other BMW 320I years

Typical for this model

38/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
57,500miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 3 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
28 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 23 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 BMW 320I (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2016 BMW 320I. The part named most often is brakes, with 7 complaints (28% of the total), followed by engine (7) and air bags (5). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 57,500 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 353 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 12 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 28 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 BMW 320I model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 38 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “I was driving in a 25 MPH zone in a residential area, dry roads during daylight and the car in front of me stopped suddenly. I stepped on the brakes, they locked and the car continued to slide towards the car in front of me. I had to quickly turn the wheel to the left to avoid hitting the car head on. I hit the car on the left side and damage to my car on the right side.”

NHTSA complaint #10930071, filed 2016-12, 6,243 miles

Engine: “The contact owned a 2016 BMW 320i. The contact stated that after driving approximately 28 miles, arriving at her residence to park the vehicle in the garage, and noticed a burning odor. Upon inspection, a fire was coming from underneath the hood. The contact, lacking a fire extinguisher, attempted to use flour to extinguish the fire. However, upon returning, the fire was larger and made a loud noise as it expanded, before quickly reducing in size. The contact called the fire department and began removing items from the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #11683254, filed 2025-08, 95,000 miles

Air bags: “I was involved in an accident with a hit and run vehicle and resulting in the accident, my steering wheel came off in the process hitting me in my pelvic area and now I am having trouble urinating and I have bleeding. The air bags also burned through my clothes and onto my skin. I suffered first degree burns to my arm, stomach and thigh.”

NHTSA complaint #11277528, filed 2019-11, 60,000 miles

Body and structure: “While the vehicle was being driven about 40 MPH, I heard what sounded like a gunshot or a loud pop overhead. I pulled over to see what happened and the sunroof had a hole in the middle and the glass was bowing upwards. There were no other cars passing me at the time and I did not see any projectiles coming toward the car that could have caused the damage. The sunroof just spontaneously shattered.”

NHTSA complaint #10966258, filed 2017-03, 32,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

43% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 27,000 and 119,000 miles.

14%0–107%10–2521%25–5014%50–757%75–10021%100–15014%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 57,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2017201920225202452026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 BMW 320I. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
3 Series · wagon AWD★★★★★4 / 5555 · 9.5% risk
3 Series · sedan AWD★★★★★4 / 5555 · 9.5% risk
3 Series · sedan RWD★★★★★4 / 5555 · 9.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2015: same overall rating; 2017: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 BMW 320I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
320i RWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic233528$2,950
320i RWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual233527$3,050
320i xDrive AWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic233427$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2016 BMW 320I in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 353 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 353 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 320I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20182113,6150528—Rising
2017990,5000528—Not enough data
20162557,500052838 · TypicalRising
20153456,200352850 · TypicalRising
20145363,9677528100 · MoreFalling
2013984,5003—28—Not enough data

All BMW 320I model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 BMW 320I have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2016 BMW 320I as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 BMW 320I is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 7 complaints (28% of the total), followed by engine with 7.

Has the 2016 BMW 320I been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2016 BMW 320I do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 BMW 320I 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 3 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2016 BMW 320I get?

The EPA rates the 2016 BMW 320I (320i, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 23 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 BMW 320I reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 57,500 miles and the middle half falls between 27,000 and 119,000 miles; 43% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.