1999 BMW 328I Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 12%of 98 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 133,180miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 BMW 328I, 12% of the 98 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 133,180 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I went to back out of my garage and my 1999 Bmw 328I would not go into reverse. The shift lever seemed to be working. The indicator on the dash said r . But the engine just revved. I pushed it out of the driveway and drove to my auto mechanic. When I got there, it was working perfectly. I drove it around for about a week, and then it did it again. After driving it for 10 minutes I checked again and it was working. I called two Bmw dealers and all they would say is you need a new transmission and it will cost 5 grand .”
NHTSA complaint #10355072, filed 2010-09, 156,600 miles“Under normal driving I started to hear and feel a 'clunk' type noise when engaging the car into gear. Took the car to my mechanic to inspect and he found some cracks in the rear subframe along with the differential mounts being pratically torn off.”
NHTSA complaint #10091075, filed 2004-09, 70,500 miles“My 1999 nmw 328I wont go into reverse on occasions. The first time this happened I was in a dark parking area alone. The car gave me no warning. I had driven the car all the day and nothing happened. I got into the car later to go home and it wouldn't go into reverse. I was able to push the car so that I could go into drive which works fine. I took my car to the Bmw place at 10,000 miles to get transmission serviced and they said that there was no need because it was a lifetime transmission fluid. The Bmw place in tallahassee florida capital euro checked the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10435564, filed 2011-11, 140,000 miles“I, like thousands if not tens of thousands of others, now have a Bmw that the reverse has gone out on. It is a 1999 Bmw 328I. Everything else works fine. No issues prior. Just one day after having parked somewhere the reverse would not work. From the website dedicated to this issue I see there are thousands of others this happens to. Does not seem to matter how many miles a car has. I have not taken it to Bmw yet as I know what they will say. If this is this big a problem with a safety issue like reverse going out then Bmw needs to fix it. It is not just a few hundred cars. It is thousands.”
NHTSA complaint #10268625, filed 2009-05, 157,000 miles“The contact owns a 1999 Bmw 328I. While driving 5 MPH, the contact placed the gear in drive, but the vehicle went backwards. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the gear shifter needed to be replaced and would cost approximately $1,300. The current mileage was 92,000 and failure mileage was 90,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10199824, filed 2007-08, 90,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 8 | 14% |
| 2015 | 13 | 10% |
| 2014 | 9 | 6% |
| 2013 | 23 | 9% |
| 2012 | 20 | 15% |
| 2011 | 24 | 4% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 8 | 4% |
| 2008 | 7 | 3% |
| 2007 | 7 | 2% |
| 2000 | 27 | 24% |
| 1999 | 12 | 12% |
| 1998 | 3 | 12% |
| 1997 | 1 | 4% |
| 1996 | 4 | 13% |
Other parts of the 1999 BMW 328I
37 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsTires
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 BMW 328I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology