The Lemon IndexAll cars · BMW 3 Series · 2016
2016 BMW 3 Series. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 13,000 and 55,000 miles. Median 27,000, from 51 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 28,000 | 14,500–122,500 | 13 |
| Electrical | 32,900 | 4,200–128,500 | 8 |
| Brakes | 10,000 | 3,700–26,000 | 9 |
| Engine | 117,000 | 93,800–136,000 | 6 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 31,500 | 20,200–120,800 | 8 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 24% |
| Brakes | 20% |
| Airbags | 15% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 15% |
| Speed control | 15% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 15 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 1
24V608000 Aug 2024 Engine And Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Pump
Defect. 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.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | High pressure fuel pump failure | 2023 | – |
| Open | Desiccated air bag inflator rupture | 2021 | – |
Manufacturer communications 409
BMW filed 409 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Engine Oil Quick Reference Chart and Drain Plug Torque: The current version of ISTA/D has an…
- BUZZING NOISE FROM VALVETRONIC MOTOR BEFORE OR AFTER ENGINE OPERATION: Buzzing noise may be heard
- ?Various Check Control Messages Caused by Shorted K- CAN This Service Information bulletin…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series SW AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| BMW 3 Series 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| BMW 3 Series 4 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| BMW 3 Series GT 5 HB AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
YouTube repair topics
87 videos about the 2012–2018 BMW 3 Series (F30), 33.5M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Timing chain & engine | 6 | 2.3M |
| Brakes & ABS | 8 | 1.6M |
| Oil changes & service | 4 | 1.4M |
| No-start: theft light, key & ignition | 2 | 1.2M |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 4 | 819K |
| Oil leaks & gaskets | 3 | 608K |
| Transmission & shifter | 1 | 457K |
| Windows, doors & mirrors | 1 | 240K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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