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BMW 328I vs Lexus ES350: reliability compared

From 2007 to 2016, owners filed an average of 229 complaints per model year about the BMW 328I and 141 about the Lexus ES350.

Side by side

BMW 328ILexus ES350
Model years compared2007-20162007-2016
Owner complaints2,2881,406
Complaints per model year229141
Recalls178
Years to avoid20072011200720082009201020112012
Best years201220152016None stand out
Most common problemEngineAirbags
Crash rating5 2015No data
Fuel economy26-27 mpg combined (2016)24 mpg combined (2016)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2007 BMW 328I: 3992007 Lexus ES350: 53920072008 BMW 328I: 2392008 Lexus ES350: 25520082009 BMW 328I: 1932009 Lexus ES350: 14520092010 BMW 328I: 1552010 Lexus ES350: 13720102011 BMW 328I: 5802011 Lexus ES350: 15320112012 BMW 328I: 1302012 Lexus ES350: 8920122013 BMW 328I: 2582013 Lexus ES350: 2320132014 BMW 328I: 1522014 Lexus ES350: 2820142015 BMW 328I: 1252015 Lexus ES350: 1620152016 BMW 328I: 572016 Lexus ES350: 212016
BMW 328ILexus ES350

Problems compared

328IES350
Engine1,05637
Electrical65753
Airbags469863
Fuel system14211
Transmission12438
Steering10215
Acceleration48209
Body6079
Brakes9646
Visibility4145

Questions about the BMW 328I vs Lexus ES350

Which is more reliable, the BMW 328I or the Lexus ES350?

Between 2007 and 2016, the BMW 328I has 2 years to avoid and the Lexus ES350 6. The BMW 328I has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Lexus ES350 drew fewer complaints per model year (141 vs 229), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the BMW 328I or the Lexus ES350?

From 2007 to 2016, the BMW 328I was covered by 17 recalls and the Lexus ES350 by 8.

What years of the BMW 328I and Lexus ES350 should you avoid?

BMW 328I: 2007 and 2011. Lexus ES350: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

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