BMW years to avoid
For every BMW model, the model years with more than twice that model's typical number of owner complaints, and the years with the fewest. Based on 29,531 owner complaints.
The worst BMW model years
Years to avoid from the last 20 model years, with the most owner complaints. The last column shows how far each year is above a typical year of the same BMW model.
| Car | Complaints | vs typical year | Main problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 BMW 328I | 580 | 3.7x | Engine |
| 2006 BMW 325I | 515 | 3.5x | Airbags |
| 2007 BMW 328I | 399 | 2.6x | Electrical |
| 2007 BMW 335I | 289 | 6.7x | Fuel system |
| 2012 BMW X5 | 271 | 2.4x | Engine |
| 2011 BMW X5 | 264 | 2.3x | Engine |
| 2013 BMW X3 | 226 | 2.3x | Engine |
| 2006 BMW 330I | 219 | 5.2x | Airbags |
| 2006 BMW 750LI | 216 | 9.0x | Transmission |
| 2006 BMW 3 Series | 202 | 5.6x | Airbags |
| 2008 BMW 335I | 201 | 4.7x | Fuel system |
| 2007 BMW 328XI | 198 | 11.6x | Electrical |
BMW models: years to avoid and best years
Amber: more than twice the typical complaints for that model. Green: the years with the fewest complaints among years with enough cars on the road.
Questions about the BMW years to avoid
What BMW years should you avoid?
The BMW model years with the most owner complaints, each well above a typical year of the same model, are the 2011 328I (3.7 times typical, mostly engine), the 2006 325I (3.5 times typical, mostly airbags), the 2007 328I (2.6 times typical, mostly electrical), the 2007 335I (6.7 times typical, mostly fuel system) and the 2012 X5 (2.4 times typical, mostly engine).
What is the most common problem with BMW vehicles?
Across all models, most BMW owner complaints are about engine, airbags and electrical.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car