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U.S. public vehicle records

Bmw 228I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

57 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

31,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2014 to 2024 model years. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 57 complaints (38.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1933.3%
Braking behavior1119.3%
Steering behavior47.0%
Engine operation23.5%
Fuel system concerns23.5%
Transmission and shifting11.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
22
Engine And Engine Cooling
15
Engine
6
Fuel/Propulsion System
6
Power Train
6
Service Brakes
6
Air Bags
4
Exterior Lighting
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System22
Engine And Engine Cooling15
Engine6
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Power Train6
Service Brakes6
Air Bags4
Exterior Lighting4

Electrical System: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Engine: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Power Train: 6; Service Brakes: 6; Air Bags: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
11
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 30 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2014
1
2015
1
2016
2
2017
5
2018
1
2019
3
2020
5
2021
2
2022
2
2023
5
2024
5
2025
21
2026
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20141
20151
20162
20175
20181
20193
20205
20212
20222
20235
20245
202521
20264

2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 21; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11673490 · 2025-07-14 (July 14, 2025)

The contact owns a 2014 BMW 228I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Par…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11673490 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11289835 · 2019-12-18 (December 18, 2019)

ON DECEMBER 4, 2019, I WAS DRIVING MY BMW X1 TO WORK AT 52 MILE PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE ALL OF SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING. THIS ALMOST GOT ME INTO A VERY DEADLY CAR ACCIDENT DURING BUSY TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE APPROACHING A LEFT TURN LANE INTO OUR OFFICE PLAZA NEAR US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, USCIS OFFICE. I TRIED EVERY MEANS TO RESTART THE ENGINE, IT WOULD NOT START, I CHECKED THE BATTERY AND FOUND IT GOOD. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2015 BRAND NEW FROM BRAMAN BMW WEST PALM BEACH, OUR BMW X1 2015 WAS PRODUCED IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 78,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289835 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10630202 · 2014-09-02 (September 2, 2014)

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL A SUV THREE CARS IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TWO LANE ROAD TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE OTHER TWO SUV'S IN FRONT OF ME WERE FORCED TO HIT THEIR BRAKES HARD. FROM A SPEED OF 35 MPH AND A FOLLOWING DISTANCE OF FOUR CAR LENGTHS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. NOTHING HAPPENED. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARDER THE CAR STILL FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OTHER THAN FOR THE SLIGHT BIT FROM GOING UP HILL. I WAS FORCED TO FULLY DEPRESS THE B…

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630202 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10919149 · 2016-10-26 (October 26, 2016)

BMW HIT VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT WHILE EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HIT DIRECTLY FROM BEHIND IN I-70 4 CAR PILE-UP. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN VEHICLE IN FRONT (KIA) AND VEHICLE BEHIND (AUDI) BUT DID NOT DEPLOY FROM BMW. DRIVER'S CHIN WAS GASHED OPEN, PROBABLY FROM IMPACT WITH STEERING WHEEL AS A RESULT OF AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. WHIPLASH, BRUISING, SORENESS ALSO SHOWN IN DRIVER FOLLOWING ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919149 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11323356 · 2020-05-05 (May 5, 2020)

I OWN A 2014 228I COUPE, BUILD DATE 03/2014 - THE BOLTS SECURING THE POWER STEERING MOTOR TO THE RACK HAVE SNAPPED LEADING TO A POWER STEERING FAILURE. THIS FAILURE IS CONSISTENT WITH: BMW TIS SERVICE BULLETIN # SI B01 26 18 I CALLED BMW TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE BULLETIN DESCRIBES MY CAR AS BEING EFFECTED, MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE PART SPECIFIC EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY FOR THIS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. MY PART NUMBER, LOCATION, SYMPTOMS, FAILURE TYPE, C…

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323356 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11031856 · 2017-10-05 (October 5, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOM BUSH BMW ORANGE PARK (6914 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244, PHONE NUMBER: [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOS…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031856 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11480526 · 2022-08-22 (August 22, 2022)

I recently needed to have my Steering Rack replaced since the internal control unit had a fault. There was no warning prior to the failure and the sudden fault resulted in complete loss of power steering. Luckily, I was driving at a slow speed and was close to my house. I'm concerned because I have read of several other BMW models having similar problems and someone driving at a higher rate of speed could cause a significant accident if they are unable to control the vehicle. My BMW has 50,000 miles on it and I do not drive it aggressively, so …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11480526 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10760994 · 2015-09-02 (September 2, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED STATING THAT A FAILURE OCCURRED AND TO PLEASE GO TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,500. UPDATED 05/06/16*LJ *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 16,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760994 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11625039 · 2024-11-13 (November 13, 2024)

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Highly disappointed in BMW for a severe safety issue. My pregnant wife was driving this car. The plastic fuel tank started leaking which was very very scary. There is no sensor or alert on the car to notify of this. Our mechanic suggested that this was a manufacturing problem. There was no damage to the car (e.g. no accident or bump). This was apparently a spontaneous failure caused by poor manufacturing and design quality. This is a dange…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11625039 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2014
4
2015
3
2016
1
2020
2
2021
3
2022
2
2023
1
2024
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20144
20153
20161
20202
20213
20222
20231
20241

2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Year-by-year records

Bmw 228I model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
201474Not available
2015173-1
2016181-2
202032Not available
202173+1
202232-1
202321-1
2024010