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Bmw 428I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

155 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2014 to 2016 model years. Data snapshot: . 66 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 75 of 155 complaints (48.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues6340.6%
Braking behavior2012.9%
Engine operation117.1%
Fuel system concerns95.8%
Steering behavior53.2%
Transmission and shifting31.9%

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
75
Engine And Engine Cooling
52
Engine
26
Unknown Or Other
20
Fuel/Propulsion System
15
Service Brakes
15
Air Bags
8
Power Train
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System75
Engine And Engine Cooling52
Engine26
Unknown Or Other20
Fuel/Propulsion System15
Service Brakes15
Air Bags8
Power Train6

Electrical System: 75; Engine And Engine Cooling: 52; Engine: 26; Unknown Or Other: 20; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15; Service Brakes: 15; Air Bags: 8; Power Train: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
18
25,000 to 49,999
14
50,000 to 74,999
16
75,000 to 99,999
11
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,99916
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 89 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
4
2015
6
2016
2
2017
3
2018
6
2019
18
2020
10
2021
11
2022
11
2023
4
2024
16
2025
60
2026
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20144
20156
20162
20173
20186
201918
202010
202111
202211
20234
202416
202560
20264

2014: 4; 2015: 6; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 6; 2019: 18; 2020: 10; 2021: 11; 2022: 11; 2023: 4; 2024: 16; 2025: 60; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 63 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 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 11374328 · 2020-11-12 (November 12, 2020)

WHILE IGNITION WAS ON, LEFT QUARTER TAIL LIGHT WIRING HARNESS PIGTAIL BURNT (SHORT CIRCUITED). LEFT BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL DON'T WORK.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11625958 · 2024-11-18 (November 18, 2024)

The contact owns a 2014 BMW 428I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11625958 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10617844 · 2014-07-31 (July 31, 2014)

DRIVING DOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD WITH MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER ON JULY 12 AND GOING AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, I NOTICED THAT MY TWO-WEEKS OLD BRAND NEW BMW WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN ALTHOUGH I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT BY USING THE FOOT PEDAL TO BRAKE. THE CLOSER I GOT TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR BUT IT FAILED AND I ENDED UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FORTUNATELY, THE PERSON IN THE CAR THAT I HIT WAS NOT INJURED AND NEITHER WERE WE. I IMMEDIATELY …

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10617844 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10898745 · 2016-08-26 (August 26, 2016)

ON JUNE 19TH 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 BMW428I WITH 5200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT SIGNAL I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES SLOWING TO 5-10 MPH.INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE BECAME ENERGIZED AND BEGAN SURGING FORWARD. I APPLIED AS MUCH PRESSURE AS POSSIBLE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT TO NO AVAIL AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ITS SURGE FORWARD UNTIL IT STRUCK THE STOPPED VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY NO DAMAGES, NO INJURIES ON MONDAY JUNE 20TH I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD "CHECK IT…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10898745 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11253507 · 2019-09-05 (September 5, 2019)

I JUST BOUGHT MY BMW 2014 428I AND WHEN I RECEIVED IT IT WAS WORKING FLAWLESSLY BUT AFTER A DAY MY CAR COMPLETELY STUTTERED AT A LIGHT AND STALLED AND I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED IT CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP BUT I WAS STILL CONFUSED, BUT NOW IT'S WORSE THAN BEFORE NOW WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT JUST SHUTS OFF AND PUTS ITSELF IN NEUTRAL, SO WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN MOTION I AM FORCED TO START IT AND SHIFT IT BACK INTO DRIVE. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I WAS SCARED BUT NOW IT HAPPENS SO MUCH THAT IT HAS BECOME SECOND NATURE WHICH I FEEL LIKE I SHO…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11445374 · 2021-12-29 (December 29, 2021)

Passenger brake light harness keeps melting. This is my second Bmw and both had the same problem. The car keeps having loss of power while driving on the freeway. Probably something to do with fuel pump.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11445374 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10713220 · 2015-04-27 (April 27, 2015)

CAR SURGING AND CAUSED ACCIDENT, VERY DANGEROUS. ACCORDING TO DOT RECALL NOTICE, CAR MAY HAVE BAD FUEL PUMP THAT CAUSED IRREGULAR AND UNSAFE ACCELERATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10713220 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11123330 · 2018-08-29 (August 29, 2018)

HARD TOP WILL NOT COMPLETELY CLOSE HARD TOP WAS LEAKING ELECTRIC MODULE WENT OUT FUEL PUMP WENT OUT I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON MARCH 30TH AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE DRIVEN IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I JUST HAD TO PAY $2300 IN REPAIRS TO THE FUEL PUMP AND ELECTRIC MODULE. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THE HARD TOP IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. I CURRENTLY HAVE AN EXISTING COMPLAINT WITH YOUR AGENCY. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11123330 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11654719 · 2025-04-15 (April 15, 2025)

The contact owns a 2014 BMW 428I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The message “Chassis Unstable” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle to pull over to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. The contact was unable to find the cause of failure and continued to drive the vehicle without power steering functionality. The message of an excessive power drain for the battery was dis…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11654719 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11156006 · 2018-12-04 (December 4, 2018)

I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER DRIVER AND MY AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS GOING APPROX 20MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE OVER 60MPH. STRUCK DIRECTLY IN CENTER OF CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE AND ONLY TH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY ONE TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY CAR. I WAS KNOCKED OUT BY HITTING THE SIDE PANEL AND STEERING WHEEL. I WAS IN MOTION TURNING INTO MY WORK ACROSS A HIGHWAY

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156006 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11266476 · 2019-10-05 (October 5, 2019)

EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE HOLDER CAME APART AND CLIPS BROKE CAUSING CABLE TO BOUNCE AROUND NEAR TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE SHAFT. THE CABLE, HOLDER AND/OR CLIPS MADE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AT HIGH RPM AND TORQUE WHILE DRIVING IN LOWER GEARS. NOT RELATED TO ANY COLLISION OR UNUSUAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. NOISE FIRST BEGAN AUGUST 2019. REPAIR ON 4 OCT 2019 IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE.

Owner-reported narrative. 57,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11266476 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11176166 · 2019-02-11 (February 11, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 428I. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THAT CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. BMW OF COLUMBIA (250 KILLIAN COMMONS PARKWAY, COLUMBIA, SC 29203, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11176166 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
6
2015
5
2016
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20146
20155
20161

2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 1

Year-by-year records

Bmw 428I model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2014366Not available
2015765-1
2016431-4