2015 Bmw 320I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
56,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 33 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 21.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Engine: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7; Electrical System: 5; Exterior Lighting: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Wheels: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 21 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 6; 2024: 7; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10794340 · 2015-11-17 (November 17, 2015)
BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW 320I I HAVE HAD IT FOR 45 DAYS WITH 1548 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE THIS MORNING DRIVING POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY. MY CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" AND DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO OVER ANY FASTER. DISPLAY SAYS "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" I DROVE MY CAR ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AT 20 MPH ON THE SIDE OF ROAD UNTIL I MADE IT TO WORK. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR A VEHICLE TO DROP FROM 70 TO 20 MPH SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. FROM READING SEEMS TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH BMW'S. RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10794340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807796 · 2015-12-01 (December 1, 2015)
THE BMW 320I 2015 VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DROP TIRE AIR PRESSURE BELOW A SAFE LEVEL. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DISABLING THE DRIVER'S ONBOARD DISPLAY WITH A LOW TIRE WARNING ALERT. ALL 4 TIRES ARE DROPPING FROM 32PSI TO 23PSI WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. EACH TIME I VISIT THE CLASSIC BMW DEALERSHIP OF PLANO, TX ABOUT THE TPMS PROBLEM, TIRES ARE AGAIN TOPPED OFF AT 32PSI. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GIVE ME A SERVICE RECEIPT AFTER ADDING AIR IN THE TIRES. I WAS INFORMED THAT I MUST PAY $163 IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A SERVICE RECEIPT ONCE THE AIR I…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10807796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10978697 · 2017-04-16 (April 16, 2017)
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCUR THREE TIMES NOW. THIS LAST TIME HAPPENED TO MY SPOUSE WHILE TRAVELING 70+ MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET. THE ONSET WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, AN IMMEDIATE AND UNSETTLING SHUDDER WITH AN ONSCREEN POPUP. THE ABRUPT LOSS OF SPEED NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THIS TIME. IT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND SINCE WE AREN'T' APPLYING BRAKES, OTHER DRIVES ARE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE AT THE SUDDEN DROP IN SPEED. WE NARROWLY PULLED FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT GETTING HIT PRIOR TO STOPPING AND SHUTTING O…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10978697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11132357 · 2018-09-30 (September 30, 2018)
THANK YOU
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11132357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181228 · 2019-02-19 (February 19, 2019)
OIL PUMP PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. NOT BEING COVERED BY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS ENGINE DAMAGE WILL BE ON THE CUSTOMER EVEN THOUGH OIL PUMP PREMATURELY FAILS.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11245925 · 2019-08-22 (August 22, 2019)
FUEL GAUGE ERRONEOUS DISPLAY: VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL, BUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STILL DISPLAYS FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK. DEALER FOUND OUT PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL CELL AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP MUST BE REPLACE, COST OF $2875. SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM THE DEALER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11245925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255354 · 2019-09-13 (September 13, 2019)
MY 2015 BMW 320I GAVE ME A WARNING OF CHARGING MALFUNCTION WARNING SO I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW SERVICE FOR AN INSPECTION. THIS WAS IN APRIL 2019. THE SERVICE ADVISOR LET ME KNOW I COULD NEED A NEW BATTERY SO I APPROVED NEW BATTERY IF THAT'S WHAT IT NEEDED. ONCE INSPECTED FURTHER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THAT CAUSED MY DRIVEBELT TO DETERIORATE AND SLIDE OFF BELT TENSIONER. THE OIL LEAK WAS DUE TO NEEDING A NEW OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET, SO I REPLACED THAT AS WELL. I WASN'T WHAT CREATED THE OIL LEAK ISSUE ONLY THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291077 · 2019-12-24 (December 24, 2019)
IT A WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM MY VALVE COVER . AND I HAD TO ALSO REPLACE MY THERMOSTAT ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11291077 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V520000 · Exterior Lighting
Reported: 2015-08-17 (August 17, 2015)
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V288000 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 2024-04-24 (April 24, 2024)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V527000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2024-07-11 (July 11, 2024)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗