RoadVitals

2022 BMW 228I

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Feb 19, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Aug 16, 2023
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2022 BMW 228I, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 52 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags125.0%
  • Electrical125.0%
  • Fuel system125.0%
  • Powertrain (other)125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; SEAT BELTS

Aug 16, 2023
144 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the driver to fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk: An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the receiver audio module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

Jul 20, 2022
5 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022 X1 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive30i, and 228i Gran Coupe vehicles. The high-pressure fuel rail may crack and result in a fuel leak within the engine compartment.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel rail, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 19, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 19, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported

We were picking up my wife’s 2022 BMW 228xi after having tinting applied to windows. As I was in the office paying for the work, my wife put her purse in the car and sat in the driver’s seat. She noticed the seat was too low and that her booster pad had been moved to the passenger seat. She had not touched any of the car's controls and was starting to turn to exit the car so she could place the pad in the driver’s seat. As she was beginning to turn, she heard the engine start and the car went into a full throttle acceleration which pushed her against the seat back. Before she could react to try to control the car, it was speeding down the parking lot and in 4 to 5 seconds reached the end of the lot and went over an approximate 40 foot bluff. Airborne, she passed over State Road 1460 and impacted a tree in the forest beyond the road. 911 was called and shortly after the Fire Department arrived to remove my wife from her car. An EMS unit transferred her to the Trauma 1 ER at a nearby hospital to treat her serious injuries. After seventeen days in the hospital she was transferred to a skilled nursing facility to continue her recovery

NHTSA ID
11719262
Incident
Jan 23, 2026
Airbags
Filed Sep 29, 2025
2 injuries reported

The contact owns a 2022 BMW 228i. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH and traveling over a bump in the roadway, all of the air bags deployed without warning or impact. The front windshield was cracked about halfway. The driver sustained injuries to her face and had marks and bruises on her legs and neck, and back, and a concussion. The other occupant had sustained bruises and welts; her bone was sticking out and was swollen, and medical attention was not provided. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to her residence. There was no reported fire. A DC number was provided by the police department. The contact mentioned she had been in a prior crash where the air bags did not deploy. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted by email, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11690265
Incident
Sep 27, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 8, 2022

From a stop, the car will refuse to stay in either Drive or Reverse and jumps back into Park as soon as you take your foot off the brake pedal. Message center says the car is rolling, but it is NOT! My wife has been stuck twice in a situation where she could not drive the car. She tried the parking brake, but since it is not rolling, it does not help. The actual reason is that a door is ajar. Even the sales people did not know this. It took the service manager to explain it. I have sold the car at a loss because my wife will not drive it.

NHTSA ID
11460143
Incident
Mar 24, 2022

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B010224

ENGINE

The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.

B310122

SUSPENSION

During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/orouter CV boots.

B640422

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

An interference noise (groaning noise) can be heard from within the heating and air-conditioning unit in thecenter of the instrument panel. The groaning noise always occurs when either a ventilation flap, air stratification flap or the recirculated airflap moves to a different position. Due to the complex design of the heating and air-conditioning unit, the kinematics causing it (top or bottom,left or right) may not be able to be precisely located. Depending on the vehicle model, the number of servomotors (and the associated kinematics unit) varies.Various models use either 2 or 3 servomotors.

B640416

STRUCTURE

Customer complains of a musty odor or damp front footwell carpet.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

B610524

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 – “HU-H: Reset” will be stored in the HU-H3.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 228I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024010
2023210
2022Viewing320
2021730
2020320
2016181142.4
2015173165.4
2014741

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.