RoadVitals

2023 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.
2
Latest May 29, 2024
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.
1
Latest Sep 25, 2024
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 BMW 228I, most frequently naming the driver assistance, brakes and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 20 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

  • Driver assistance240.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Powertrain (other)120.0%

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

1 campaign 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
24V711000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Sep 25, 2024
7 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 228i, 228i xDrive, and 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4 vehicles. The bolts that connect the front body structure to the vehicle chassis may not have been tightened properly.
The risk: A loose front body structure may not adequately protect occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary, tighten the front structure bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. 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

BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 29, 2024

I have this model 2023 with about 6000 miles which makes a noise when in reverse. I have the same model year 2021 which has 25000 miles. The dealer states the brakes and rotors may have issues on the 25000 . If this occurs on a same model type two years apart and 19000 mile difference this is questionable. I have also had failure on the I drive system for frontal crash warning on 2023 not repaired after documenting it failed twice.

NHTSA ID
11591319
Incident
May 18, 2024
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 23, 2023

Shifter failure: IN DRIVE mode, the shifter moves to neutral with slight movement of wrist. The shifter is NOT locked thus requiring intentional shift movement, alas simply brushing your arm against it as you reach for the coffee or the radio causes the vehicle to STOP driving Safety Risk: While driving, the car STOPS accelerating and requires the owner to manually put the car back into drive, while other cars are gaining speed on the car, as it is an unintentional manunever, thus the driver does not realize the car has lost speed as it was not intended BMW Corporate, and Dealer were notified, not police, or insurance Both the dealer and the service tech stated this is allowed and acceptable I asked to return the vehicle and was told that I could NOT, despite vehicle being less than 30 days from purchase There were NO warning lamps, there are no messages that come on, the car simply stops driving as you are turning the radio or grabbing your coffee and the only symptom or warning is when you realize in fact the car has shifted

NHTSA ID
11533921
Incident
Jul 20, 2023

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.

B650121

No Bass or a cracking noise can be heard from the bass speakers.

B650421

STRUCTURE:BODY

A rattling/ droning noise is heard in the vehicle interior when the air conditioning (AC) is activated. Vibrationsare felt in the driver’s footwell.

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.

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—
2023Viewing210—
2022320—
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.