2017 BMW 230I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 BMW 230I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Tires & wheels444.4%
- Airbags111.1%
- Brakes111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Other / unspecified111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
On 4/17/2025, we purchased 4 BRIDGESTONE tires at Discount Tire Company. The front two tires are model 225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF and the rear two tires are model 245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF. On 9/3/2025, we had to replace a front tire (225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF), due to a hole caused by pothole damage going about 40 mph. On 10/21/2025, we had to replace a rear tire (245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF) due to two bulges in the tire. Not sure of the cause. On 1/31/2026, the rear tire pressure went down while on the freeway, going about 60 mph. Upon stopping, the rear driver side tire had a hole in the side near the tire rim. Also on 1/31/2026, while checking the tires after getting the tire pressure warning, the front tire had a bulge in it.
On 4/17/2025, we purchased 4 BRIDGESTONE tires at Discount Tire Company. The front two tires are model 225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF and the rear two tires are model 245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF. On 9/3/2025, we had to replace a front tire (225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF), due to a hole caused by pothole damage going about 40 mph. On 10/21/2025, we had to replace a rear tire (245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF) due to a bulge in the tire. Not sure of the cause. On 1/31/2025, the rear tire pressure went down while on the freeway, going about 60 mph. Upon stopping, the tire had a hole in the side near the tire rim.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
BMW Passenger Restraint sensor failure due to a faulty sensor mat, so the passenger seatbelt will not lock or tighten when braking or in the event of an accident. Took it to the dealer and no evidence of a spill or user error that can tamper with the mat, the sensor simply died after minimal use of the passenger seat. This part should be recalled & BMW should have to cover the cost of this safety hazard caused by faulty parts. BMW only covers the sensor mat for 2 years even after replacement, which is unacceptable for a component that is vital to passenger safety.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
No emergency lights detecting any problems but the ebreak does not Work
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 230I. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and the vehicle was restarted and the coolant level dropped dramatically. The vehicle was driven to the residence and coolant was added. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, he observed a gushing sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact also stated that he observed condensation underneath the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil filler housing, coolant system, and some pieces of the drive block needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS I HAD TO REPLACE 4 RUN FLAT TIRES AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1300. THE TIRE WERE COMING OFF THE CAR, THERE WERE BUBBLES IN THE TIRE. BMW SAID "THAT HAPPENS WITH 2-SERIES CARS." THEY SAID THE LOW PROFILE CAUSES THIS WHEN YOU HIT POTHOLES. I DIDN'T HIT ANY POTHOLES. THE CAR THUMPS WHENEVER IT HITS EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS. I LIVE IN THE BURBS WHERE THE ROADS ARE RELATIVELY SMOOTH. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE WITH THE MANY CARS I LEASED BEFORE. BMW OF MT. KISCO WAS TOTALLING UNCARING AND DID NOT OFFER ANY SOLUTIONS DESPITE THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, NOT TO MENTION THE COST. I WANT TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE AFTER 1 YEAR OF THE 3 YEARS BUT THEY WOULDN'T EVEN RETURN MY CALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
BACK IN 12/2020, MY LOW COOLANT WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AS OF YESTERDAY 02/2021, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME, THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE SAME DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLANT HOSE LEAKING. I SEE ONLINE THAT BMW HAS THIS ISSUE WITH 2018 MODES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .