2020 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 2020 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
- Electrical150.0%
- Visibility150.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
BMW F Series models between 2008-2021 have issues with rear turn signal malfunctions. On my car, the left turn signal stopped working and caused a fault warning. The dealership said the housing needed to be replaced, but then it started working normally, and then the right rear did the same. Since then, I have had intermittent failures on both the left and right sides. A simple google search shows many complaints about this issue as document here: https://www.google.com/search?q=BMW+rear+turn+signal+malfunction&oq=BMW+rear+turn+signal+malfunction&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIICAcQABgWGB4yCAgIEAAYFhgeMggICRAAGBYYHtIBCTEwMzk0ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Because they are turn signals, this is a serious safety issue. BMW charges a lot of money to replace these turn signals when it is clearly a manufacturing defect. There should be a recall ordered by BMW. My car is a 2020 with only 38,000 miles, this should never happen. Thank you!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 BMW 230I IN MAY 2020. ITS FIRST AND ONLY SERVICING WAS ON 12/9/20 FOR A 10,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND "MULTI-POINT INSPECTION," IN WHICH ONE OF THE INSPECTION ITEMS WAS "INSPECT SUNROOF OPERATION AND CHECK FOR LEAKS." 12/11/20 I WAS DRIVING TO MY OFFICE NORTHBOUND ON ESTRELLA BLVD WHEN AT APPROXIMATELY 8:53 AM, I HEARD WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS AN EXPLOSION. MY INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT PERHAPS A TIRE BLEW OUT. AS I THEN LOOKED AROUND AT THE WINDOWS AND THE DASHBOARD, I HEARD SOMETHING SCRAPING AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. I SLIGHTLY OPENED THE INTERIOR SUNROOF HATCH AND SAW THE SUNROOF GLASS WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE VISIBLE. I CLOSED THE INTERIOR SUNROOF HATCH AND THEN HEARD GLASS BLOWING OFF OF THE SUNROOF TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE CAR. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AS I WAS CONCERNED THE BLOWING GLASS WOULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. I PULLED TO A SIDE ROAD AS SOON AS SAFE TO DO SO AND MESSAGED MY WIFE ABOUT THE INCIDENT (ADRIANA VALENZUELA @ 8:56 AM). AS THE CAR WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL, I DROVE THE APPROXIMATE 3 1/2 MILES BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. AT 2:32 PM, THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM MY RESIDENCE AND TRANSPORTED TO ARROWHEAD BMW. AT 3:30 PM, I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM ARROWHEAD BMW.".......YOUR CAR JUST ARRIVED AND YOU MAY WANT TO CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS HIT BY A ROCK....." I ADVISED GOMEZ UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD I ACCEPT THAT "A ROCK" HAD HIT MY VEHICLE. I ALSO ADVISED THAT IN MY 23 YEARS AS AN FBI AGENT, I KNEW WHAT AN 'EXPLOSION" SOUNDED LIKE AND WHAT I EXPERIENCED EARLIER THAT MORNING REMINDED ME OF A "FLASHBANG" (USED BY SWAT TEAMS). IN ADDITION, IT IS VERY CLEAR FROM THE PHOTOS THAT THE GLASS HAD BEEN FORCED OUTWARD AND UPWARD FROM THE FORCE OF THE BREAKAGE SHE ADVISED THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE AN UPDATE FOR ME UNTIL AT LEAST 12/14/20.
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 .