RoadVitals

2015 BMW 650I

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 Jan 20, 2022
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 Jul 11, 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.
1
1 currently open
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 BMW 650I, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and other / unspecified categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 282 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 assistance125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Other / unspecified125.0%
  • 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

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

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jul 11, 2024
1,145 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The 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.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA21002OpenEngineering Analysis

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 20, 2022

Unknown

NHTSA ID
11448242
Incident
Jan 1, 2022
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 14, 2019

RIM'S CRACKING I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN AUGUST OF 2018 ACCORDING TO THE ODOMETER IN HAD JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN 28000 MILES OTHER THAN THE RIMS I'VE BEEN VERY PLEASE WITH THE CAR I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE I PURCHASED IT THEY ACCESS THE DAMAGES AND SAID THAT THEY COULD BE REPAIRED LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER AFTER THE REPAIR ONE OF THEM HAS CRACKED AGAIN THE CRACKS WAS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE RIM I HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT ON ONE OF THEM THERE'S A CRACK ON THE SPOKE AND THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH 3 OUT OF 4 RAMS THAT I KNOW OF. I'M SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11196146
Incident
Jan 7, 2019
Mileage
33,220 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 14, 2018

VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING AN INTERMITTENT VIBRATION THAT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAN BE FELT IN BOTH THE DRIVER, PASSENGER SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. GENERAL MANAGER AS WELL AS SHOP FOREMAN DROVE VEHICLE TO CONFIRM ABNORMAL VIBRATION AND SCHEDULED SERVICE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT DIAGNOSING PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VIBRATION IS NORMAL WITH THIS MODEL. THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS WRONG WITH THAT ANSWER, 1) IF THIS IS A NORMAL VIBRATION, THEN WHY ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE IN THE FIRST PLACE? AND 2) SINCE THIS IS NOT A NORMAL VIBRATION, BEING THAT IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO BE FELT INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHAT OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVELINE ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS VIBRATION AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL OVER TIME TO HAVE CATESTROPHIC FAILURE? THE VEHICLE IS UNDER FULL FACTORY WARRANTY, SO ONE WOULD THINK THAT EVERY AVAILABLE OPTION TO DIAGNOSE ISSUE WOULD BE EXPLORED BEFORE SETTLING ON ,"THESE VEHICLES JUST VIBRATE". WHERE IS THE SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM? OR IS THIS SIMPLY A CASE OF NOT WANTING TO DO THE WARRANTY WORK? EITHER WAY, THE POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER EXIST! *JS

NHTSA ID
11079173
Incident
Jan 26, 2018
Mileage
9,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

B010122

ENGINE

N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

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.

B340914

WHEELS

The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) warning light comes on while driving. The following DSC fault codes for the wheel speed sensors are stored: 480712 and/or 480715 and/or 480718 and/or 48071B They cannot be cleared, even though the wheel speed sensors work correctly and no problem can be found with the wiring harness.

B651523

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.

B010122

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Isley, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC. The Settlement Benefits are effective and available on and after February 9, 2022. Note: This bulletin is a notice of a Class Action Settlement Service Campaign benefits that are now available.

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 650I by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018001
2017111
2016001
2015Viewing311
2014601
2013160137.7
2012202151.8
2010500
2009400
2008600
2007221044.1
2006201147.9

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.