Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

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Steering complaints

1 reports

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44,000 miles · May 30, 2017

Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering

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HORN, AIR BAG AND ALL STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONICS PERMANENTLY SEASED WORKING AFTER A SNAP NOISE FROMTHE STEERING COLUMN HAPPEN, DRIVER SYSTEM RESTRAIN ERROR LIGHT CAME ON. WHILE GOING IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF PARKING SPOT THE STEERING WAS TURNED FAR LEFT TO GET INTO THE STREET. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING A NOISE THAT RESEMBLES PLASTICS BREAKING CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN COMPARTMENT AND CLICKING SOUND THAT STILL OCCURS TODAY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOTICEABLE AND CONCERNING IF STEERING IS RELIABLE AND SAFE. WHEN THE ORIGINAL CRACKING NOISE OCCURRED THE COMPUTER WENT OFF WITH A DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE ERROR. SINCE THEN ALL COMPONENTS SUCH BUTTONS, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, VOLUME, PHONE, AIR BAG ETC STOPPED WORKING. THE MOST CONCERNING COMPONENT THAT STOPPED WORKING IS THE HORN AND AIRBAG THAT OBVIOUSLY PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A COMPONENT THAT IS NEEDED FOR SAFETY INSPECTION CHECKS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 44000 MILES TOTAL AND THE COMPONENTS FAILURE CANNOT BE BLAMED TO DRIVER IMPROPER USE OF THE CAR THAT CAN BE FILED WITH INSURANCE. THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS INVOLVING AIR BAGS, HORN AND OTHERS SHOULD BE RELIABLE AND STAY WORKING FOR MUCH LONGER THAN 44K MILES AND SHOULD BE A RECALL AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE. A BMW MASTER MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THESE A REPLACEABLE COMPONENTS THAT GO INSIDE THAT STEERING COLUMN COMPARTMENT THAT ARE KNOWN FOR BREAKING AND THAT BMW HAS COME OUT WITH SEVERAL "IMPROVED VERSIONS" OF THE COMPONENT SINCE THE CAR FIRST WAS RELEASED IN 2010.

NHTSA ODI #10992369

Official recalls

14V176000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 10, 2014

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.