INSTRUMENT PANEL HARD TO SEE DURING DAYLIGHT. UNABLE TO SEE SPEED AND TACHOMETER. CAN BE SAFETY ISSUE.
2017 BMW M2
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →Model-year median: 1.5
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2017 BMW M2
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 17 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Exterior Lighting: 15 reports
- Electrical System: 1 reports
- Engine: 1 reports
- Unknown Or Other: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all M2 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 15 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 →
- Engine. 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.
Exterior Lighting complaints
15 reportsPOOR INSTRUMENT GAUGE VISIBILITY UNDER SHADE OR OVERCAST. UNABLE TO SEE GAUGE MARKINGS DURING THE DAY BECAUSE THERE IS NO BACK LIGHTING. BMW CHANGED THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES IN THE 2018 MODEL DUE TO THIS ISSUE BUT DID OFFER ANY CHANGES FOR THE 2017 GENERATION.
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES (SPEED AND RPM) ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ UNDER BOTH BRIGHT SUNNY CONDITIONS, AND DARK SHADOW CONDITIONS (IN A TUNNEL, OR IN SHADE). WEARING SUNGLASSES? FORGET SEEING THEM AT ALL. I FIND IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I HAVE TO GLANCE DOWN AT THE GAUGES LONGER THAN NECESSARY AND TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD, …
Read full complaint
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES (SPEED AND RPM) ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ UNDER BOTH BRIGHT SUNNY CONDITIONS, AND DARK SHADOW CONDITIONS (IN A TUNNEL, OR IN SHADE). WEARING SUNGLASSES? FORGET SEEING THEM AT ALL. I FIND IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I HAVE TO GLANCE DOWN AT THE GAUGES LONGER THAN NECESSARY AND TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD, AND SQUINT TO DECIPHER WHAT SPEED I'M GOING. THE ONLY WAY TO HELP THIS (BUT NOT COMPLETELY) IS TO TURN ON THE PARKING LIGHTS WHICH TURNS ON THE BACKLIGHT. AT DUSK OR AT NIGHT IT READS FINE, BUT IN DAYLIGHT SUN OR SHADE IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I FIND IT TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN AND SAFETY FLAW AND DANGEROUS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE REMEDIED BY THE MANUFACTURER EITHER BY A SOFTWARE UPDATE, OR CLUSTER MODIFICATION. THANK YOU
POOR VISIBILITY OF GAUGE CLUSTER IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. MAKES READING THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER NEAR IMPOSSIBLE IN CERTAIN LIGHT CONDITIONS/SITUATIONS. THE 2018 MODELS HAVE A NEW GAUGE THAT SOLVES THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE PRE-2018 CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED TO HAVE THIS NEW CLUSTER INSTALLED BY BMW.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER) HAS NO LIGHTING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. IT IS A DARK SCREEN MUCH OF THE DAY AND I AM UNABLE TO CLEARLY AND QUICKLY SEE THE IMPORTANT GAUGES THERE, AS DESCRIBED. BMW PROVIDES NO WAY (BACK LIGHTING, ETC) TO MAKE THIS AREA VISIBLE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
DAYTIME GAUGE LIGHTING IS VERY DIM. IT IS HARD TO READ SPEEDOMETER TO TELL YOUR SPEED VERY UNSAFE. HAVE ASKED DEALER AND BMW TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE OWNED 8 BMW CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM.
UNABLE TO SEE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT BRIGHTNESS AND CONTRAST. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE, TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER READINGS IN CERTAIN DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITIONS.
WHEN DRIVING, THE UPPER HALF OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTAINING THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER IS COMPLETELY UNREADABLE UNDER DARK CONDITIONS SUCH AS GOING UNDER A BRIDGE OR IN AREAS WITH TREE COVERAGE OVERHEAD.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAN'T BE READ UNDER DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS. THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM ARE REALLY DIM AND I HAVE TO LOOK MORE THAN ONCE TO MAKE SURE OF MY CURRENT SPEED ETC. BAD LIGHTING EQUALS HAZARD AND DISTRACTION ON MY PART WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
Illustration