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: 5 of 5 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.
Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. 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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reports
84,400 miles · Oct 2, 2020
Engine
DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED OILING SYSTEM IN THE N55 ENGINE. WHEN THE CAR IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH G FORCES FROM THINGS SUCH AS TRACK DRIVING OR SPIRITED DRIVING. THE OIL SLOSHES IN IN THE PAN AND THE OIL PICK UP DOESN'T GET ANY OIL. THEREFORE THE ENGINE OIL STARVES AND MY CASE PRODUCES ROD KNOCK. WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THE ENGINE IS …
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DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED OILING SYSTEM IN THE N55 ENGINE. WHEN THE CAR IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH G FORCES FROM THINGS SUCH AS TRACK DRIVING OR SPIRITED DRIVING. THE OIL SLOSHES IN IN THE PAN AND THE OIL PICK UP DOESN'T GET ANY OIL. THEREFORE THE ENGINE OIL STARVES AND MY CASE PRODUCES ROD KNOCK. WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON TRACK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR HAD FRESH OIL AND WAS FILLED TO THE MAX. GOT A DRIVETRAIN WARNING, COOLED THE CAR DOWN. WOULDN'T RESTART UNLESS A JUMP BOX WAS USED TO GET ENOUGH CRANKING POWER. ONCE RESTARTED THE ENGINE HAD DEVOLPED A ROD KNOCK.
NHTSA ODI #11362413
30,000 miles · Jun 18, 2018
Structure
WHEN CAR IS PARKED, DRIVER SIDE DOOR OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE. THE LOCK ON THE DOOR WILL COME UP, BUT WILL NOT STAY AND RETURNS TO LOCKED POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DOOR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED BY USING THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON OR UNLOCK BUTTON ON KEY.
NHTSA ODI #11102415
32,000 miles · Mar 18, 2018
Air BagsSeats
WHILE PARKED I WAS MOVING THE DRIVER SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY BACK AND THEN TRIED TO MOVE IT FORWARD AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS STUCK IN THE POSITION. THE SEAT WOULD NOT RESPOND AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT FINALLY RESPONDED. AFTER THIS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID 'DRIVER RESTRAINT S…
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WHILE PARKED I WAS MOVING THE DRIVER SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY BACK AND THEN TRIED TO MOVE IT FORWARD AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS STUCK IN THE POSITION. THE SEAT WOULD NOT RESPOND AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT FINALLY RESPONDED. AFTER THIS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID 'DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION'
NHTSA ODI #11080055
43,000 miles · Mar 2, 2017
Power Train
AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY (TRYING TO GET TO 70MPH) THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND A WARNING FLASHED UP SAYING "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY". I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE. AFTER WHICH I WAS RESTRICTED TO 50MPH AND AROUND 1700RPM. CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND SLOW AND WAS DANGEROUS CONSIDERING I WAS ON AN E…
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AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY (TRYING TO GET TO 70MPH) THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND A WARNING FLASHED UP SAYING "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY". I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE. AFTER WHICH I WAS RESTRICTED TO 50MPH AND AROUND 1700RPM. CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND SLOW AND WAS DANGEROUS CONSIDERING I WAS ON AN EXPRESSWAY.
NHTSA ODI #10958057
6,599 miles · May 11, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 11 AM AT 35 MPH AND THE CAR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION SEE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CAR JUST STALLED. YOU COULD NOT START ENGINE BECAUSE LATER ON ABOUT A WEEK WE LEARNED THAT IT WAS A BMW RECALL OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH THE DEALER WASN'T EVEN INFORMED ON BY BMW CORPORATE.…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 11 AM AT 35 MPH AND THE CAR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION SEE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CAR JUST STALLED. YOU COULD NOT START ENGINE BECAUSE LATER ON ABOUT A WEEK WE LEARNED THAT IT WAS A BMW RECALL OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH THE DEALER WASN'T EVEN INFORMED ON BY BMW CORPORATE. I COULDN'T EVEN GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START SO THE CAR KEPT GOING BACK INTO PARK SO THE CAR WOULDN'T ROLL AS SAFETY FEATURE. WE NOTIFIED BMW EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND IT TOOK THEM 7 HOURS TO SEND TOW TRUCK AFTER 3 DIFFERENT CALLS BACK INTO THEM. THE FIRST TOW TRUCK THEY SENT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE AS OF 2010 BMW TOOK OUT FROM THEIR CARS AN EMERGENCY BACK UP WAY TO GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i Coupe, M235i Coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, ActiveHybrid 3, 328xi Sports Wagon, 428i Coupe, 428xi Coupe, 435i Coupe, 435xi Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428xi Convertible, 435i Convertible, 328xi Gran Turismo, 335xi Gran Turismo, and 2015 428i Gran Coupe, 428xi Gran Coupe, and 435i Gran Coupe vehicles. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2014 BMW M235I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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