Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

53 reports

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2020

Unknown Or Other

MY CAR SMELLS LIKE MOLD AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE THE ISSUE TO REMOVE THE SMELL. I AM CONCERNED IT POSES A SERIOUS HEALTH RISK IF MOLD IS GROWING. THERE IS NOT WATER IN THE VEHICLE AS I HAVE CHECKED THE FLOOR BOARDS AND CUSHIONS. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE A/C FILTER AND CHECKED THE WATER DRAINS FOR THE SUN ROOF. ALL SEE…

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NHTSA ODI #11361379

146,000 miles · Sep 2, 2020

Air BagsElectrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW X1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES WITH THE ELECTRONIC PANELS AND GAUGES. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE WINDOW AND DOOR BUTTONS HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V087000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 20V017000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO CONTACT BMW OF SAN FRANCISCO LOCATED AT 1675 HOWARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 (628) 235-1200 BUT UNABLE TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #11352867

86,000 miles · May 12, 2020

Engine

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I HAVE BEEN ALERTED BY THE DEALER (BMW) THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE VEHICLE IS COMING LOOSE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES, IS SIX (6) YEARS OLD AND AVERAGES >14,000 MILES PER YEAR. IT HAS HAD NO OTHER MAINTENANCE ISSUES EXCEPT A THERMOSTAT, WHICH WAS REPLACED TWICE AT COST TO THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS INFORMED THAT BMW PROVIDED A WARRANTY OF 7-YEARS/70,000 MILES ON THE TIMING CHAIN, HOWEVER THE CAR IN QUESTION HAS SURPASSED THE MILEAGE CONSTRAINTS. I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH AND HAVE NOTICED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT THE N20 ENGINE INSTALLED IN A FEW DIFFERENT MODELS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE---MEANING THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, BUT IS NOT INFORMING CONSUMERS, AND INSTEAD, PASSING ALONG THE COST AND POTENTIAL HARM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324260

Official recalls

24V608000 · Electrical System:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:pump

Aug 13, 2024

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:pump

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

20V017000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 15, 2020

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. 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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.