2015 BMW 228i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
86/100
#2 most-complained of 8 228i years
The 2015 BMW 228i has a Complaint Index of 86, ranking 2nd worst out of 8 model years, with a verdict of Avoid. NHTSA logs 17 complaints, 3 recalls, 2 crashes, and 1 fire, with Engine (53% of complaints) as the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 17
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 26
- 23 city / 33 hwy
Top 2015 BMW 228i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine9 (53%)
- Electrical System8 (47%)
- Airbags2 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (12%)
- Fuel System1 (6%)
- Other1 (6%)
- Seat Belts1 (6%)
- Steering1 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (6%)
What owners report
- Engine can suddenly stall or lose power while driving at highway speeds, sometimes with a dashboard message about drivetrain output not available.
- Some owners report smoke coming from the engine compartment along with the instrument panel going blank while driving.
- Airbags have failed to deploy in crash situations, including a multi-car pileup and an embankment crash, resulting in injuries.
- Electrical faults have caused wiper motors to behave erratically and rear turn signal or brake lights to stop working intermittently.
- Seat belts have jammed and fractured at the door pillar, requiring dealer replacement, with the failure recurring after repair.
- The power steering and stability control warning lights have come on together, with dealers pointing to a steering rack issue.
2015 BMW 228i recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V871000Dec 17, 2025Airbags851 vehicles
Air bags:side/window:head
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 24V608000Aug 13, 2024Electrical System720,796 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 24V288000Apr 24, 2024Airbags5,761 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
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.
Risk: 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.
2015 BMW 228i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 26 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,050
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other 228i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 BMW 228i reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2015 228i ranks 2nd worst out of 8 model years for this model, with a Complaint Index of 86 and a verdict of Avoid relative to other 228i years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW 228i?
- Engine issues make up 53% of complaints (9 of 17), including stalling and loss of power, followed by Electrical System issues at 47% (8 complaints), such as wiper motor malfunctions and light failures.
- Does the 2015 BMW 228i have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2015 228i covering airbags and the electrical system, including a water pump and plug connector inspection/replacement campaign and two head airbag replacement campaigns.
- At what mileage do 2015 BMW 228i problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints for this year is 37,500 miles, though Engine complaints specifically show a median of 64,400 miles.
- How does the 2015 228i compare to other 228i model years?
- The 2015 228i's Complaint Index of 86 is higher than the 2014 model (43, Good) and the 2016 model (71, Caution), placing it near the worst end of the range among the 8 model years tracked.