2016 BMW 228i Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
71/100
#3 most-complained of 8 228i years
The 2016 BMW 228i has a complaint index of 71, ranking 3rd worst out of 8 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Electrical System complaints lead with 11 reports (61% share), followed by Engine issues at 9 complaints (50% share), with one recall covering water pump and electrical faults.
- Complaints
- 18
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 23 city / 34 hwy
Top 2016 BMW 228i problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System11 (61%)
- Engine9 (50%)
- Brakes2 (11%)
- Seat Belts2 (11%)
- Fuel System1 (6%)
- Steering1 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (6%)
What owners report
- Front seat belts tangle or twist and fail to retract, sometimes requiring repeated dealer visits without a permanent fix.
- Sunroof glass has shattered unexpectedly while driving on the highway at speed.
- A power train warning has appeared on the dashboard, followed by sudden loss of acceleration on the highway.
- Rear turn signal and brake lamp warnings have triggered due to dim lights and a partially melted ground wire terminal.
- Steering rack failure has caused sudden, complete loss of power steering with no prior warning.
- Owners report abnormal smoke odor while braking, linked to engine, engine cooling, and electrical system faults tied to the recall.
2016 BMW 228i recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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.
2016 BMW 228i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 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.
2016 compared with other 228i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 BMW 228i reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2016 228i a complaint index of 71 and a Caution verdict, ranking 3rd worst among the 8 model years tracked. Electrical System problems make up 61% of complaints for this year.
- What is the top problem area for the 2016 BMW 228i?
- Electrical System issues lead with 11 complaints (61% share) and a median failure mileage of 56,500. Engine problems follow with 9 complaints (50% share) at a median mileage of 110,000.
- Does the 2016 BMW 228i have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 24V608000) covers the Electrical System, involving water pump and plug connector inspection and replacement plus installation of a protective shield. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2016 228i compare to other years?
- The 2016 model's complaint index of 71 is worse than 2014 (43, Good) but better than 2015 (86, Avoid). Later years like 2020 and 2023 show much lower complaint indexes of 14 and 29.