YearToAvoid

2022 BMW 228i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 8 228i years

The 2022 BMW 228i has a complaint index of 100, the highest complaint index among the 8 model years with data, ranking it 1st worst. It has 3 complaints, 2 recalls, 1 crash, and 3 injuries reported to NHTSA.

Complaints
3
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
27.5
23.5 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2022 BMW 228i problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags1 (33%)
  2. Electrical System1 (33%)
  3. Fuel System1 (33%)
  4. Other1 (33%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain1 (33%)

What owners report

  • Airbags deployed without warning or impact while driving over a bump at 25 MPH, cracking the windshield and injuring occupants.
  • The transmission refuses to hold Drive or Reverse from a stop and jumps back into Park as soon as the driver releases the brake pedal, even though the dashboard message claims the car is rolling.
  • A driver's seat position and seat memory changed on their own, moving a booster pad to the passenger seat without anyone touching the controls, tied to an electrical system complaint involving a crash.
  • Owners describe getting stranded after the transmission drops into Park unexpectedly, with the parking brake unable to help since the car was not actually rolling.
2022 BMW 228i complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2022Sep 2025Feb 2026
5 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2022 to Feb 2026; peak Feb 2026 (3).

2022 BMW 228i recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V584000Aug 16, 2023Electrical System144 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the driver to fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the receiver audio module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 22V513000Jul 20, 2022Fuel System5 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022 X1 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive30i, and 228i Gran Coupe vehicles. The high-pressure fuel rail may crack and result in a fuel leak within the engine compartment.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel rail, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 19, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

2022 BMW 228i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23.5 MPG
Highway
33.5 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,900
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.

2022 compared with other 228i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020142015201620202021202220232024
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2020No verdict143227
2021Caution577327.5
2022No verdict1003227.5
2023No verdict292127.5
2024No verdict00127.5

All BMW 228i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 BMW 228i reliable?
NHTSA lists 3 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2022 228i, giving it a complaint index of 100, the highest of the 8 model years with data. That ranks it 1st worst among 228i years, though the raw complaint count is low.
What problems does the 2022 BMW 228i have?
Owners reported issues split evenly across Airbags, Electrical System, Fuel System, and Transmission & Powertrain, each accounting for 33% of complaints. One complaint involved an unexpected airbag deployment that caused injuries.
Does the 2022 BMW 228i have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a receiver audio module software issue affecting the electrical system, and one for a high-pressure fuel rail that may crack and leak fuel. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2022 228i compare to other 228i years?
The 2022 228i has the highest complaint index (100) among the 8 model years with data, ranking 1st worst. By contrast, 2014 has a complaint index of just 43 and a 'Good' verdict.
What is the fuel economy of the 2022 BMW 228i?
The 2022 228i is EPA-rated at 27.5 MPG combined (23.5 city / 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.