YearToAvoid

2014 BMW 428i Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#3 most-complained of 3 428i years

The 2014 BMW 428i has 36 NHTSA complaints, 6 recalls, and a complaint index of 0, ranking 3rd (best) among the 3 model years with data. Engine and electrical issues are the top reported problem areas.

Complaints
36
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
26
22 city / 33 hwy

Top 2014 BMW 428i problems

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

  1. Engine19 (53%)
  2. Electrical System17 (47%)
  3. Brakes8 (22%)
  4. Fuel System8 (22%)
  5. Other2 (6%)
  6. Steering2 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (6%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Fuel pump failures caused sudden acceleration surges or stalling, in one case leading to a crash.
  • Some owners reported the vehicle accelerating on its own while stopped, with smoke coming from the sides of the car.
  • Engine failure occurred in at least one case at 47,000 miles, requiring a full engine replacement that BMW would not warranty.
  • Electrical faults left door locks stuck, trapping occupants inside, and caused convertible hard tops to fail to close or leak.
  • Emergency brake cable holders came apart, letting the cable bounce near the transmission and drive shaft with a grinding noise.
  • Door handles reportedly melted without a diagnosed cause or recall coverage.
2014 BMW 428i complaints: complaints filed per month9Apr 2014Apr 2018Jul 2019Nov 2020Nov 2024Mar 2025Jul 2025
61 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2014 to Nov 2025; peak Feb 2025 (9).

2014 BMW 428i recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 24V527000Jul 11, 2024Airbags1,145 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.

    Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

See all 6 recalls for the 2014 BMW 428i →

2014 BMW 428i fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 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.

2014 compared with other 428i years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014No verdict036626
2015No verdict10077526
2016No verdict5043126

All BMW 428i years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 BMW 428i reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2014 428i has 36 complaints and a complaint index of 0, and it ranks 3rd (best) among the 3 model years tracked (2014-2016).
What are the most common problems with the 2014 BMW 428i?
Engine issues account for 53% of complaints and Electrical System issues account for 47%, with median failure mileage of 74,850 and 69,850 miles respectively.
Does the 2014 BMW 428i have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2014 428i, covering airbags, the electrical system water pump, and the fuel system, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2014 428i compare to other years?
The 2015 428i has 77 complaints and a complaint index of 100, while the 2016 428i has 43 complaints and an index of 50, making 2014 the year with the lowest complaint index of the three.

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.