2015 Bmw 228I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Bmw 228I has 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: the engine quit running while on interstate highway. a message appeared on the dashboard screen "maximum drivetrain output not available." the engine re-started after pulling off the highway and placed in "park". this event occurred on two different occasions approximately 4000 miles apart.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 2 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

8 complaints

29%

• THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN "MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE." THE ENGINE RE-STARTED AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PLACED IN "PARK". THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES APART.
• ON DECEMBER 4, 2019, I WAS DRIVING MY BMW X1 TO WORK AT 52 MILE PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE ALL OF SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING. THIS ALMOST GOT ME INTO A VERY DEADLY CAR ACCIDENT DURING BUSY TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE APPROACHING A LEFT TURN LANE INTO OUR OFFICE PLAZA NEAR US DEPA
• The contact owns a 2015 BMW 228I. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the instrument panel went blank and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notif

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN "MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE." THE ENGINE RE-STARTED AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PLACED IN "PARK". THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES APART.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

7 complaints

25%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMIN
• REAR LEFT TURN SIGNAL/BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NORMAL DRIVING IN CITY. WENT OFF AND ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, NOW THE WARNING IS ACTIVE ALL THE TIME, AND LEFT TAIL LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL NO LONGER WORK.
• The contact owns a 2015 BMW 228I. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the instrument panel went blank and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notif

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

• BMW HIT VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT WHILE EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HIT DIRECTLY FROM BEHIND IN I-70 4 CAR PILE-UP. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN VEHICLE IN FRONT (KIA) AND VEHICLE BEHIND (AUDI) BUT DID NOT DEPLOY FROM BMW. DRIVER'S CHIN WAS GASHED OPEN, PROBABLY FROM
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 2281. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT ALSO ADVISED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENG

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“BMW HIT VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT WHILE EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HIT DIRECTLY FROM BEHIND IN I-70 4 CAR PILE-UP. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN VEHICLE IN FRONT (KIA) AND VEHICLE BEHIND (AUDI) BUT DID NOT DEPLOY FROM BMW. DRIVER'S CHIN WAS GASHED OPEN, PROBABLY FROM ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMIN
• THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN "MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE." THE ENGINE RE-STARTED AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PLACED IN "PARK". THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES APART.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

1 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS BECAME JAMMED IN THE DOOR PILLAR, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELTS TO FRACTURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS BECAME JAMMED IN THE DOOR PILLAR, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELTS TO FRACTURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 28 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN "MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE." THE ENGINE RE-STARTED AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PLACED IN "PARK". THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES APART.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: BMW HIT VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT WHILE EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY HIT DIRECTLY FROM BEHIND IN I-70 4 CAR PILE-UP. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN VEHICLE IN FRONT (KIA) AND VEHICLE BEHIND (AUDI) BUT DID NOT DEPLOY FROM BMW. DRIVER'S CHIN WAS GASHED OPEN, PROBABLY FROM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW 228I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)