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BMW 228IModel year report

2015 BMW 228I Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
37,500miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
26 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 22 city / 33 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2015 BMW 228I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2015 BMW 228I. The part named most often is electrical system, with 8 complaints (47% of the total), followed by engine cooling (5) and engine (3). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 37,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 346 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the connectors/plugs/receptacles and 103 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 36 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11341943, filed 2020-07, 34,000 miles

Engine cooling: “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 notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. …”

NHTSA complaint #11622748, filed 2024-10, 91,000 miles

Engine: “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 department of homeland security, uscis office. I tried every means to restart the engine, it would not start, I checked the battery and found it good. …”

NHTSA complaint #11289835, filed 2019-12, 78,800 miles

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 impact with steering wheel as a result of airbags not deploying. Whiplash, bruising, soreness also shown in driver following accident.”

NHTSA complaint #10919149, filed 2016-10, 30,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 31,000 and 50,000 miles.

0%0–108%10–2558%25–508%50–7517%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 37,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2016201720182019202020232024202552026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2015 BMW 228I version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
228i RWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic233527$3,050
228i RWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed manual223326$3,150
228i Convertible RWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic233326$3,150
228i xDrive AWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic233427$3,050
228i xDrive Convertible AWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic223226$3,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2015 BMW 228I → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 346 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 346 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 228I

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2021840,0003—28—Not enough data
20161829,9841—27—Rising
20151737,5003—26—Rising
2014716,5004—27—Not enough data

All BMW 228I model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015 BMW 228I have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2015 BMW 228I as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2015 BMW 228I is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 8 complaints (47% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 5.

Has the 2015 BMW 228I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2015 BMW 228I get?

The EPA rates the 2015 BMW 228I (228i, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 22 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2015 BMW 228I reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 37,500 miles and the middle half falls between 31,000 and 50,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.