BMW 228IModel year report

2016 BMW 228I Problems

Complaints: 18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 29,984miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 1campaigns 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: 27 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 23 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 BMW 228I (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2016 BMW 228I. The part named most often is electrical system, with 11 complaints (61% of the total), followed by engine cooling (9) and brakes (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 78% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 29,984 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 309 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 83 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the pump and 33 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.

Electrical system11 61%
Engine cooling9 50%
Brakes2 11%
Seat belts2 11%
Exterior lighting1 5.6%
Fuel system1 5.6%
Steering1 5.6%
Transmission and drivetrain1 5.6%
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)1 5.6%
Wheels1 5.6%

Example complaints

Electrical system: “On feb 2, 2017 my car (2016 Bmw 228I) spontaneously combusted in my driveway after being parked for approximately 4-1/2 hours. The vehicle had less that 13,000 miles on the odometer, and was last serviced (which was the 1st scheduled service) three months prior at the Bmw dealership. I purchased (jan 2016) the vehicle new which was special ordered and delivered from germany (mar 2016). I had no mechanical or electrical problems prior to the incident. …”

NHTSA complaint #10953688, filed 2017-02, 13,000 miles

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 2016 BMW 228I. The contact stated that intermittently, while driving at undisclosed speeds and depressing the brake pedal, there was an abnormal odor of smoke. The braking lamp malfunction light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined the failure was related to the engine, engine cooling, and electrical system. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. …”

NHTSA complaint #11632741, filed 2024-12, 100,000 miles

Seat belts: “After multiple issues with the driver seat belt getting tangled and not working properly, I went to my local Bmw dealership to have the issue fixed. While it was fixed for a period of about three days it got tangled again, and now is completely nonfunctional due to the fact that the mechanism holding the seatbelt in place appears faulty. I cannot, my letter of the law, drive my automobile with a seat belt but that does not work.”

NHTSA complaint #11321837, filed 2020-04, 29,984 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

78% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 13,000 and 49,000 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 29,984 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.

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 2016 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).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
228i RWD	2.0L 4-cyl	8-speed automatic	23	35	27	$3,050
228i RWD	2.0L 4-cyl	6-speed manual	22	33	26	$3,150
228i Convertible RWD	2.0L 4-cyl	8-speed automatic	23	34	27	$3,050
228i xDrive AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	8-speed automatic	23	34	27	$3,050
228i xDrive Convertible AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	8-speed automatic	22	33	26	$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

24V608000Aug 13, 2024
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Pump
Covers: BMW 228I 2014–2016, 528I 2012–2016, 328I 2012–2016 +8 more
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…

Recall details for the 2016 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. 309 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

11009423Oct 25, 2024Fuel system. Fuel tank limited warranty for leakage, due to defects in materials or workmanship, has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date
11009422Oct 25, 2024Fuel system. Fuel tank limited warranty for leakage, due to defects in materials or workmanship, has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date
10249027Jan 11, 2024Electrical system. The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers…
10249018Jan 8, 2024Steering. At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be…
10245376Nov 16, 2023Steering. The steering wheel heating takes a long time to achieve the desired temperature.
10245365Nov 13, 2023Engine cooling. Pressure control valve (pcv) extended ltd wty 15 years/150,000 miles
10245372Nov 8, 2023Body and structure. The paint finish on the door jamb (above the door striker) is scratched due to the inner door cavity window seal.
10238090May 1, 2023Electrical system. After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.
10235205Mar 1, 2023Electrical system, Equipment. The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For…
10230722Dec 1, 2022Transmission and drivetrain. After an automatic engine start (MSA start), the transmission intermittently goes into the Park "P" or Neutral "N" position without any customer influence.

See all 309 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 228I

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2021	8	40,000	3	—	28	—	Not enough data
2016	18	29,984	1	—	27	—	Rising
2015	17	37,500	3	—	26	—	Rising
2014	7	16,500	4	—	27	—	Not enough data

All BMW 228I model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 BMW 228I have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2016 BMW 228I as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 BMW 228I is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 11 complaints (61% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 9.

Has the 2016 BMW 228I been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2016 BMW 228I get?

The EPA rates the 2016 BMW 228I (228i, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 23 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 BMW 228I reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 29,984 miles and the middle half falls between 13,000 and 49,000 miles; 78% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.