KnownCarProblems2015 BMW 428i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 BMW 428i, most often about the engine (47% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is the most complained-about 428i model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2015 BMW 428i problems
Engine
37 complaints · 47%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 428i. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal cracking sound. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact…
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 428i. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a smoky odor coming from the vehicle and the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact pulled the vehicle over and turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was able to restart. The…
Electrical
35 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 428i. The contact was notified 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 made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact…
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 428i. 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 contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, smoke was coming from under the hood, entering…
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 17%Explosion of sunroof while driving without any apparent reason. Was not driving undee any overpass and I didn't see any objects hitting the car. Heard a big boom and suddenly I was covered in glass from the sunroof. Had minor cuts on face and hands
Recently the drivers side door will remain locked when trying to open from inside the vehicle. At the time this happened the car was parked, off, and I was attempting to exit the vehicle to go into a grocery store
Air bags
7 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: sensor.
Airbags in the BMW are malfunctioning and producing a fault of the system listed as a "malfunction". BMW does not warranty this though it is a safety system that should be subjected to fixing faulty systems that could injure drivers and passengers. I purchased a 3rd party warranty for my car through map when I…
I brought my car in after a faulty airbag light went off. Was notified by BMW that the seat sensor was faulty causing the airbag to shut off. This fault is well-known to BMW and I wrote a complaint based on my initial contact that BMW would not take responsibility. I received a call back from BMW about the complaint…
Brakes
6 complaints · 8%I started the car and got it out of my garage. Stopped the car, engaged "park" on the electronic gear-shift lever, and activated the parking brake by pulling on the manual lever. Got out of the car without turning it off and manually closed my garage door. The car, stood still for about 45 seconds on my driveway…
Vacuum pump leaking oil into brake booster. Engine oil leaking into brake booster damaged master cylinder causing the car not to brake potentially causing a crash. We noticed the brakes not functioning correctly while driving on city streets.
Fuel system
5 complaints · 6%I smelled a funny smell, and then the entire dash went black. A "engine malfunction" warning came on. I stopped right away, got out of the car just as it burst into flames. The entire incident happened in a matter of seconds.
Body and structure
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body.
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: pressure monitoring and regulating systems, tread/belt.
The contact owned a 2015 BMW 428i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle drove over a pot and the air pressure monitoring system warning had displayed. After stopping the vehicle, flames and smoke were present coming from the front driver side wheel well. The fire department was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 BMW 428i recalls
Electrical: connectors/plugs/receptacles
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: side/window
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed november 4, 2024. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 series coupe (228i, 228i xdrive, m235i), 3 series sedan (320i, 320i xdrive, 328i, 328i xdrive, 335i, 335i xdrive, m3, 328d, 328d xdrive), 4 series coupe (428i, 428i xdrive, 435i, 435i xdrive, m4), and 2015 4 series gran coupe (428i, 428i xdrive, 435i, 435i 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.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on may 28, 2015. The recall began on july 6, 2015. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i coupe, m235i coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, activehybrid 3, 328xi sports wagon, 428i coupe, 428xi coupe, 435i coupe, 435xi coupe, 428i convertible, 428xi convertible, 435i convertible, 328xi gran turismo, 335xi gran turismo, and 2015 428i gran coupe, 428xi gran coupe, and 435i gran coupe vehicles. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
Air bags
Risk: If the driver's front air bag deployment timing is incorrect, there is an increased risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the air bag control module with corrected software version, free of charge. The recall began may 11, 2015. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2015 428i convertible, 428i xdrive convertible, 435i convertible, and 435i xdrive convertible vehicles manufactured october 22, 2014, to february 27, 2015. Due to a programming error, the driver's front air bag deployment timing may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2015 BMW 428i
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 BMW 428i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (37 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); electrical (35 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); other or unspecified (13 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2015 BMW 428i have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 13, 2024 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the BMW 428i?
- It is the most complained-about 428i model year since 2000, with 78 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.