BMW Problems

13,395 owner complaints across 137 BMW models. Below — what fails first, how often it ends in a crash, and which models draw the most reports.

NHTSA owner complaints · 13,395 reports · 137 models · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

BMW owners have filed 13,395 complaints with NHTSA across 137 models. On average the car was 6.40 years old when the problem happened, and 25.9% of reports fall inside the first three years — while the factory warranty was still running.

What breaks on BMW

The systems BMW owners report most, and how often each failure ended in a crash.

FIG.01·BMW — what breaks
SystemComplaintsShare of BMWEnded in a crash
Air Bags1,54811.6%9.2%
Engine1,1938.9%0.8%
Steering1,0647.9%1.8%
Power Train7525.6%1.9%
Engine And Engine Cooling7155.3%0.3%
Electrical System6965.2%1.6%
Unknown Or Other6074.5%2.6%
Fuel/Propulsion System4263.2%0.7%
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

When BMW problems show up

FIG.02·BMW — when problems appear
MeasureValueWhat it means
Average age at failure6.40 yearsHow old the car was when the problem happened
Reported inside 3 years25.9%Share of complaints filed while the factory warranty was likely still running
Complaints describing a crash591Of 13,395 total
Complaints describing a fire492Of 13,395 total
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

A low average age does not automatically mean a fragile car: a brand with a young fleet on the road will always skew early. Read it next to the share reported inside three years.

Which BMW models draw the most complaints

Volume follows sales, so a bestseller will always top this list. The columns worth reading are age at failure and how many reports ended in a crash.

FIG.03·BMW models by owner complaints
ModelComplaintsShare of BMWAvg age at failureCrashes
X52,28017%6.0 yrs86
328I1,42010.6%8.3 yrs81
X31,36010.2%5.8 yrs70
Z41,0898.1%8.4 yrs13
528I5193.9%7.5 yrs16
X15163.9%4.1 yrs24
3 SERIES4863.6%6.7 yrs14
X72952.2%2.7 yrs9
M32862.1%5.0 yrs16
535I2561.9%7.2 yrs14
5 SERIES2491.9%4.7 yrs7
X3 SAV2151.6%6.4 yrs7
325I2021.5%9.3 yrs12
335I1851.4%6.5 yrs10
328D1751.3%6.5 yrs4
ROWS 15·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

BMW complaints by model year

A bad generation shows up here as a block of years, not as a single spike. Recent years look quiet simply because those cars are young and still under warranty.

FIG.04·BMW complaints by model year
Model yearComplaintsCrashesFires
2026405—
2025185283
2024364403
2023221221
2022264178
20213261910
20204081216
2019495166
20183081610
2017429163
2016431137
20154702021
20146845024
20136373716
2012565915
20111,7214478
2010272614
2009346717
20085831425
20075062132
20066972131
20053891020
20046591832
2003477913
200210346
ROWS 25·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints

What BMW owners report

Grouped by the system owners named. Open any row for the full reports, in their own words — one per model so the same fault does not repeat.

Air Bags 12% 1,548 Read
2001 BMW 325I · crash · fire

The contact owned a 2001 bmw 325i. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle shifted to the left side of the road and flipped over six times. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle caught fire, which was extinguished by the fire department. The driver sustained a sprain to her neck and back, consistent headaches, and internal bleeding from her gallbladder. The other passenger sustained injuries to the neck and back, but specifics were not available. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000

2006 BMW 5 SERIES · crash · fire

The contact owns a 2006 bmw 525i. While driving approximately 10 mph, the contact's wife began to feel dizzy. The next thing she remembered is smoke appearing under the hood and she rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was injured and had to be transported to the hospital. The vehicle sustained damage to the front end. A police report was filed. There were no air bag recalls, but there is an open investigation regarding the air bags. The current and failure mileages were 14,500

2021 BMW X1 · crash

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X1. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 10 MPH, she was involved in a head-on crash with another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The driver was transported to the hospital for level two severe trauma to the neck, head, and chest with pain. The contact stated that there was a possibility that the failure was caused by the dealer. There was an air bag system sensor malfunction at the time of the purchase. The dealer was called and provided the documentation for previous work performed, but there was none about the air bag. The contact believed that the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000

Engine 9% 1,193 Read
2015 BMW 528I · fire

On the morning of November 2, 2025, around 10:30, I had drove up to the church, parked my car. What I thought was an overheated engine. I decided to go inside the church and deal with what I thought was an overheated engine. About 12-25 minutes later, while inside the church, I got new that a Black BMW was on fire. Someone had already called the fire department and police. The engine is totally destroyed, and beyond repair. It is more likely than not the faulty water pump is the causation of the fire. I had no previous maintenance issues with the car. I had not received any notification of a recall, nor was I aware prior to November 2, 2025

2022 BMW X3 · fire

While driving, noticed smoke coming from under the hood. Immediately pulled in a parking lot where the smoke turned to fire and burned the entire car by the time fire dept arrived. I was the only person in the car and was luckily able to exit the vehicle before the actual fire started. Incident reported to insurance company and they are investigating. There were no dash warning lights of any kind

2021 BMW M440I · fire

The car basically blew up on the highway at rush hour. BMW knows of this issue with this model and has some of their other models under a recall for this very thing. I have a service action from BMW saying that the water pump assembly needs to be fixed before this very problem occurs but for some reason even though our model is on the service report it isn't on the recall list nor was this part replaced as instructed even though the vehicle has always been service at a BMW dealership. It was very dangerous as their were flames and burning hot coolant and shards of metal shooting everywhere as my son was on the highway being passed by big trucks. Weren't going too fast as we were just getting on the highway merging in which was also dangerous as everyone else was going fast. BMW has given me the runaround from department to department on this even though they all seem to agree that mine should be part of the recall or already fixed which was obvious because the new part is made of a different material than the old original part. On their service action my car is the G22 series clearly listed

Steering 8% 1,064 Read
2007 BMW Z4 · crash · fire

Case number [xxx] from fars 2012 database. Car ran off right side of roadway while negotiating curve in road and hit a tree. Sole-occupant driver perished in subsequent fire. Six months before accident, victim reported that car "occasionally pops and/or squeaks when cornering" in request for service appointment with stevens creek bmw. Pls note that lat/long in fars contradicts report that accident occurred on central expwy eastbound immediately east of bernardo ave. *tt information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

2026 BMW X3 · crash

The contact owned a 2026 BMW X3. The contact stated while reversing at an undisclosed speed out of the garage at the residence, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the vehicle skidded on the ice, and the rear end crashed into a tree. There was no warning light illuminated during the failure. There was no air bags deployed during the crash. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was drivable and was taken to a Collision Center in Bloomington, Illinois, where it was inspected, and the vehicle was deemed a total loss by the Insurance Provider. The contact research and was made aware of an NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V857000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the VIN was not under recall when the crash occurred but had since received the recall notification. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 900

2009 BMW 3 SERIES · crash

While attempting to make a right turn the steering wheel locked and at that time the brakes became unresponsive as well. This resulted in a motor vehicle accident as my car only stopped by hitting another car waiting at the opposite light. It can be compared to sliding on a patch of ice, but there is no option to move the wheel to try and regain control of your car. I am very thankful that I was not on the interstate when this occurred. There is a very serious safety hazard as I have done some research and found that this is a common issue with this particular automobile make

Power Train 6% 752 Read
2015 BMW 528i · crash

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while driving up a ramp at 5 MPH, the transmission unintendedly shifted into Neutral (N) and the engine experienced a total loss of motive power. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle rolled backward, struck the front bumper of another vehicle, and stopped upon impact. The vehicle sustained rear bumper damage. The airbags did not deploy. A police report was not filed, and no injuries or property damage were reported. The vehicle was not towed. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed due to diagnostic costs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000

2024 BMW R 1300 GS · crash

Component/System: Clutch assembly (friction plates/engagement mechanism) While riding my 2024 BMW R1300GS with approximately 3,000 miles on the odometer, the clutch suddenly failed while climbing a rocky hillside trail. The clutch stopped engaging entirely, which caused an immediate loss of power to the rear wheel and resulted in a crash. Safety Risk: This failure created a serious safety hazard. The loss of power occurred on a steep, rocky slope, and I could have easily fallen off the side of the hill when the motorcycle lost traction and stalled. The failure left me stranded in a remote location, requiring a 45-mile tow on backroads in Idaho. This incident put both my safety and the safety of others at risk. Inspection/Confirmation: •The failure has not yet been reproduced by a dealer or independent service center, but the motorcycle and failed clutch are available for inspection upon request. •At the time of filing this complaint, the motorcycle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Symptoms/Warnings: There were no warning lights, error messages, or prior symptoms indicating a problem. The clutch failed without warning

2024 BMW IX · crash

On 9/6/2023 I arrived home at [XXX] around 3:30 pm. I stopped the car and put the car in "Park". Immediately car moved with full force like a rocket and hit the garage wall head on. Car got stalled, while this happened I still had my seat belt on. I was able to reverse the car about 5 feet and put back in park but I was not able to shut off the car engine manually. I have been using the wallet key on my apple phone. That also failed to stop the engine of the car. Then I went inside the house and brought the physical key and it was able to shut the engine off. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine And Engine Cooling 5% 715 Read
2023 BMW X4 · fire

The contact owns a 2023 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while idling at a stoplight, the vehicle caught on fire. The driver was able to exit the vehicle safely. There were no reported injuries. A Police and Fire Department report was filed. The Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000

2016 BMW X3 · fire

The contact owned a 2016 BMW X3. The contact stated that while parking in the garage, the warning message "engine overheated" had displayed, but the temperature gauge displayed a normal temperature reading. The contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood before entering the home, along with a strange sound. Moments later, the contact returned to the garage and discovered flames coming from under the front end of the vehicle. The contact quickly drove the vehicle out of the garage onto the driveway. The vehicle became engulfed in flames, and the fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the fire, the vehicle was destroyed, and the driveway and parts of the lawn were damaged. No injuries were reported. A fire and police reporter was taken to the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The failure mileage was 220,000

2015 BMW 328I · crash

The contact owned a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. As a result, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle spun around and was struck head-on by another vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact’s husband suffered injuries to the ribs, both arms were fractured, cerebral hemorrhage, and internal bleeding. The contact was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. The contact was unsure if a Police report was filed. The Fire Department used the jaws of life to remove the driver’s side door. The vehicle was towed to the city impound lot and deemed totaled. The contact stated that the engine had overheated weeks before the vehicle stalled and was involved in the crash. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown

Electrical System 5% 696 Read
2022 BMW i4 · fire

Vehicle was charging at home and spontaneously began smoking. Fire department called and determined it was the battery, began over heating and caught fire. Could have potentially exploded if they didn’t get their as soon as they did

2018 BMW X5 · fire

Two incidents accured with 24hrs. My wife called me informing that the 2018 x5 was smoking from the front and making a weird noise, she stopped the vehicle and the vehicle started again. When she got home, I checked the under the hood, but could not see anything. But, can smell like burned wiring, but not visible. I connected EV wire to the vehicle and next morning disconnected the cable and when I started the vehicle, I saw smoke coming out of the inside bottom of the rear where the batteries are located. I opened the rear door and raised the cover to see smoke coming from melted wiring. I immediatelly disconnected one of the battery wires

2012 BMW 750LI · fire

I went outside and started my car, locked it and came back inside to grab a few things. Approximately five minutes later someone was banging on my door and ringing the doorbell. When I answered they said they had already call the fire department. My car's engine compartment was engulfed in flames and undercarriage covers were also burning. The rear bumper and light assemblies were melting. The doors were stuck windshield exploded and srs systems had activated. Fire department said it was electrical fire. USAA said it is a total loss and the electrical fire was in the engine compartment. My vehicle was parked on the street in front of my house and been driven the evening before and parked in front of my house. I have plenty of pictures

Unknown Or Other 5% 607 Read
2015 BMW 428I · crash · fire

I finance my car in 2016, the car was purchased at a third-party dealership, it only one previous owner. My car has two major recalls, BMW never notified me that there were any recalls and I never got any compensation such as fixing the car. Long story I lost my car in a car fire last year. My car was completely totaled and the car caught wire out of nowhere. I put an investigation through BMW of North America but they weren’t helpful and they compensate me for all the damages and losses that I lost due to the fire in my car. I just saw a new recall for more than 900,000 cars and I wanted to make sure that A- every recalls was served or down my car and B- if there’s a new recall related to my car fire I’m entitled to repairs monetary damages since I lost my car

2021 BMW X3 · crash

On XXX, while in the parking lot, after placing the car in 'park' I then placed the auto into 'reverse' to straighten out the auto in the parking in the space. However, the car automatically changed back to 'park.' Then tried to place the auto in 'drive' and again the the auto switched back to 'park.' I then turned off the engine and decided to begin the process again but experienced the same problem. After doing this once more and while the the auto was in the 'drive' position, and even though my foot was off the gas pedal, to my surprise the engine revered up with a rapid unintended acceleration. Before I could react, the auto went over the dividing curb and the parking island separating the row of cars. It then proceeded to slam into the auto in the parking space in front of my car before I could react. Extensive damage to both automobiles occurred. Both cars in now in their respective repair shops, which will be coved by my insurance. The accident occurred at the Gym located at [XXX]. The accident was reported toXXX and officer [XXX] badge # XXX responded. Their Accident Report will be available next week at the Englewood Police Department - report #XXX. Please let me know if any clarification is required. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2025 BMW X5 · fire

Incident Date: [XXX] Vehicle: 2025 BMW X5 xDrive50e Issue: car fire On [XXX], while operating my 2025 BMW X5 xDrive50e (purchased new on [XXX]), a malfunction warning appeared on the infotainment screen. Immediately following this alert, the vehicle cabin filled rapidly with smoke. ​Upon stopping and exiting the vehicle, I observed flames coming from underneath the car. The fire quickly spread to the rear and trunk area of the vehicle. The car is likely a total loss. ​This fire created a life-threatening situation, as the cabin filled with smoke while the vehicle was in motion, requiring an emergency exit before the flames spread. ​A police report was filed on the date of the incident ([XXX]); a copy of the report is pending. My insurance provider has been notified and is scheduled to inspect the vehicle early next week. Prior to this event, the vehicle had not been involved in any collisions and had no aftermarket modifications. ​The vehicle is currently located at All Star Collision in Farmingdale, though it is expected to be relocated by Progressive, my insurance carrier, in the near future. A police report was filed today but I have yet to receive a copy. I'm happy to provide if needed upon receipt. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Fuel/Propulsion System 3% 426 Read
2014 BMW K 1600 GTL · fire

BMW has an open recall regarding a defective fuel pump. Affected bikes: BMW K 1600 GT, K 1600 GTL, K 1600 GTL Exclusive (2011-2014) When I contact BMW they tell me my VIN is not affected, but I have 100% confirmed that my fuel pump is leaking gas at a very unsafe rate. My bike year and model matches, and the effected part also matching, including the failure. This can cause my motorbike to turn into flames very easily as soon as it is turned on. I have seen it throw a flame but it stopped soon after. BMW is not willing to help me, even though there is an open recall

2011 BMW 550I · fire

The contact owns a 2011 bmw 550i. While driving unknown speeds, a fuel odor was detected in the rear of the vehicle as well as smoke in the front of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump failed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to critz bmw savannah (7009 abercorn st, savannah, ga 31406) where it was again diagnosed with a fuel pump failure. The vehicle was repaired again. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V746000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 120,000

2009 BMW X5 · fire

My car caught fire while driving under my passenger backseat where the fuel pump is located up under. The fire department came, snatched out seat and put the flame out

Unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Percentages are shares of all 13,395 BMW complaints.

BMW against the rest

FIG.05·BMW versus other brands
MeasureWhere BMW sitsOut of
By complaint volume#1829 brands with 3,000+ complaints
By age at failure (later is better)#729 brands
Complaints ending in a crash4.4%across all 13,395 reports
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints + ForCar

Ranking by volume says more about how many cars a brand sells than about how they hold up. Age at failure is the fairer of the two.

BMW problems by model

79 BMW models have owner complaints on file. Pick one for its worst years, failing systems and what owners actually wrote. Another 58 BMW models have no complaints on record at all.

FIG.06·BMW problems by model
ModelOwner complaintsYearsMost reported system
BMW X52,2802000–2026Air bags
BMW 328i1,4211996–2016Engine
BMW X31,3602004–2026Air bags
BMW Z41,0892003–2026Steering
BMW 528i5191981–2016Engine
BMW X15162012–2026Power train
BMW X72952019–2026Service brakes
BMW 535i2861985–2017Tires
BMW M32861988–2026Air bags
BMW 325i2051987–2006Air bags
BMW 335i2012007–2017Air bags
BMW 328d1752014–2018Engine
BMW i31742014–2021Structure
BMW Z31641996–2002Air bags
BMW 550i1342006–2017Tires
BMW 540i1291994–2026Engine and engine cooling
BMW 128i1192008–2014Air bags
BMW iX1132022–2026Electrical system
BMW 428i1122014–2016Electrical system
BMW 740iL1121993–2001Engine and engine cooling
BMW 528xi1102008–2013Engine
BMW X6982008–2026Engine
BMW 320i921981–2018Engine
BMW 330i912001–2026Air bags
BMW M5901988–2026Air bags
BMW 740i871993–2026Engine and engine cooling
BMW 525i771989–2007Engine and engine cooling
BMW X4742015–2025Electrical system
BMW 330Ci732001–2006Air bags
BMW M340i712020–2026Engine
BMW 318i651981–1998Engine and engine cooling
BMW 530i641994–2026Engine and engine cooling
BMW 535d642014–2016Engine
BMW 328xi632007–2008—
BMW 135i602008–2014Air bags
BMW M4462015–2026Engine
BMW 650i452006–2019Engine
BMW 325Ci442000–2006Air bags
BMW 750i402001–2022Engine
BMW 750Li372000–2022Engine
BMW 328iC331996–2000Structure
BMW 435i322014–2016Engine
BMW 535xi322008–2008—
BMW X2302018–2026Exterior lighting
BMW i5282024–2026Service brakes
BMW M550i282018–2023Air bags
BMW 325iS271987–1995Power train
BMW 335d262009–2011Air bags
BMW 740Li242011–2022Electrical system
BMW M6241981–2019Steering
BMW M2222016–2026Exterior lighting
BMW 640i202012–2019Electrical system
BMW M235i192014–2024Electrical system
BMW 750iL181988–1999Visibility
BMW 530e162018–2023Electrical system
BMW 328Ci141999–2000Structure
BMW M240i112017–2026Exterior lighting
BMW i4102022–2026Electrical system
BMW XM102023–2026Wheels
BMW 850i81991–2019Exterior lighting
BMW i882014–2020Electrical system
BMW 228i72014–2025Electrical system
BMW 318ti71981–2000Visibility
BMW 325iC71987–1995Exterior lighting
BMW 330e62016–2024Engine
BMW 430i62017–2026Electrical system
BMW M440i62021–2026Engine
BMW Z862001–2003Fuel/propulsion system
BMW M842020–2025Vehicle speed control
BMW 335is32011–2015Engine
BMW 840Ci31981–1996Exterior lighting
BMW 325ix11986–1991—
BMW 328iS11996–2000—
BMW 850CSi11981–1995Exterior lighting
BMW ActiveHybrid 712014–2015—
BMW i712023–2026Air bags
BMW L711981–1988Power train
BMW M760i12017–2021Air bags
BMW M850i12020–2026—
ROWS 79·SOURCE NHTSA owner complaints
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How we count

Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,115,966 of them, covering 2,019 models built between 1981 and 2026.

A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.

Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.

Frequently asked questions

How reliable is BMW?

Owners have filed 13,395 complaints across 137 BMW models. On its own that number reflects how many BMW cars are on the road — compare the average age at failure (6.40 years) instead.

What breaks most often on a BMW?

The most reported system is Air Bags with 1,548 complaints.

Do BMW problems show up under warranty?

25.9% of BMW complaints describe something that happened in the first three years, while the factory warranty was likely still running.

Which BMW model has the most complaints?

See the model list above — each card shows its complaint count, and the model page breaks it down by year and by system.

Owner complaints from NHTSA, published as filed and unverified. Age at failure computed by ForCar from incident date and model year; production series grouped by the first 11 VIN characters. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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