2016 BMW 228I: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 18 owner complaints on record; most reports concern engine and engine cooling; the 2014 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2024
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW 228I. 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. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 2025
“The contact owned a 2016 BMW 228I. 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. The dealer confirmed that the part to do the recall repair was not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Mar 2025
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW 228I. 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. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Mar 2025
Show 7 more owner reports
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW 228I. 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. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2025
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW 228I. 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 that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 2025
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW 228I. 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 that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2024
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW 228I. 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. No further information was available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2024
“Vehicle gave warning of "left rear turn signal malfunction" and "left brake lamp malfunction". Checked lights and they are very dim and not functioning properly. Removed tail light assembly and the ground wire terminal is partially melted.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Mar 2021
“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.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Apr 2020
“Both front seat belts become easily tangled/twisted and will not retract. The only way to get out of the belt is to pull it all the way out and then it gets stuck all the way out and will not retract. This happens on average every 50 times of using the belt. I have returned it to dealer 5 times and untwist it, but told me there is no way to fix it. This happens to both seat belts (driver and passenger side front belts). This has been happening on this vehicle since I purchased it a year ago. I have returned it to the dealer for this same repair 5 times so far. It is currently stuck again.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2017
Recalls - 1 campaign
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.
Remedy: 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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2016 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact 228I by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2016 BMW 228I reliable?
NHTSA has 18 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2016 BMW 228I. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling.
Does the 2016 BMW 228I have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.