NHTSA vehicle safety data

2014 BMW M235I Recalls & Complaints

The 2014 BMW M235I has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2014 BMW M235I. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2014 BMW M235I owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 BMW M235I, describing incidents dated April 27, 2015 to September 29, 2020.

Most-cited components

Engine 2 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Seats 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11362413 · Filed October 2, 2020
DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED OILING SYSTEM IN THE N55 ENGINE. WHEN THE CAR IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH G FORCES FROM THINGS SUCH AS TRACK DRIVING OR SPIRITED DRIVING. THE OIL SLOSHES IN IN THE PAN AND THE OIL PICK UP DOESN'T GET ANY OIL. THEREFORE THE ENGINE OIL STARVES AND MY CASE PRODUCES ROD KNOCK. WHICH…
ODI #11102415 · Filed June 18, 2018
WHEN CAR IS PARKED, DRIVER SIDE DOOR OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE. THE LOCK ON THE DOOR WILL COME UP, BUT WILL NOT STAY AND RETURNS TO LOCKED POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DOOR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED BY USING THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON OR UNLOCK BUTTON ON KEY.
ODI #11080055 · Filed March 18, 2018
WHILE PARKED I WAS MOVING THE DRIVER SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY BACK AND THEN TRIED TO MOVE IT FORWARD AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS STUCK IN THE POSITION. THE SEAT WOULD NOT RESPOND AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT FINALLY RESPONDED. AFTER THIS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON…

Read all 5 complaints

Air Bag Inflators May Rupture

NHTSA #25V871000 · Air Bags — Side/Window — Head · NHTSA notice

Reported December 17, 2025 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 851 vehicles

Repair completion: 17.27% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified February 12, 2026

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i 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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bag Inflators May Rupture

NHTSA #24V288000 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice

Reported April 24, 2024 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 5,761 vehicles

Repair completion: 34.84% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified November 4, 2024 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Improper Plating on Fuel Pump may Result in Stall

NHTSA #15V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice

Reported March 31, 2015 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 18,054 vehicles

Repair completion: 90.32% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 6, 2015

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2014 BMW M235I. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2014 BMW M235I.

Engine

ODI #11362413

Incident: September 29, 2020 · Filed: October 2, 2020

DUE TO THE POORLY DESIGNED OILING SYSTEM IN THE N55 ENGINE. WHEN THE CAR IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH G FORCES FROM THINGS SUCH AS TRACK DRIVING OR SPIRITED DRIVING. THE OIL SLOSHES IN IN THE PAN AND THE OIL PICK UP DOESN'T GET ANY OIL. THEREFORE THE ENGINE OIL STARVES AND MY CASE PRODUCES ROD KNOCK. WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON TRACK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR HAD FRESH OIL AND WAS FILLED TO THE MAX. GOT A DRIVETRAIN WARNING, COOLED THE CAR DOWN. WOULDN'T RESTART UNLESS A JUMP BOX WAS USED TO GET ENOUGH CRANKING POWER. ONCE RESTARTED THE ENGINE HAD DEVOLPED A ROD KNOCK.

Structure

ODI #11102415

Incident: June 17, 2018 · Filed: June 18, 2018

WHEN CAR IS PARKED, DRIVER SIDE DOOR OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT UNLOCK WHEN PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE. THE LOCK ON THE DOOR WILL COME UP, BUT WILL NOT STAY AND RETURNS TO LOCKED POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DOOR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED BY USING THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON OR UNLOCK BUTTON ON KEY.

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11080055

Incident: March 15, 2018 · Filed: March 18, 2018

WHILE PARKED I WAS MOVING THE DRIVER SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY BACK AND THEN TRIED TO MOVE IT FORWARD AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS STUCK IN THE POSITION. THE SEAT WOULD NOT RESPOND AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND RESTARTING THE CAR IT FINALLY RESPONDED. AFTER THIS THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID 'DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION'

Power Train

ODI #10958057

Incident: March 1, 2017 · Filed: March 2, 2017

AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY (TRYING TO GET TO 70MPH) THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND A WARNING FLASHED UP SAYING "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY". I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE. AFTER WHICH I WAS RESTRICTED TO 50MPH AND AROUND 1700RPM. CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND SLOW AND WAS DANGEROUS CONSIDERING I WAS ON AN EXPRESSWAY.

Power Train; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10715621

Incident: April 27, 2015 · Filed: May 11, 2015

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 11 AM AT 35 MPH AND THE CAR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION SEE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CAR JUST STALLED. YOU COULD NOT START ENGINE BECAUSE LATER ON ABOUT A WEEK WE LEARNED THAT IT WAS A BMW RECALL OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH THE DEALER WASN'T EVEN INFORMED ON BY BMW CORPORATE. I COULDN'T EVEN GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START SO THE CAR KEPT GOING BACK INTO PARK SO THE CAR WOULDN'T ROLL AS SAFETY FEATURE. WE NOTIFIED BMW EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND IT TOOK THEM 7 HOURS TO SEND TOW TRUCK AFTER 3 DIFFERENT CALLS BACK INTO THEM. THE FIRST TOW TRUCK THEY SENT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE AS OF 2010 BMW TOOK OUT FROM THEIR CARS AN EMERGENCY BACK UP WAY TO GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL.

Other BMW M235I model years

Check your 2014 BMW M235I VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW M235I at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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