The Used Car Index

2018 BMW 230I problems

NHTSA lists 4 complaints for the 2018 BMW 230I, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW 230I.

At a glance

Complaints
4
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
5,309
Investigations
1
Open investigations
1
Manufacturer communications
168

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE375.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM125.0%
WHEELS125.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
mechanical failure375.0%0.86
loss of control125.0%0.95
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate375.0%0.97
low125.0%0.90

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 4 tagged complaints of 4 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

18V465000

Date: 2018-07-11. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 2 (excerpt)

Consequence: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

17V719000

Date: 2017-11-15. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2, and X3 xDrive 30i SAV vehicles. These vehicles may have an error in the software for the instrument panel, causing the display to not properly illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displa (excerpt)

Consequence: If the display does not illuminate during start up or does not illuminate various control and warning symbols while driving, it can increase the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster display software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 1 open.

EA21002

Opened: 2021-09-17. Closed: Not listed.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

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 rupt

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

168 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT65
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM48
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING18
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY16
ENGINE14
VISIBILITY12
STEERING10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING8

11035496

Date: 2026-06-26. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.

11032730

Date: 2026-05-05. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.

11005231

Date: 2024-07-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

While driving on rough roads, a cracking sound is heard coming from the headliner area.

11000578

Date: 2024-05-02. Type: Warranty Program/Extension. Systems: ENGINE.

EVAP SYSTEM PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL 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 important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10249018

Date: 2024-01-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.

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 felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the vide

10245376

Date: 2023-11-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.

The steering wheel heating takes a long time to achieve the desired temperature.

10245365

Date: 2023-11-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE (PCV) EXTENDED LTD WTY 15 YEARS/150,000 MILES

10245372

Date: 2023-11-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

The paint finish on the door jamb (above the door striker) is scratched due to the inner door cavity window seal.

10238090

Date: 2023-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
230I4

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2018

Sources

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