2015 BMW 320i Problems & Complaints

Avoid2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the 320i at the same age

Owners have filed 34 complaints about the 2015 BMW 320i with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 2.6× as many as a typical 320i model year at the same age, which makes the 2015 one of the 320i years to avoid. The most reported problem area is the engine & cooling (11 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). 3 recalls cover this model year.

34complaints
3recalls
0crashes
1fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2015 BMW 320i problems

  • Engine & cooling~80,000 miles
    1132%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~145,000 miles
    926%
  • Other / not specified~55,000 miles
    721%
  • Electrical system~80,000 miles
    515%
  • Lights~135,000 miles
    412%
  • Body & structure~5,000 miles
    39%
  • Wheels & tires~9,000 miles
    26%
  • Stability & traction control~80,000 miles
    13%
  • Driver assistance
    13%
  • Air bags~78,000 miles
    13%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    13%
  • Brakes
    13%
  • Steering
    13%

Share of the 34 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

BMW 320i complaints by model year

201220132014201520162017201839533425921
Owner complaints per model year, BMW 320i. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best 320i years: 2012, 2013, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018. Compare all years →

2015 BMW 320i recalls (3)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 24V-527 · Jul 11, 2024 · 1,145 vehicles

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…

Remedy: 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.

Air bags › Side/window

NHTSA recall 24V-288 · Apr 24, 2024 · 5,761 vehicles

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)…

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.

Exterior lighting

NHTSA recall 15V-520 · Aug 17, 2015 · 7,727 vehicles

BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28,…

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2015 BMW 320i:

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

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.

What 2015 BMW 320i owners say

Engine & cooling

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 320I. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started overheating. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and inspected. The contact stated that he observed a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the thermostat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,588.

112,000 miles · Sep 2023

My car shut off on the highway due to my fuel pump delivery system . My gauge is not reading I have enough gas leading me to believe I had gas in my car until it completely shut off . I was able to safely get my car out of the road due to the fact it was early morning and very minimal cars were on the road . I also now currently as well have an issue with the engine,coolant and oil having a leak . According to bmw I need to completely change my intake manifold there is too much leakage and just changing certain components won't fix it . The whole things needs to be removed and replaced. Once I crank my car up within 10 seconds you can see the smoke start to build up under the hood . …

Nov 2023

Fuel & propulsion system

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 320I. The contact stated that after his wife had refueled the vehicle, he noticed that the vehicle was leaking fuel on the driver's side rear. There was a puddle of fuel on the ground. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was due to the pressurized fuel system. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

145,000 miles · Oct 2024

My car shut off on the highway due to my fuel pump delivery system . My gauge is not reading I have enough gas leading me to believe I had gas in my car until it completely shut off . I was able to safely get my car out of the road due to the fact it was early morning and very minimal cars were on the road . I also now currently as well have an issue with the engine,coolant and oil having a leak . According to bmw I need to completely change my intake manifold there is too much leakage and just changing certain components won't fix it . The whole things needs to be removed and replaced. Once I crank my car up within 10 seconds you can see the smoke start to build up under the hood . …

Nov 2023

Electrical system

My car shut off on the highway due to my fuel pump delivery system . My gauge is not reading I have enough gas leading me to believe I had gas in my car until it completely shut off . I was able to safely get my car out of the road due to the fact it was early morning and very minimal cars were on the road . I also now currently as well have an issue with the engine,coolant and oil having a leak . According to bmw I need to completely change my intake manifold there is too much leakage and just changing certain components won't fix it . The whole things needs to be removed and replaced. Once I crank my car up within 10 seconds you can see the smoke start to build up under the hood . …

Nov 2023

The engine would completely shut down while driving you had to completely take foot off gas petal because it would not excellent to make the car run it would almost come to complete slow down and stop you could then push gas and it would pick up and start running again.was worse when raining. Then the brakes got to where they would not stop and would lock up.Iwas on busy road and on interstate when it happened several times I could have been hit in the rear end and it would have caused a major collision. There was no warning lights come on at any point and timethen the brakes started where they would get hot and start smoking and eventually they locked up could not even drive the car . I didn't have the money to try to get it fixed so my 2015 BMW 320i sit for months before I could get it looked at had to replace frount and back rotors,calipers and brakes, ABS system replaced. …

Nov 2023

2015 BMW 320i engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
2.0L 4-cyl turbo8-speed automaticRWD23 / 35 / 28
2.0L 4-cyl turbo6-speed manualRWD23 / 35 / 27

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 BMW 320i a good car?

Based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 320i rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the 320i at the same age. It is one of the 320i years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 BMW 320i?

The engine & cooling — 11 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (9) and electrical system (5).

How many recalls does the 2015 BMW 320i have?

There are 3 recalls for the 2015 BMW 320i, the most recent from July 11, 2024 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the BMW 320i?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. See the full BMW 320i years comparison.

At what mileage do 2015 BMW 320i problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 57,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.