Electrical complaints by model year
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 428I. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the vehicle had an abnormal engine coolant leak. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the engine temperature gauge was rising abnormally. 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Re BMW 2016 428ix- BMW admits that there is a design flaw in this model, but has not remedied a fix for this 'MALFUNCTION DEFECT'. Top does not open or close is the end result. Getting caught in a flash rain, and wanting to close the top was impossible. Trying to pull over to the nearest overpass till rain lightens up, the most dangerous situation to be in. This is a SAFETY issue and bmw will not take care of it. I have come to learn, that It seems in their design flaw, rain collects that you cant see, but shorts out the motor of the top and top will not function at all. Many owners have the same problem and BMW will not recall it. Local dealer says he has to drill 2 holes on the bottom of the car so water will drain out and then a new motor for the top installed. Cost $2400. BMW service knows the problem, has many cars with the same problem.There is no warning that your top wont work. …
The contact owned a 2015 BMW 428i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle drove over a pot and the air pressure monitoring system warning had displayed. After stopping the vehicle, flames and smoke were present coming from the front driver side wheel well. The fire department was called to the scene but the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames and was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined due to the extent of the fire damage. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed away. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 428I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle eventually started. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant pump failure. The contact was informed that the coolant had been continuously running, causing the battery to completely drain. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced, the radiator needed to be flushed, and the repair of a small oil leak was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). While driving to the dealer, the loss of communication with the coolant pump warning light illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 428I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The message "Chassis Unstable" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle to pull over to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle. The contact was unable to find the cause of failure and continued to drive the vehicle without power steering functionality. The message of an excessive power drain for the battery was displayed. The vehicle was unable to switch to different settings, such as Sport 1, Sport 2, and Eco Pro due to the drive setting remaining stuck in Comfort Mode. The cruise control failed intermittently. While driving approximately 65 -70 MPH, the contact noticed a burning plastic odor coming from the front-end of the vehicle into the cabin. …
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 428I. 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 stated that while idling in traffic on the highway, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was running extremely hot. The message "Engine Over temperature - Stop Carefully" was displayed. The contact pulled over onto the shoulder lane, turned off the vehicle, and waited for the engine to cool down. The vehicle was restarted and driven toits destination after the engine had cooled down. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Wiring › Connectors/plugs/receptacles
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 428i years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2015 (35), 2016 (24) and 2014 (16) model years. Electrical complaints make up 45% of all complaints for the 2015.
Is there a recall for BMW 428i electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 24V-608 (connectors/plugs/receptacles, Aug 13, 2024). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do BMW 428i electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles; 27% happened 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.