Home · 2015 BMW 320i Xdrive · Complaints

What 33 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 BMW 320i Xdrive

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (33)Crash / fire / injury (1)Engine (11)Fuel system (9)Electrical system (5)Lights (4)Body & structure (3)Wheels (2)Airbags (1)Backup camera & sensors (1)Brakes (1)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (1)

11 of 33 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Feb 6, 2025Engine

I have barely driven this BMW 320i from 2015. It is a well taken car parked in the garage. It has 33,000 miles on it. The check engine light came on so I brought it in for a diagnostic. The error is N63R Engine - Replace Wastegate Actuators and Program the Vehicle. The mechanic told me most BMW's in 2015 had a recall for this issue and this car should have a recall. So, I called BMW and they said it does not have a recall. I checked on the NHTSA site and the car does not have a recall. However, after some research, I found that many models from this year have a recall for this exact issue. This BMW320i from 2015 should also have this recall! There is no coincidence that the Wastegate failed in several models in the same year. To exclude this model from the recalls is unfair.

NHTSA ODI 11641147

May 12, 2024Engine

Timing chain guide failure, causing engine to stop working

NHTSA ODI 11588305

Mar 3, 2024Electrical systemEngineFuel 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 . I’m pretty sure if I leave it running it will catch fire it’s thick white smoke and it has melted something silver inside as u can see the silver is now black due to it burning .So I write this due to me doing research as to what could have caused these issue and I see there is a recall for the same vin but my not specific car . I anm having the EXACT same issues with my car as the recall. I have 3 of the issues that the recall is for but my model I guess is not included. also have lighting issues .. my back lights tend to work when they want according to pep boys a board of some sort needs to be replaced because the bulbs will not stay in place . Is there a way to add my model to the recall list as it needs to be fixed my car is not operational at this time due to the risk of a fire under the hood

NHTSA ODI 11575192

Sep 21, 2023Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11545840

Jul 7, 2023EngineFuel systemBackup camera & sensors

On July 4, 2023, my kids and I were in Tifton, GA shopping. My car just cut off in the middle of the road. The only way I could get it to turn back on was by turning the car completely off and then turning the car back on. I was in the middle of the road and almost got run over. My car had gas in it and wasn't acting up prior to this happening. I believe that this problem has to do with the fuel pump which causes an engine failure. Also, my parking sensors are not working properly anymore as well.

NHTSA ODI 11530936

Mar 12, 2023Engine

Timing chain failure: vehicle is in a “do not drive” state due to impending timing chain failure. Component failure would result in catastrophic engine failure, with potential for collision, thermal event, or personal injury. No warning lights. Inspected by OEM Dealership, who confirmed potential for catastrophic engine failure.

NHTSA ODI 11511390

Apr 15, 2020Engine

THE MOTOR IS LEAKING IN A STATIONARY SETTING , THIS IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR THE BMW OF MONTGOMERY STATED THEY ARE RECALLS ON THE MOTOR . *TR

NHTSA ODI 11321162

Dec 24, 2019Engine

IT A WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM MY VALVE COVER . AND I HAD TO ALSO REPLACE MY THERMOSTAT ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

NHTSA ODI 11291077

Sep 13, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY 2015 BMW 320I GAVE ME A WARNING OF CHARGING MALFUNCTION WARNING SO I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW SERVICE FOR AN INSPECTION. THIS WAS IN APRIL 2019. THE SERVICE ADVISOR LET ME KNOW I COULD NEED A NEW BATTERY SO I APPROVED NEW BATTERY IF THAT'S WHAT IT NEEDED. ONCE INSPECTED FURTHER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THAT CAUSED MY DRIVEBELT TO DETERIORATE AND SLIDE OFF BELT TENSIONER. THE OIL LEAK WAS DUE TO NEEDING A NEW OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET, SO I REPLACED THAT AS WELL. I WASN'T WHAT CREATED THE OIL LEAK ISSUE ONLY THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BELT TENSIONER, HOUSING GASKET AND DRIVE BELT. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS WHY MY CHARGING MALFUNCTION WARNING CAME ON. MY BATTERY WAS FINE, NO NEED TO REPLACE. 3 MONTHS LATER SEPTEMBER 12TH 2019 THE CHARGING MALFUNCTION WARNING COMES ON AGAIN. THIS TIME I'M TOLD THEY'RE 80% SURE I NEED A NEW BATTERY. SO I APPROVE THE BATTERY AND I RECEIVE A CALL THAT MY CAR NEEDS A NEW ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT CREATING CHARGING VOLTAGE WHICH MAKE MY BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW CAUSING THE CHARGING MALFUNCTION. MY CAR A 2015 BMW, IT IS 4 YEARS OLD. IN THIS LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CHARGING MALFUNCTION AND STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11255354

Feb 19, 2019Engine

OIL PUMP PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. NOT BEING COVERED BY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS ENGINE DAMAGE WILL BE ON THE CUSTOMER EVEN THOUGH OIL PUMP PREMATURELY FAILS.

NHTSA ODI 11181228

Nov 17, 2015Engine

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW 320I I HAVE HAD IT FOR 45 DAYS WITH 1548 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE THIS MORNING DRIVING POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY. MY CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" AND DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO OVER ANY FASTER. DISPLAY SAYS "DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION" I DROVE MY CAR ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AT 20 MPH ON THE SIDE OF ROAD UNTIL I MADE IT TO WORK. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS FOR A VEHICLE TO DROP FROM 70 TO 20 MPH SUDDENLY IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. FROM READING SEEMS TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH BMW'S. RECALL WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION . I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED I TRADED MY MERCEDES E350 IN FOR THIS JUNK. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS LEFT ME IN SUCH A BAD SITUATION. I OWNED NISSAN WITH OVER 126K MILES AND IT NEVER GAVE ME ANY PROBLEMS. VERY DISAPPOINTED BMW OWNER!

NHTSA ODI 10794340

Working with the data? Download all 33 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 BMW 320i Xdrive verdict →