Home · 2015 BMW 428i · Complaints

What 76 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 BMW 428i

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 (76)Crash / fire / injury (14)Electrical system (35)Engine & cooling (26)Engine (10)Airbags (7)Brakes (6)Fuel system (5)Body & structure (4)Transmission & drivetrain (4)Speed control (3)Tires (3)

7 of 76 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters

May 20, 2025Airbags

A warning message comes on saying the front passenger air bag sensor is defective. I checked with the BMW dealership and with the used car company I bought the car and "bumper to bumper" warranty. The used car company confirmed the car has a bad sensor but I have to pay $1,100. BMW has had several recalls involving sensors in other models and even problems with the 2015 428i convertible. My car had less than 50,000 miles when the fault 1st popped up July 2024. I believe this should be recallled.

NHTSA ODI 11662223

Sep 18, 2021SteeringAirbagsCrash1 injury

I car hit me from behind and pushed me into the car in front of me and my steering wheel came off and my air bag on steering wheel did not deploy. As a result the wheel pushed in my chest.

NHTSA ODI 11433462

May 21, 2021AirbagsCrash1 injury

I had road side accident on4/30/21 around 3:15 pm at Clovis California air bag not deployed all front smashed my call back no is [XXX]. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11418061

Dec 13, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsSeats

I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AFTER A FAULTY AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF. WAS NOTIFIED BY BMW THAT THE SEAT SENSOR WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO SHUT OFF. THIS FAULT IS WELL-KNOWN TO BMW AND I WROTE A COMPLAINT BASED ON MY INITIAL CONTACT THAT BMW WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM BMW ABOUT THE COMPLAINT MADE TO THEM IN WHICH THEY STATED BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY WILL TAKE NO OWNERSHIP OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPORTED PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS COMMON SEAT SENSOR ISSUE CAN BE AFFECTED BY CELL PHONES BEING PLACED ON THE SEAT AND MOISTURE (NEITHER OF WHICH APPLIED TO THIS CIRCUMSTANCE). IT IS TROUBLING TO KNOW THAT FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE CAN FAULT SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT AND I ADVISED BMW CORP DURING MY PHONE CALL THAT PROPER SHIELDING OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS TO PREVENT FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE SHOULD BE CORRECTED. SAFETY COMPONENTS SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER WHEN IT PERTAINS TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS.THE REPRESENTATIVE CONTINUED TO PRESS THAT BMW WOULD TAKE NO OWNERSHIP OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT BUT WOULD DOCUMENT THIS IN THE FORMAL COMPLAINT. THERE IS NO RESOLVE AVAILABLE THROUGH BMW ACCORDING TO THE REPRESENTATIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11288873

Dec 11, 2019AirbagsSeat belts

AIRBAGS IN THE BMW ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND PRODUCING A FAULT OF THE SYSTEM LISTED AS A "MALFUNCTION". BMW DOES NOT WARRANTY THIS THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY SYSTEM THAT SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO FIXING FAULTY SYSTEMS THAT COULD INJURE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. I PURCHASED A 3RD PARTY WARRANTY FOR MY CAR THROUGH MAP WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR BUT THERE MAY BE A DISPUTE OF WHO IS SUPPOSED TO COVER THIS SYSTEM ACCORDING TO MY ADVISER CHRIS FROM BMW. TAKING VEHICLE IN TOMORROW 12/12, FAULT BEGAN 8AM 12/11 WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11288479

May 26, 2019AirbagsCrash2 injuries

WHILE DRIVING MY 2015 BMW 428I GRAND COUPE, I WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR BY A LARGE UTILITY TRUCK. THE REAR DOOR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THERE APPEARS TO BE FRAME DAMAGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THE SIDE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY FEATURE NEVER DEPLOYED. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, WHEN A TRUCK IN THE INTERIOR LANE WENT STRAIGHT, STRIKING ME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS PINNED SHUT, AND SUSTAINED SECONDARY DAMAGES. *DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11210005

Dec 4, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS T BONED BY ANOTHER DRIVER AND MY AIRBAG DIDNT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS GOING APPROX 20MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE OVER 60MPH. STRUCK DIRECTLY IN CENTER OF CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE AND ONLY TH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY ONE TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY CAR. I WAS KNOCKED OUT BY HITTING THE SIDE PANEL AND STEERING WHEEL. I WAS IN MOTION TURNING INTO MY WORK ACROSS A HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11156006

Working with the data? Download all 76 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 428i verdict →