What 38 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 BMW IX

THIS VEHICLE HAD A BRIEF WARNING TO STOP DRIVING AND QUICKLY LOST ANY POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. THERE WERE DEFINITE SAFTEY CONCERNS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS REGARDING COLLISION POTENTIAL. THE PROBLEM IS CONFIRMED IN MULTIPLE ELECTRIC BMW IX MODELS BY DEALERS AND OTHER OWNERS. BMW HAS CONFIRMED DRIVE CHAIN FAILURE RELATED TO MANUFACTURING DUST IN THE MOTOR OR COOLING PUMP FAILURE. THIS SAFETY PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PRESENT IN IX VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11747601

While driving my leased BMW iX on the highway during heavy rain, the windshield wipers suddenly malfunctioned. The wipers began striking each other violently and then completely stopped working. This caused an immediate loss of visibility at highway speed. My pregnant wife was in the vehicle at the time, creating a serious safety risk. This appears to be a safety-related defect involving the windshield wiper system. I am requesting that NHTSA document and review this complaint for possible defect investigation.

NHTSA ODI 11733915

Incident Date: [XXX] Problem Area: Electrical System / Charging System The DC fast charging (CCS) system on this 2023 BMW iX xDrive50 failed completely on [XXX] while traveling on a highway in Richmond, Virginia. The vehicle was unable to charge at an Electrify America station despite other vehicles — including an identical 2023 BMW iX xDrive50 — charging successfully at the same station. A second nearby ChargePoint station was also attempted without success. Hard restarts and software updates did not resolve the issue. The vehicle had to be driven home on remaining range with no ability to fast charge, creating a safety risk of range loss on a highway. The vehicle was subsequently dropped off at BMW of Rockville (MD) on February 24, 2026 for warranty repair. As of April 10, 2026 — 45 days later — BMW has been unable to diagnose or repair the defect. The vehicle remains at the dealership. This defect renders the vehicle unable to fast charge, substantially limiting its safe range on any trip beyond local driving. BMW of North America has been formally notified. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11731218

I am reporting an incident involving unintended vehicle movement/acceleration in my 2023 BMW iX xDrive50. BMW of North America inspected the vehicle and claims no defect was found; however, they refuse to provide the Event Data Recorder (EDR) data or diagnostic logs used to reach that conclusion. The incident occurred around September 1, 2025. The vehicle exhibited behavior inconsistent with normal operation. BMW’s response relies on undisclosed internal data and post-incident testing that does not recreate the event conditions. I am requesting NHTSA review this matter, including BMW’s refusal to disclose vehicle data relevant to potential safety defects involving throttle, braking, Auto-Hold, or software-controlled torque systems.

NHTSA ODI 11706089

Incident Date: August 20, 2025
Vehicle: BMW iX (2023 BMW iX XDrive 50 VIN - [XXX] ) On August 20, 2025, I was driving my BMW iX during heavy rain when the vehicle suddenly lost control and hydroplaned. Despite my efforts to steer and brake carefully, the vehicle skidded and hit the divider three times. Shockingly, none of the airbags deployed during the impact. I have experienced repeated traction and stability issues with this vehicle during rainy conditions, even while driving at low speeds. Both my husband and I have noticed that the car tends to hydroplane and lose grip on wet roads much more easily than other vehicles we have driven. I am very concerned that the BMW iX may have a serious design or safety flaw affecting its handling and stability in wet weather, as well as a potential defect with the airbag deployment system. I strongly urge BMW and the NHTSA to investigate this issue to prevent future accidents and ensure consumer safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11691742

2023 BMWiX with sudden acceleration issue upon parking. Vehicle has been subject to recall for unintended activation of cruise control upon parking and a software update was supposedly issued by BMW and yet this occurred to me today causing front end collision and lots of damage to my car. Not hurt nor were others but certainly could have been.

NHTSA ODI 11689535

On November 16, 2023, I was driving the vehicle in the far left lane of the freeway when, without any warning, the vehicle lost propulsion and would not accelerate. It also lost power assisted steering AND power assisted braking. I had to decelerate with no power brakes while attempting to safely cross 3-4 lanes to the nearest freeway exit with no power steering, while maintaining enough momentum to not get stuck in the middle of the freeway. After it lost propulsion, the several warnings flashed on the screen noting that the vehicle stabilization system was disabled, "vehicle may roll", the tire pressure monitoring was disabled, and the restraint system monitoring was disabled. I managed to steer the vehicle safely to the bottom off the offramp but had to bring the vehicle to a full stop. As a result, I was stuck blocking traffic at the bottom of the offramp. I attached a few photos showing what was happening but have additional video documenting the loss of power steering and power brakes but they are too large to attach here. The screen stated the roadside assistance feature was unavailable so I used the emergency button on the interior roof, which connected me to BMW's call center. The representative requested that the fire department assist with moving my vehicle out of traffic. We had to towed to the dealership (see attached invoice). We were told it only needed a software update which was then done. We still kept getting the same high voltage warnings, leading to 3-4 additional repair invoices. Finally BMW offered another software update in May 2025. We still receive high voltage warnings, drivetrain warnings, and chassis warnings and are afraid it will shut down again on the freeway. Software updates seem to be a bandaid.The loss of power braking and steering while doing 70 mph was a terrifying experience that could easily lead to serious injury and death.

NHTSA ODI 11676769

Yesterday on 7/13, my family and I were fully stopped and parked in a parking spot (car was in park, to the best of my knowledge). The front passenger had just exited the vehicle and was opening the back door where my kids were just beginning to get out of their seats. At that moment, something occurred that caused the car to speed over the parking curb, across a pedestrian sidewalk and struck a brick and glass building storefront. What's odd is, assuming the car was in park, which i believe it was, the car accelerated to max speed and the airbags did not deploy and the hazard lights never turned on after the accident. In addition, the car has safety features designed to detect objects and avoid collisions and should switch the car to park when the car is stopped and doors are opened. I am happy and motivated to make the car available for inspection immediately. I really want to understand what happened and why for my own benefit (and peace of mind) but mostly because I don't want this to happen to any one else in the car or pedestrians in the area. Had my car been parked just a little further down the block, families were eating lunch at an outdoor restaurant which could have ended in serious injury or worse. My car is currently in the tow yard that the police department picked. My insurance is asking me where to tow and I want to make sure it ends up somewhere that can fully diagnose what happened based on the car's internal computer (if possible). The car has been seen by my local police department and fire department that came on site. But, no formal inspection has occurred yet. But will likely be done this week. No warning messages were shown on the car prior to the accident and potential malfunction.

NHTSA ODI 11673410

While parking in a rather standard strip mall parking lot, it was discovered the car was too close to the car on the right. The car was backed up a few feet and braked to a stop. When the gear shifter was moved to drive, the car took off and struck the car in front at 13 mph, causing about $75,000 of damage to our BMW iX M60. BMW did a precrash report with data but no written summary or opinion. It was quite clear from the phone call on the crash that BMW would argue the cause was driver error.

NHTSA ODI 11627725

Car suddenly went into neutral and a drivetrain fault error message popped up. Unable to set to drive to continue driving. Powered off car and back on and same error message.

NHTSA ODI 11622176

I was driving a 2023 BMW iX and attempting to park in front of a retail store in a strip mall parking lot. I was gently pressing the brake while trying to park in a space on the right. Then, suddenly, my car accelerated forward at high speed, crashing into the store's entrance door. This is clearly a case of sudden unintended acceleration.

NHTSA ODI 11594044

Not sure what happened, there is a warning saying the steering effort has changed, I have found there are many ix users received this warning and get their steering rack replaced by the dealer

NHTSA ODI 11589818

Our BMW iX was in B mode at a complete stop behind another parked car at the car wash. After about five minutes, the car took off at full acceleration and rear ended the car in front of us The BMW iX continued another 15 - 20 feet despite my attempts to repeatedly stepping on the breaks.

NHTSA ODI 11583850

The car has a feature where the side view mirrors fold up when parked. Occasionally when unlocking and starting the car the driver side mirrors don’t fold out, and can’t be manually over ridden. This isn’t noticed till already driving and creates a safety hazard when switching lanes.

NHTSA ODI 11576407

The vehicle drivetrain failed and would not allow the driver to change gear, either to drive forward or backward. The vehicle engine was still on. The vehicle computer system generated the following message on the dashboard: "Drive carefully. Drivetrain fault. Have the problem checked by the nearest service center. Contact service center." There was an option to "Close message" at the bottom of the screen. The vehicle was stalled in the middle of the street. It took almost 30 minutes before the gear box inside the vehicle could be manipulated and shifted to drive, neutral, and reverse. The vehicle was towed away to the dealer. The mechanics at the dealership reported that there were metal debris in the rear motor that needed to be cleaned. New brushes were installed. I remained concerned about my safety and the safety of other drivers of similar models.

NHTSA ODI 11568082

I brought a brand new BMW IX fully electric vehicle in May, 2023. A couple of weeks ago in early September, the “Emergency Call System Malfunction” warning light came on, and I can also smell a chemical burn from the vehicle. I dropped it off to Eastbay BMW in Pleasanton, California. 4350 Rosewood Drive, Pleasanton, California 94588. They confirmed that the “Control Module” may be over heating and causing the emergency call system to malfunction. Eastbay BMW contacted BMW HQ and was informed to just reset the warning light. “BMW advised Eastbay BMW that this is a recurring problem and the unit may overheat”. Eastbay BMW also confirmed that their technicians confirmed the warning codes showed the Control Module may be over heating. Instead of replacing this control module and finding a longer term fix, BMW HQ decided to decline replacement request and to simply reset the warning light until the next incident occurs. I have read on different BMW owners forums that this is an ongoing issue, occurring in many new vehicles as my BMW IX has less than 1,500 miles and we live in the Bay Area, California where it does not get too hot. Given that this relates to and impact the emergency call function, I want to file this formal complaint to ensure BMW address this issue properly and that the NHTSA launch a full investigation. Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11547159

The vehicle automatically lost power, shut down, and came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. During the shut down, I was unable to accelerate, brake, or steer the vehicle to the side of the road to a safe stopping location. The vehicle computer appeared to take over and shut down the vehicle and I was unable to stop it from happening. I was informed by the dealer that the issue was with the Combined Charging Unit. The vehicle has been back at the dealer since July 17, 2023 and I do not know if the Combined Charging Unit is still on the vehicle and available for inspection. There was a recall for a software update that was supposed to address a known issue with loss of power. Prior to this incident, that software update had been completed for this vehicle. Our safety and the safety of others was put at risk because our vehicle lost power and came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. I was unable to control the vehicle or get to a safe stopping place after the issue started. This could have caused a serious and potentially fatal accident had our vehicle been hit. I do not know if the issue has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle and vehicle component have been inspected by the Service Department at the dealer where we purchased the vehicle. I do not know of inspection by any other party. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Once the vehicle began to shut down, a message came up stating that the vehicle was shutting down. The vehicle also automatically called BMW Emergency Services and a representative came on asking if we had been in a crash or needed assistance.

NHTSA ODI 11540108

I had an accident at a school pickup line. The car was on B mode completely stopped and it lurched forward all of sudden unfortunately at the exact moment when a girl was putting her backpack into her mother's car's trunk. Our IX hit the girl and the two cars parked in front of us. She was severely injured. Her mother repoerted some injury later.

NHTSA ODI 11538226

When overtaking a car on a freeway that is on my right side, occasionally the car, without warning and with no information displayed, my car will suddenly brake for no reason about 3 to 5 mph. I use the accelerator pedal immediately to return to the original speed. This has happened maybe 8 or 10 times. The car has 14,000 miles on it. My wife will not allow me to use the adaptive cruise control when she is in the car as she gets scared when the car suddenly brakes. She is afraid their may be a car behind that might hit us. I have not reported this to BMW.

NHTSA ODI 11537813

The contact owns a 2023 BMW iX. The contact stated while parking in a parking spot, the vehicle suddenly increased in speed without any warning. As a result, the contact crashed into the corner of a building. The front end of the vehicle was damaged as well as minor visible damage to the building. The contact and passenger suffered whiplash and neck pain but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not towed. The dealer was contacted and stated that they were not aware of a recall for the failure and were advised to contact the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated the vehicle was not under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V409000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The failure mileage was 6,009.

NHTSA ODI 11537500

car has been recalled, dealership has been unable to locate parts needed for the repair for 3+ months.

NHTSA ODI 11531756

The BMW DOES NOT OFFER THIS RECALL RECOMMENDED BY NHTSA

NHTSA ODI 11529456

The contact owns a 2023 BMW IX. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. During the failure, the message "Malfunction, Pull Over" was displayed. Approximately 20 minutes later, the contact was able to restart the vehicle however, moments later while driving the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who indicated that the failure was due to an undetermined High Voltage Battery malfunction. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30.

NHTSA ODI 11526767

The plastic seat insert that borders the square hole just below the headrest is painful to shorter passengers. Their head feels it even with minor braking. The BMW “fix” (a foam plug) does not provide enough padding or ergonomic benefit to remedy the problem and is issued for a steep fee at the dealership. The major safety issue is if there is a collision. No person’s head should be thrown against a hard plastic object in an accident! Shouldn’t the materials of a headrest be regulated? Shouldn’t there be firm padding made of a soft and relatively flat material?

NHTSA ODI 11525738

I just purchased a 2023 BMW iX xDrive50 and have identified a safety hazard. The car has a feature that automatically locks or unlocks the vehicle when approaching or leaving the vehicle with a key. There have been two occasions, when I had just put my toddler in his car seat, that the doors locked when I shut the door. My purse with key and phone were also inside the car. The car locked because the second keyholder, my partner, was leaving our home at the same time and had the second key on him. I had no way to unlock the car and get to my son. Fortunately, I was able to flag down my partner both times before he drove off. I find this to be quite dangerous as I would have had no way to get my son out of the locked car easily or call for help if he had driven off. I would like to see this issue reported to BMW and corrected. The VIN is [XXX]. Please let me know if I can provide additional details on this issue. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11525285