Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 BMW 2 Series problems
Owners filed 9 complaints about the 2017 BMW 2 Series with NHTSA between Mar 2017 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (2).
Complaints
9
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags2
- Wheels2
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Parking brake1
- Power train1
- Exterior lighting1
- Other / unknown1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
1
0
0
2
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
2 reports
“BMW Passenger Restraint sensor failure due to a faulty sensor mat, so the passenger seatbelt will not lock or tighten when braking or in the event of an accident. Took it to the dealer and no evidence of a spill or user error that can tamper with the mat, the sensor simply died after minimal use of the passenger seat. This part should be recalled & BMW should have to cover the cost of this safety hazard caused by faulty parts. BMW only covers the sensor mat for 2 years even after replacement, which is unacceptable for a component that is vital to passenger safety.”
Wheels
2 reports
“WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN DECEMBER 2020 WITH THIRTY THOUSAND MILES ON IT. IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH THE ORIGINAL BMW RIMS, BUT WE HAVE HAD TWO RIM FRACTURES ON TWO SEPARATE TIRES WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WE HAD THE RIM REFURBISHED. THE SECOND EVENT WHICH WAS ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TIRE THE RIM FRACTURED IN THE CENTER AND DESTROYED THE TIRE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RECALLS ON THESE TIRES BUT THERE ARE MANY REFURBISHED ONLINE FOR SALE AND SO I AM CONCERNED THESE ARE INFERIOR AND DANGEROUS RIMS. I WILL SUBMIT A PHOTO OF THE FRACTURED RIM FROM THE LAST EVENT. THANK YOU.”
Engine and engine cooling
1 report
“The contact owns a 2017 BMW 230I. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and the vehicle was restarted and the coolant level dropped dramatically. The vehicle was driven to the residence and coolant was added. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, he observed a gushing sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact also stated that he observed condensation underneath the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil filler housing, coolant system, and some pieces of the drive block needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.”
Parking brake
1 report
“No emergency lights detecting any problems but the ebreak does not Work”
Power train
1 report
“BACK IN 12/2020, MY LOW COOLANT WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AS OF YESTERDAY 02/2021, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME, THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. THE SAME DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE COOLANT HOSE LEAKING. I SEE ONLINE THAT BMW HAS THIS ISSUE WITH 2018 MODES.”
Exterior lighting
1 report
“INSTRUMENT GUAGES FOR SPEEDO AND TACH ARE NOT BACK LIT AND ARE NOT LEGIBLE UNDER DAYTIME DIM LIGHTING CONDITIONS. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE NUMERALS DO NOT CONTRAST WITH THE DIAL AND NO LIGHT CONDITION WILL LIGHT THE DIALS ENOUGH TO SEE DURING THE DAY. THE DIALS APPEAR "BLACKED OUT"”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.