2015 BMW M235i

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Sidewall1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Exterior Lighting1
000
Air Bags1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Side/Window › Head25V871000
Filed Dec 17, 2025851 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.

Risk. An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags › Side/Window24V288000
Filed Apr 24, 20245,761 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.

Risk. An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 10, 2025NC

The headlight and tail light went out unexpectedly. I brought my vehicle to a shop and they told me that my headlight got water inside of it. The shop informed me that this is a known issue with multiple BMW models. The headlight seal will slowly fail allowing moisture inside the housing which damages the electronics. The taillights have to have their electronics replaced due to some defect form the factory. This defect was covered under warranty but my car is out of warranty.

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 13, 2024MI

The seat belt failed due to a short. I am not sure if my safety was really at risk but the car said it was. There was warning on startup on the large display in the middle of the car and a constant warning in the gauge cluster. The fault has been confirmed at the dealership. The seat belt was inspected at the dealership and they are suggesting a replacement for $662.74. The warning did not cause any drivability issues.

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Feb 28, 2022NJ

I purchased 4 new Pirelli P zero tires a year and half ago since then I’ve replaced 5 tires where the sidewalls have blown out in that year and half time frame. I’ve only kept two of the tires and I’m not sure if the other tire has a different DOT # but it is the same brand and size. I gave the dot from the most recent tire. Pirelli has a road hazard warranty but will not honor it and swears their is no recall on p zero tires but it states on their website that size r19 have a recall. Mine are size 225/40 R18 Pirelli P-zeros. The last picture is of another tire about to blow out its sidewalk.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 10, 201939,500 milesAL

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, WINDOWS UP, SUNSCREEN CLOSED, AND SUNSCREEN SHADE CLOSED AS WELL. I HEAR WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A SHOTGUN BLAST ABOVE MY HEAD AND THEN PIECES OF GLASS BOUNCING OFF THE TOP OF MY CAR. THE EXPLOSION WAS EXTREMELY LOUD, OBVIOUSLY STARTLING, AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE MY CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WAS NOT PASSING UNDER A BRIDGE AND THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME EITHER. I SLOW DOWN AND LOOKED UP THROUGH THE VENTS IN THE SUNSCREEN SHADE AND I NOTICED A GAPING HOLE IN THE GLASS OF MY SUNSCREEN. THERE WAS A CAR BEHIND ME WITH A MAN AND A WOMAN IN THE FRONT SEATS WHO PULLED UP ALONGSIDE ME WITH THEIR WINDOWS DOWN. I ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW AS WELL AND WE BOTH SLOWED TO A SPEED WHERE WE COULD HEAR EACH OTHER. I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED AND THE WOMAN SAID IT JUST EXPLODED OUTWARDS MAKING HAND GESTURES OF AN EXPLOSION. I ASKED IF THEY SAW ANYTHING HIT MY ROOF AND THEY SAID NO. I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE AND SURE ENOUGH THE REMAINING GLASS AROUND THE HOLE WAS DRAMATICALLY BOWED OUTWARDS AWAY FROM THE CAR. NO FOREIGN OBJECT WAS FOUND COLLECTED IN THE SUNSCREEN SHADE BESIDES GLASS FROM THE EXPLOSION.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 17, 20176,600 milesOH

JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MAY APPLY TO ME

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2016
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20221000Routine
20210200Routine
20200100Routine
20168000Routine
2015 — this page5200Routine
20145300Routine

Compare every M235i year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 17, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.