Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2017 BMW 320I with NHTSA between 2022 and 2025.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 17
Against the median year of the BMW 320I. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
38.5% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2017 BMW 320I
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
430.8%
Median failure at 90,500 miles
Other & Unspecified
215.4%
Airbags
215.4%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Wheels
17.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Fuel & Propulsion
17.7%
Brakes
17.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Steering
17.7%
Electrical System
17.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jul 2022peak 3Sep 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2017 BMW 320I
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.C...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cloverdale, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
On May 4th, at approximately 6:45 AM, I was driving in heavy rain at a speed under 65 miles per hour when my car hydroplaned and I lost control. This resulted in a significant accident. Despite the severity of the crash, the steering wheel airbag did not deploy, which resulted in a whiplash neck injury for me. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating a problem before the incident. However, after the crash, all the lights on the dashboard turned on. The malfunctioning airbag posed a serious risk to my safety. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer, manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or independent service centers since the incident
NHTSA complaint #11591894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MOCrash
AIR BAGS
The brakes wouldn’t work and car kept going even though I tried to brake several times and with all my strength The car stopped when crashed another car and I was able to shut down the car but the brakes did not work. The crash was very severe and airbags didn’t deploy. A faulty airbag message was shown on my car screen.
NHTSA complaint #11475820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MOCrash
WHEELS
The brakes wouldn’t work and car kept going even though I tried to brake several times and with all my strength The car stopped when crashed another car and I was able to shut down the car but the brakes did not work. The crash was very severe and airbags didn’t deploy. A faulty airbag message was shown on my car screen.
NHTSA complaint #11475820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MOCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
The brakes wouldn’t work and car kept going even though I tried to brake several times and with all my strength The car stopped when crashed another car and I was able to shut down the car but the brakes did not work. The crash was very severe and airbags didn’t deploy. A faulty airbag message was shown on my car screen.
NHTSA complaint #11475820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Savannah, GA
STEERING
Electric Power Steering shuts off while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11684304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Savannah, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electric Power Steering shuts off while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11684304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,000 milesEast Brunswick, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 320i. The contact stated that while his son was driving 35 MPH after an oil change was performed on the vehicle, the message "Engine Temperature High. Drive Moderately to Cool Engine. Consult Service Center" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the same independent mechanic, where an unknown diagnosis was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the water pump electrical connector and wiring were corroded, fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to another dealer, where it was diagnosed that the water pump and the electrical connector needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
NHTSA complaint #11662649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ludowici, GA
ENGINE
On yesterday i went to the Bmw dealership for service. once i got there i reported that i been smelling a burning smell coming from underneath the hood. well the technician can back and reported i have 3 leaks. i was told i needed to replaced EG58 Gasket oil Filter housing, EN17 cylinder head cover Gasket. i need to know if my 2017 Bmw 320i have a Recall on this matter. i believe in 2022 from what i read today.
NHTSA complaint #11627623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Allen, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I’m not sure why my car was not apart of this water pump recall. I was driving without any warning my car started stalling and then completely stopped on me. I had to pay for a new water pump due to this. I thought that was was strange as I have always be up on all maintenance for my car. My car was in top notch condition and this occurred from no where. Thank God I was not hit.; but this did cause me a lot of hassle and money. I am asking BMW to refund me for my time lost and money spent. My car should be among BMW recall. Please add this car model to the recall and refund me my money.
NHTSA complaint #11609755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Allen, TX
ENGINE
I’m not sure why my car was not apart of this water pump recall. I was driving without any warning my car started stalling and then completely stopped on me. I had to pay for a new water pump due to this. I thought that was was strange as I have always be up on all maintenance for my car. My car was in top notch condition and this occurred from no where. Thank God I was not hit.; but this did cause me a lot of hassle and money. I am asking BMW to refund me for my time lost and money spent. My car should be among BMW recall. Please add this car model to the recall and refund me my money.
NHTSA complaint #11609755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cloverdale, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
On May 4th, at approximately 6:45 AM, I was driving in heavy rain at a speed under 65 miles per hour when my car hydroplaned and I lost control. This resulted in a significant accident. Despite the severity of the crash, the steering wheel airbag did not deploy, which resulted in a whiplash neck injury for me. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating a problem before the incident. However, after the crash, all the lights on the dashboard turned on. The malfunctioning airbag posed a serious risk to my safety. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer, manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or independent service centers since the incident
NHTSA complaint #11591894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manchaca, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Cracked fuel tank. Smells of gasoline when the tank is full but the odor goes away once the fuel level gets below 3/4-1/2 a tank. Here is a walk around video of when my car was in for this issue [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11560376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoover, AL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The A/C shuts off after driving 40 minutes and the temperature of 250. Blower is running but will barely force air into the cabin
NHTSA complaint #11538397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,000 milesHurlock, MD
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact stated that there was white smoke coming from the exhaust tip. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: SI B11 11 16 (N20 Engine Oil Feed Line to The Turbo Charger). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.
NHTSA complaint #11525044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MOCrash
AIR BAGS
The brakes wouldn’t work and car kept going even though I tried to brake several times and with all my strength The car stopped when crashed another car and I was able to shut down the car but the brakes did not work. The crash was very severe and airbags didn’t deploy. A faulty airbag message was shown on my car screen.
NHTSA complaint #11475820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MOCrash
WHEELS
The brakes wouldn’t work and car kept going even though I tried to brake several times and with all my strength The car stopped when crashed another car and I was able to shut down the car but the brakes did not work. The crash was very severe and airbags didn’t deploy. A faulty airbag message was shown on my car screen.
NHTSA complaint #11475820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MOCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
The brakes wouldn’t work and car kept going even though I tried to brake several times and with all my strength The car stopped when crashed another car and I was able to shut down the car but the brakes did not work. The crash was very severe and airbags didn’t deploy. A faulty airbag message was shown on my car screen.
NHTSA complaint #11475820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.