BMW 230I · model year

2017 BMW 230I

11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2017BMW230I carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2017 230I is tires with 4 filings, followed by unknown or other (1) and wheels (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2017 230I. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

11 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
WHEELS1
POWER TRAIN1
PARKING BRAKE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
AIR BAGS1
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION1

Recent Complaints

20260202TIRES

On 4/17/2025, we purchased 4 BRIDGESTONE tires at Discount Tire Company. The front two tires are model 225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF and the rear two tires are model 245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF. On 9/3/2025, we had to replace a front tire, due to a hole in the tire from pothole damage going about 40 mph. I can't say the exact safety risk this posed, but a tire getting a hole in it at 40 miles per hour can't be a good thing? These are run-flat tires so they still work but not at high speeds.

20260202TIRES

On 4/17/2025, we purchased 4 BRIDGESTONE tires at Discount Tire Company. The front two tires are model 225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF and the rear two tires are model 245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF. On or before 10/21/2025, we noticed two bulges in the rear tire and had to have it replaced. Not sure of the cause. This was the second Bridgestone Potenza tire since April 2025 that had to be replaced.

20260202TIRES

On 4/17/2025, we purchased 4 BRIDGESTONE tires at Discount Tire Company. The front two tires are model 225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF and the rear two tires are model 245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF. On 9/3/2025, we had to replace a front tire (225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF), due to a hole caused by pothole damage going about 40 mph. On 10/21/2025, we had to replace a rear tire (245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF) due to a bulge in the tire. Not sure of the cause. On 1/31/2025, the rear tire pressure went down while on the freeway, going about 60 mph. Upon stopping, the tire had a hole in the side near the tire rim.

20260202TIRES

On 4/17/2025, we purchased 4 BRIDGESTONE tires at Discount Tire Company. The front two tires are model 225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF and the rear two tires are model 245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF. On 9/3/2025, we had to replace a front tire (225 /40 R18 88Y SL BSW BM RF), due to a hole caused by pothole damage going about 40 mph. On 10/21/2025, we had to replace a rear tire (245 /35 R18 92Y XL BSW BM RF) due to two bulges in the tire. Not sure of the cause. On 1/31/2026, the rear tire pressure went down while on the freeway, going about 60 mph. Upon stopping, the rear driver side tire had a hole in the side near the tire rim. Also on 1/31/2026, while checking the tires after getting the tire pressure warning, the front tire had a bulge in it.

20240111AIR BAGS

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.

20240111AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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.

20231228ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

Mileage: 75,000

20220111PARKING BRAKE

No emergency lights detecting any problems but the ebreak does not Work

20210216POWER TRAIN

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.

Mileage: 38,474

20180926WHEELS

IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS I HAD TO REPLACE 4 RUN FLAT TIRES AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1300. THE TIRE WERE COMING OFF THE CAR, THERE WERE BUBBLES IN THE TIRE. BMW SAID "THAT HAPPENS WITH 2-SERIES CARS." THEY SAID THE LOW PROFILE CAUSES THIS WHEN YOU HIT POTHOLES. I DIDN'T HIT ANY POTHOLES. THE CAR THUMPS WHENEVER IT HITS EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS. I LIVE IN THE BURBS WHERE THE ROADS ARE RELATIVELY SMOOTH. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE WITH THE MANY CARS I LEASED BEFORE. BMW OF MT. KISCO WAS TOTALLING UNCARING AND DID NOT OFFER ANY SOLUTIONS DESPITE THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, NOT TO MENTION THE COST. I WANT TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE AFTER 1 YEAR OF THE 3 YEARS BUT THEY WOULDN'T EVEN RETURN MY CALL.

Mileage: 8,000

20170317UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE ORDERED MY CAR WITH HELP BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA (BMW NA) REPRESENTATIVES BY CALLING 800-831- 1117, TO WHOM I EXPRESSED THAT I WANT TO HAVE 3 SAFETY OPTIONS, NAMELY: 1) BLIND SPOT DETECTION, 2) AUTOMATED BRAKING AND 3) FRONT CAMERA. HOWEVER, ONCE I RECEIVED THE CAR, NONE OF THE DESIRED OPTIONS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED ON THE CAR. NOTE THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES ADVISED ME THAT THE AUTOMATED BRAKING IS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT THAT THERE IS FRONT COLLISION WARNING, WHICH PRIMES THE BRAKES, AD WHICH I ACCEPTED. ALL OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN DRIVER ASSISTANCE PLUS PACKAGE, WHICH CAME WITH NAVIGATION AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL OPTIONS BUNDLED, AND WHICH I HAVE PURCHASED. HOWEVER, WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR, NONE OF THE DESIRED OPTIONS WERE INCLUDED ON THE CAR. I HAVE CALLED BMW NA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS IT WITH THE DEALER. WHEN I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT NONE OF THESE OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE ON MY CAR, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT BEEN ORDERED. PROVIDED THAT THE CAR H

Mileage: 400

Compare 2017BMW230I to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2017 BMW 230I have?
The 2017 BMW 230I has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 BMW 230I?
The most-complained component for the 2017 BMW 230I is TIRES with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and WHEELS.
Is the 2017 BMW 230I safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.