2014 BMW 320I problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 BMW 320I, most often about engine. There are 7 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 26
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes
- 3
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 3
- Median mileage
- 77,000 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 12 of 26 complaints (46%).
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion (5) and electrical system (5) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 77,000 mi.
- Owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries.
- The 2014 BMW 320I has 7 recalls on file.
- NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
- It has the most serious complaint record of all 6 BMW 320I model years we track.
2014 BMW 320I problems by category
- Engine · 1 crash12 complaints
- Other / Unknown · 2 crashes7 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion5 complaints
- Electrical System5 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain · 1 crash4 complaints
- Airbags · 1 crash2 complaints
- Seats & Seat Belts2 complaints
- Brakes1 complaints
- Lighting1 complaints
- Steering1 complaints
- Visibility & Wipers1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 11 |
| Unknown or other | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 |
| Electrical system | 5 |
| Power train | 4 |
| Air bags | 2 |
| Seat belts | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2014 BMW 320I recalls (7)
- AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:HEAD
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:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at [email protected].
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i Coupe, M235i Coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, ActiveHybrid 3, 328xi Sports Wagon, 428i Coupe, 428xi Coupe, 435i Coupe, 435xi Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428xi Convertible, 435i Convertible, 328xi Gran Turismo, 335xi Gran Turismo, and 2015 428i Gran Coupe, 428xi Gran Coupe, and 435i Gran Coupe vehicles. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
NHTSA defect investigations
- EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
Loss of power assist braking
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in improper pump operation and loss of power assist braking.On July 11, 2013, BMW initiated a change to the ca…
Recent 2014 BMW 320I complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Sep 30, 202677,000 miVASteeringTransmission & Drivetrain
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 320I. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, the vehicle started shaking and vibrating with the check engine warning light illuminated, with the message "Drive Train Malfunction" displayed. The contact stated that later while attempting to drive there was a loud sound coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle was parked due to the fear of a crash. The failure mileage was 77,000.
NHTSA complaint #11768001 · source - Filed Sep 22, 2026VACrashEngineOther / UnknownTransmission & Drivetrain
The engine drivetrain malfunctioned and there is a message. My safety and safety of others was put at risk when I was driving the car it was shaking kicking moving on its own not braking I couldn’t control the car. I felt as if the car was about to hit someone on the road and the engine was going to blow up or transmission. I was afraid it was very scary! There is an engine misfire No When I bought it, it was a tire sign and shaking but the salesman said it was just the…
NHTSA complaint #11766157 · source - Filed Mar 9, 2026AREngine
I was driving on a on a busy interstate after work and out of nowhere I get the Temperature warning and start losing power. This is Dangerous! I am submitting this complaint to report a safety‑related defect involving the electric water pump on my 2014 BMW 320i. This issue is widely documented among BMW owners, and several 3‑Series models from the same production years have been included in recalls or service bulletins for premature water pump failure. However, the 2014 BMW…
NHTSA complaint #11722945 · source - Filed Aug 21, 202495,000 miCOTowedEngine
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 320I. The contact stated that after pulling into a parking lot at approximately 10 MPH and shifting the vehicle into park(P), the message that the engine was overheating was displayed on the instrument panel. After waiting a while for the engine to cool down the contact restarted the vehicle and exited the parking lot. The contact stated that the vehicle began hesitating and sputtering as if the vehicle was going to stall. The contact pulled into…
NHTSA complaint #11609883 · source - Filed Aug 20, 2024WAElectrical SystemOther / Unknown
The electrical water pump that was just recalled on over 720,000 bmws is the same water pump on the 320is. My vehicle as of now has had issues with the pump completely going out causing high temperature issues with the motor while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11609854 · source - Filed Aug 20, 2024COEngine
I own a 2014 BMW 320IX and first time today, August 20th the Engine Overheat message came on my dashboard and then started to go idle and appear that it was about to die. Upon letting the car sit for a few hours to cool off, within a quarter of a mile of driving the car again the light came up and started to idle and felt like it was going to die again. Twice today, I was left stranded in parking lot and to call a tow truck to have it towed to an independent auto mechanic…
NHTSA complaint #11609851 · source - Filed Apr 28, 202340,000 miWVSeats & Seat Belts
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 320I. The contact stated while pulling on the seat belt to fasten the seat belt, the seat belt would not extend. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11519480 · source - Filed Nov 15, 2022NCEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
Timing chain issue that is common with the BMW n20 engines. The chain is starting to loosen and have some slack. Afraid it could brake and jump teeth as it does it so many online horror stories wrecking the car's engine after it breaks and gets sucked into it. I believe a recall should hopefully happen. A sorts of class action lawsuits and settlements but no recall yet.
NHTSA complaint #11493670 · source
Compare the 2014 BMW 320I with another vehicle →
Other 2014 BMW models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology