NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's air bag inflator may explode when it deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
BMW will replace the driver's front air bag at no cost.
1,145 vehicles affected
This page covers 3 recalls, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 BMW 320i.
27–28 mpg combined
8.4–8.7 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
The 2014 to 2015 BMW 320i received an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The sedan earned 4 stars in frontal crash protection and 5 stars in side crash protection. Rollover resistance and side pole crash testing both received 5-star ratings. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this assessment covers the entire 2014 to 2015 range.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2015 BMW 320i has 3 recalls, the most serious involving two separate airbag inflator defects that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin or out of the vehicle, raising the risk of serious injury or death.
Both airbag recalls involve inflators that can fail violently. The driver's frontal airbag inflator can explode rather than inflate normally, throwing sharp metal pieces toward the driver or other occupants. A separate recall covers the side and window airbags, where a ruptured inflator can propel metal fragments either into the interior or outward through the vehicle's body. The third recall is a lighting issue: the side marker lights can fail to illuminate, making the car harder to see from the side at night and raising the risk of a collision.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's air bag inflator may explode when it deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
BMW will replace the driver's front air bag at no cost.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The head air bag inflator may crack at a weld joint, causing gas to leak or the inflator to rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the head air bags at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front side marker lights may not work when the parking lights or headlights are on due to incorrect software programming.
What the fix does
BMW dealers will upload corrected software to restore proper marker light operation at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.