Model Year Scorecard · NHTSA + EPA data
BMW model years compared
Every BMW model in the catalogue (1975–2027), with owner complaints, recall campaigns, urgent advisories and fatal-crash involvement summed across all model years. Open a model to see its years side by side and the best and worst year called out.
22,967
Owner complaints
filed with NHTSA, most on the X5
541
Recall campaigns
distinct NHTSA campaigns, most on the X5
30
Urgent advisories
do-not-drive & park-outside campaigns
2,962
Fatal-crash vehicles
FARS census, 2020 onward, exact
BMW models ranked by complaints
| Model | Years | Complaints | Recalls | Urgent | Fatal (FARS) | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X5 | 2000–2026 (27) |
3,111
|
103 | 1 | 329 | 17.1 |
| 328i | 1996–2016 (15) |
2,574
|
27 | 1 | 415 | 24.3 |
| X3 | 2004–2027 (24) |
1,967
|
60 | 2 | 250 | 20.5 |
| 325i | 1987–2013 (24) |
1,386
|
22 | 1 | 121 | 19.5 |
| Z4 | 2003–2026 (22) |
1,280
|
29 | 1 | 27 | 24.2 |
| 528i | 1979–2016 (17) |
832
|
14 | — | 135 | 24.2 |
| 330i | 2001–2026 (18) |
812
|
39 | 2 | 136 | 26.8 |
| 335i | 2007–2015 (9) |
809
|
13 | — | 120 | 22.7 |
| X1 | 2010–2026 (17) |
663
|
20 | — | 88 | 25.3 |
| 530i | 1975–2026 (28) |
567
|
34 | 2 | 73 | 24.3 |
| 323i | 1997–2011 (11) |
564
|
12 | 1 | 11 | 21 |
| 535i | 1985–2016 (18) |
492
|
12 | — | 114 | 21.6 |
| 750Li | 2006–2019 (14) |
467
|
10 | — | 35 | 17.9 |
| 328xi | 2007–2008 (2) |
460
|
8 | — | 29 | 20 |
| M3 | 1988–2026 (32) |
444
|
25 | 1 | 46 | 18.1 |
| 525i | 1989–2010 (17) |
437
|
16 | 1 | 45 | 20 |
| 325xi | 2001–2006 (6) |
306
|
12 | 1 | 26 | 19.8 |
| X7 | 2019–2026 (8) |
301
|
33 | — | 23 | 20.5 |
| 330Ci | 2001–2006 (6) |
291
|
7 | 1 | 27 | 21 |
| 550i | 2006–2022 (13) |
252
|
11 | — | 38 | 18 |
| 325Ci | 2001–2006 (6) |
247
|
9 | 1 | 47 | 20.7 |
| 540i | 1994–2023 (16) |
245
|
22 | 1 | 36 | 19.9 |
| i3 | 2014–2021 (8) |
212
|
8 | — | 13 | 119.7 |
| 328d | 2014–2018 (5) |
209
|
8 | — | 8 | 35.8 |
| Z3 | 1996–2002 (7) |
207
|
3 | — | 23 | 19.8 |
| X6 | 2008–2026 (19) |
204
|
44 | 1 | 52 | 16.6 |
| 330xi | 2001–2006 (6) |
193
|
14 | 1 | 19 | 19.5 |
| 128i | 2008–2013 (6) |
184
|
7 | — | 16 | 22 |
| 750i | 2006–2019 (14) |
170
|
8 | — | 18 | 18.6 |
| 320i | 1977–2026 (30) |
160
|
13 | 1 | 82 | 27.3 |
| 530xi | 2006–2007 (2) |
158
|
3 | — | 3 | 20 |
| 428i | 2014–2016 (3) |
155
|
7 | — | 48 | 26.7 |
| 135i | 2008–2013 (6) |
154
|
5 | — | 14 | 21.1 |
| 335xi | 2007–2008 (2) |
153
|
6 | — | 12 | 20 |
| 745Li | 2002–2005 (4) |
144
|
6 | — | 12 | 19 |
| 740iL | 1993–2001 (9) |
132
|
6 | — | 2 | 17.6 |
| 740i | 1993–2026 (25) |
129
|
23 | — | 23 | 22.3 |
| 745i | 2002–2005 (4) |
128
|
6 | — | 7 | 19 |
| 545i | 2004–2006 (3) |
122
|
— | — | 11 | 17 |
| 430i | 2017–2026 (10) |
121
|
18 | 1 | 49 | 27 |
| iX | 2022–2027 (6) |
111
|
12 | 2 | 5 | 86.8 |
| M5 | 1988–2027 (29) |
105
|
23 | 1 | 38 | 15.6 |
| 650i | 2006–2018 (12) |
104
|
5 | — | 27 | 19.2 |
| 318i | 1984–2018 (12) |
90
|
4 | — | 3 | 22.5 |
| X4 | 2015–2025 (11) |
88
|
29 | 2 | 22 | 18.8 |
| i4 | 2022–2026 (5) |
79
|
11 | 2 | 8 | 97.2 |
| 535d | 2014–2016 (3) |
73
|
6 | — | 4 | 30 |
| M340i | 2020–2026 (7) |
69
|
14 | — | 13 | 26.7 |
| 228i | 2014–2016 (3) |
57
|
9 | — | 24 | 26.4 |
| 435i | 2014–2016 (3) |
49
|
5 | — | 22 | 23.3 |
| 525xi | 2006–2007 (2) |
49
|
3 | — | 5 | 20 |
| M4 | 2015–2026 (12) |
46
|
13 | — | 36 | 19.1 |
| 530e | 2018–2026 (9) |
45
|
6 | — | 7 | 27.4 |
| 645Ci | 2004–2005 (2) |
45
|
— | — | 5 | 17 |
| 335d | 2009–2011 (3) |
43
|
6 | — | 8 | 27 |
| 330e | 2016–2026 (10) |
32
|
9 | — | 3 | 28.9 |
| 740Li | 2011–2015 (5) |
32
|
8 | — | 11 | 21.2 |
| 230i | 2017–2026 (10) |
30
|
11 | 1 | 6 | 27.3 |
| M2 | 2016–2026 (10) |
30
|
6 | — | 8 | 20.3 |
| 760i | 2004–2006 (3) |
29
|
12 | — | 3 | 16 |
| X2 | 2018–2026 (9) |
29
|
9 | — | 27 | 25.9 |
| 750iL | 1988–2001 (14) |
28
|
9 | — | 1 | 13.8 |
| i5 | 2024–2026 (3) |
27
|
7 | — | — | 106.6 |
| 640i | 2012–2018 (7) |
26
|
6 | — | 7 | 24.7 |
| M6 | 1987–2018 (15) |
26
|
6 | 1 | 6 | 15.2 |
| i7 | 2023–2026 (4) |
24
|
12 | — | 2 | 88.6 |
| 760Li | 2003–2015 (13) |
22
|
7 | — | 2 | 15.3 |
| M235i | 2014–2016 (3) |
19
|
5 | — | 9 | 22 |
| 340i | 2016–2018 (3) |
18
|
2 | — | 17 | 24 |
| 440i | 2017–2020 (4) |
16
|
6 | — | 12 | 22.5 |
| 335is | 2011–2013 (3) |
15
|
2 | — | 3 | 20.3 |
| 840i | 2020–2026 (7) |
13
|
8 | — | 5 | 24.4 |
| M240i | 2017–2026 (9) |
12
|
7 | — | 7 | 22.7 |
| XM | 2023–2026 (4) |
11
|
9 | — | 1 | 14 |
| i8 | 2014–2020 (7) |
10
|
6 | — | 6 | 27.4 |
| M440i | 2021–2026 (6) |
9
|
7 | — | 8 | 28.2 |
| Z8 | 2000–2003 (4) |
7
|
2 | — | — | 15 |
| M8 | 2020–2025 (5) |
4
|
4 | — | 7 | 18.7 |
| 430i xDrive | 2017–2026 (10) |
1
|
2 | — | — | 27.2 |
| 550e xDrive | 2025–2026 (2) |
1
|
2 | — | — | 24.5 |
| 220i | 2014–2026 (13) |
1
|
— | — | — | — |
| 530i xDrive | 2017–2026 (10) |
—
|
5 | — | — | 27.7 |
| 750e xDrive | 2024–2026 (3) |
—
|
5 | — | — | 24.7 |
| 540i xDrive | 2017–2026 (10) |
—
|
3 | — | — | 25.5 |
| 760i xDrive | 2023–2026 (4) |
—
|
3 | — | — | 20.3 |
| 228i Gran Coupe | 2021–2024 (4) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 28 |
| 228i xDrive Gran Coupe | 2020–2024 (5) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 27 |
| 330i xDrive | 2017–2026 (10) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 27.5 |
| 740i xDrive | 2017–2026 (8) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 23.9 |
| 745e | 2020–2022 (3) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 22 |
| ActiveHybrid 7 | 2013–2015 (3) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 25 |
| M235i xDrive Gran Coupe | 2020–2026 (7) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 26.5 |
| M8 Gran Coupe | 2020–2025 (6) |
—
|
2 | — | — | 17 |
| 228i xDrive | 2015–2016 (2) |
—
|
1 | — | — | 27 |
| 230i xDrive | 2017–2026 (9) |
—
|
1 | — | — | 26.4 |
| ActiveHybrid 5 | 2012–2016 (5) |
—
|
1 | — | — | 26 |
| Alpina XB7 | 2021–2026 (6) |
—
|
1 | — | — | 17 |
| 118i catalogue only | 2012–2026 (13) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 120i catalogue only | 2005–2021 (14) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 125i catalogue only | 2008–2013 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 128ti catalogue only | 2022–2024 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 130i catalogue only | 2006–2010 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 218i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2025–2026 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 220i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2022–2024 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 228 xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2025–2026 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 30 |
| 320i xDrive catalogue only | 2013–2018 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | 26.8 |
| 323ti catalogue only | 1999–2000 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 328d xDrive catalogue only | 2014–2018 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | 34 |
| 328i GT xDrive catalogue only | 2014–2016 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 328i xDrive catalogue only | 2009–2016 (8) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22.9 |
| 330e xDrive catalogue only | 2021–2024 (4) |
—
|
— | — | — | 25.5 |
| 330i GT xDrive catalogue only | 2017–2019 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 335i GT xDrive catalogue only | 2014–2016 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 335i xDrive catalogue only | 2009–2015 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 21.2 |
| 340i GT xDrive catalogue only | 2017–2019 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 340i xDrive catalogue only | 2016–2018 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 23 |
| 420i catalogue only | 2016–2020 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 420i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2016–2021 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 428i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2015–2016 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 26.5 |
| 428i xDrive catalogue only | 2014–2016 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 26 |
| 428i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2015–2016 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 26 |
| 430i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2017–2026 (9) |
—
|
— | — | — | 28 |
| 430i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2017–2026 (9) |
—
|
— | — | — | 27 |
| 435i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2015–2016 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 24.5 |
| 435i xDrive catalogue only | 2014–2016 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22.6 |
| 435i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2015–2016 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 23.5 |
| 440i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2017–2023 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 25 |
| 440i xDrive catalogue only | 2017–2020 (4) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22 |
| 440i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2017–2020 (4) |
—
|
— | — | — | 24.8 |
| 520i catalogue only | 2014–2026 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 528i xDrive catalogue only | 2009–2016 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 24.3 |
| 530e xDrive catalogue only | 2018–2023 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | 26 |
| 535d xDrive catalogue only | 2014–2016 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 29.7 |
| 535i GT catalogue only | 2010–2017 (8) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 535i GT xDrive catalogue only | 2011–2017 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 535i xDrive catalogue only | 2009–2016 (8) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22 |
| 550i GT catalogue only | 2010–2015 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 550i GT xDrive catalogue only | 2010–2017 (8) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 550i xDrive catalogue only | 2011–2018 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 18.5 |
| 640i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2013–2019 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 23.3 |
| 640i xDrive catalogue only | 2014–2018 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22.6 |
| 640i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2014–2019 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22.5 |
| 640i xDrive Gran Turismo catalogue only | 2018–2019 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 23 |
| 650Ci catalogue only | 2006–2011 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | 17.2 |
| 650i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2013–2019 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 19.9 |
| 650i xDrive catalogue only | 2012–2018 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 19 |
| 650i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2013–2019 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 18.9 |
| 740Li xDrive catalogue only | 2013–2015 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22 |
| 740e xDrive catalogue only | 2017–2019 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 27 |
| 745Le xDrive catalogue only | 2020–2022 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| 745e xDrive catalogue only | 2020–2022 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 22 |
| 750Li xDrive catalogue only | 2010–2022 (12) |
—
|
— | — | — | 17.5 |
| 750i xDrive catalogue only | 2010–2022 (13) |
—
|
— | — | — | 18.5 |
| 840i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2020–2026 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 24.3 |
| 840i xDrive catalogue only | 2020–2026 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 23.6 |
| 840i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2020–2026 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 23.6 |
| ActiveHybrid 3 catalogue only | 2013–2015 (3) |
—
|
— | — | 1 | 28 |
| Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2015–2019 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | 19 |
| Alpina B7 catalogue only | 2007–2022 (13) |
—
|
— | — | — | 18.7 |
| Alpina B7 xDrive catalogue only | 2011–2015 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| Alpina B7L catalogue only | 2011–2015 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| Alpina B7L xDrive catalogue only | 2011–2015 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| Alpina B8 Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2022–2025 (4) |
—
|
— | — | — | 19 |
| M135i catalogue only | 2013–2026 (11) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| M140i catalogue only | 2017–2019 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| M235 xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2025–2026 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 27 |
| M235i xDrive catalogue only | 2015–2020 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 23.8 |
| M240i xDrive catalogue only | 2017–2026 (10) |
—
|
— | — | — | 25 |
| M340i xDrive catalogue only | 2020–2026 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 26.9 |
| M440i Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2022–2026 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | 27.5 |
| M440i xDrive catalogue only | 2021–2026 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | 26.3 |
| M440i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2022–2026 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | 25.8 |
| M5 Touring catalogue only | 2025–2027 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | 13 |
| M550i xDrive catalogue only | 2018–2023 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | 19.9 |
| M6 Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2014–2019 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | 16 |
| M760Li xDrive catalogue only | 2017–2022 (6) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| M760i xDrive catalogue only | 2017–2023 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 16 |
| M850i xDrive catalogue only | 2019–2026 (8) |
—
|
— | — | — | 19.6 |
| M850i xDrive Gran Coupe catalogue only | 2020–2026 (7) |
—
|
— | — | — | 19.1 |
| i3s catalogue only | 2018–2022 (5) |
—
|
— | — | — | 112.9 |
| iX xDrive40 catalogue only | 2022–2023 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| iX xDrive50 catalogue only | 2022–2023 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | 86 |
| iX1 catalogue only | 2024–2026 (3) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| iX2 catalogue only | 2025–2026 (2) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
| iX3 catalogue only | 2021–2025 (4) |
—
|
— | — | — | — |
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Every BMW model opens to every model year compared side by side, with the best and worst year called out. Free account, no card, takes a minute.
Sources. Owner complaints, recall campaigns and advisories are from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation datasets; fatal-crash vehicles from FARS; fuel economy from the EPA. VehDB sums them per model; the figures are not VehDB's own findings.
How to read it. Complaints and recalls are summed over every catalogue year of the model, so long-running best-sellers rank high on volume alone; the model page ranks each year against other vehicles of the same model year, which is the fairer read. Urgent counts do-not-drive and park-outside campaigns. Fatal (FARS) is a census of vehicles in fatal crashes from 2020 onward, exact, and is never mixed with CRSS estimates. MPG is the EPA combined average across the model's trims. Sources are U.S. public domain; nothing here is a verified defect finding.