2023 BMW 2 Series

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
26–29 mpgcombined; city 22–26, highway 32–35; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$13,880–$15,480U.S. average; Ohio $13,070–$14,580 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Recall campaigns
4over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
7filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2023 2 Series. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 2 Series. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine2000
Unknown or other2000
Back over prevention1000
Electrical system1000
Forward collision avoidance1000
Lane departure1000
Power train1000
Service brakes1000
Vehicle speed control1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 201412
  2. 201517
  3. 201626
  4. 201714
  5. 20187
  6. 20191
  7. 20205
  8. 20219
  9. 202212
  10. 20237
  11. 20245
  12. 20255
  13. 20261

Every 2 Series year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 2 Series over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Electrical system: starter assembly

NHTSA campaign 26V056000 · reported Jan 30, 2026 · 87,394 vehicles potentially affected

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.

Risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24, 2026.

NHTSA's record and documents

Structure: body

NHTSA campaign 24V711000 · reported Sep 25, 2024 · 7 vehicles potentially affected

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 228i, 228i xDrive, and 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4 vehicles. The bolts that connect the front body structure to the vehicle chassis may not have been tightened properly.

Risk: A loose front body structure may not adequately protect occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary, tighten the front structure bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: software; Visibility: power window devices and controls

NHTSA campaign 23V099000 · reported Feb 17, 2023 · 3,193 vehicles potentially affected

BMW of North Americal, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 8 Series Coupe (840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Convertible (840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Gran Coupe (840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, Alpine B8 xDrive), 2 Series Coupe (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i xDrive, M2), and 2022-2023 Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i vehicles. When the digital key is removed from the vehicle, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software may still allow the power windows and sunroof to be closed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-operated Window Systems."

Risk: Unintentionally closing the windows or sunroof without the key present can increase the risk of injury to occupants inside the vehicle.

Remedy: Dealers will update the software for the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. In addition, the digital key function via cellular service and Wi-Fi capability will be deactivated until the vehicle is updated with new software. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 11, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: side/window

NHTSA campaign 23V039000 · reported Feb 1, 2023 · 804 vehicles potentially affected

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 2 Series Coupe (230i, 230i XDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive) vehicles. The second-row seat backrest cover panels for the side air bags may break during deployment of the side air bags.

Risk: A backrest cover panel that breaks during side air bag deployment may cause the air bag to deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury to second-row seat occupants.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear seat backrest side air bag cover panels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 56 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2023 2 Series, the latest on Jul 10, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (16), equipment (11), structure (10), steering (5), engine (4).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2023 2 Series.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: subcompact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
228i Gran
Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline24 / 34 / 28
228i xDrive Gran
All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline23 / 33 / 27
230i
Rear-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline26 / 35 / 29
230i xDrive
All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline24 / 34 / 28
M235i xDrive Gran
All-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline24 / 33 / 27
M240i
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline22 / 32 / 26
M240i xDrive
All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turboAutomatic (S8)Premium Gasoline23 / 32 / 26

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data