AI DamageBMW M2: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the BMW M2 across 9 model years: 26 owner complaints and 75 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Exterior lighting 81% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 4% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 4% of all complaints
- Exterior lighting: 21 complaints (81% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Engine: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (4% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 80.
- Suspension: 1 complaints (4% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 20.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl 2016–2027
- automatic, 8-speed 2023–2027
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed 2016–2021
- manual, 6-speed 2016–2027
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 80 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 20 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 94 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Communication | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 6 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the left wheel bearing had failed. The dealer sent a video that included a sound coming from the passenger’s side wheel bearing. The vehicle was not repaired. There was a loud sound coming from the wheel bearings. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle.
The sudden power loss put me in extreme danger as I tried to pull back over to the nearest exit with traffic zooming past me. After doing some research it became apparent that this is a long known issue.
Even after the failure, the check engine light took ~2 miles of driving to come on. On BMW forums, this seems to be a very common issue for many people running their car in stock condition.
The contrast of the gauges are so poor that in certain lighting (dusk, dawn, moments of shadow by trees) they become illegible. It is exaggerated by wearing sunglasses. The current models have corrected this, but owners of 2016-2017 models (myself included) have no recourse.
The headlights become built up with snowpack and will not melt due to the efficiency of the led bulbs not producing enough heat. I've tried using the washer fluid sprayers every few minutes to stop build up, but all it does is keep the turn signal area clean, tested multiple different washer fluids as extreme as I can…
Speedometer numbers are gray on a gray background making it very difficult to read in overcast conditions in the daytime. Can lead to improper speed relative to the posted speed. This is a design flaw and bmw has since corrected in 2018 versions of the car.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Intake Muffler Return
- While driving on a smooth and/or unevenroad, a “cracking” sound is heard from therear wheel arch area…
- Protection Plate Return
- While driving on a smooth and/or uneven road, a “cracking” sound is heard from the rear wheel arch area…
- When turning the steering wheel while stationary or when driving on uneven roads; cracking, creaking, or…
- There may be an internal leakage in the brake fluid expansion tank (aka brake fluid reservoir)
- Please have the control unit (DME) programmed in the vehicles concerned (according to the vehicle…
- Incorrect trim was installed for the cupholder, which does not match that of the surrounding center…
- Delivery Stop
- The drive belt idler pulley bracket material does not have adequate hardness and the attaching bolts may…
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few…
- At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- How Much it Costs to Maintain & Repair a BMW M2 (2016 F87)amount per author: 1,835 UNSPECIFIED_DOLLAR
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.