AI Damage2021 BMW M235I: common problems
The maker issued 90 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 90
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: AWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Comparison
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- The engines turbocharger wastegate valve controller limited warranty for defects in materials and / or…
The engines turbocharger wastegate valve controller limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few…
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important…
- Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop
- ?The front seat will not calibrate/initialize, and the stored faults cannot be deleted
- Headlight check control (CC) message 128 "High beam headlight failure" is displayed
The following fault codes are stored during a vehicle test: 80419A - Left high-beam headlight: Short circuit and/or 8041A5 - light outputs: Number of permitted short circuit cycles exceeded
- BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop effective June 6, 2023 on certain Model Year 2023 - 2024 BMW vehicles…
BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop effective June 6, 2023 on certain Model Year 2023 - 2024 BMW vehicles that were produced between October 26, 2022 and May 8, 2023.
- With the introduction of the BMW Remote Software Upgrade, all Service Pack 18 vehicles and partial Service…
With the introduction of the BMW Remote Software Upgrade, all Service Pack 18 vehicles and partial Service Pack 15 vehicles may receive new functionality or modifications in their features.
- Upon parking and exiting the vehicle, the parking lights remain active
- Upon opening and closing the tailgate, a creaking/groaning sound can be heard from tailgate actuator
- Sudden failure of the power window(s)
- Issues with the various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (KAFAS system) can…
Issues with the various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (KAFAS system) can possibly lead to following customer complaints: KAFAS camera system deactivates itself, due to system restrictions that…
- Customer is shown an incorrect GPS location in the vehicle (i.e., Nav Map, coordinates)
NHTSA lists 90 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 BMW M235I?
There are no owner complaints in the NHTSA data for this year; the data comes from 90 manufacturer service bulletins.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 BMW M235I?
NHTSA lists 90 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 BMW M235I from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
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.